We’re heading toward Peak Allergy very early this year thanks to the overall warm-ish weather; my allergy shots are definitely helping but this week I broke out an N95 mask and some eye protection. Gale force winds yesterday before a cold front, but it seems to be settling down, thank goodness. It’s 22F/-5C today (which is normal) heading to 80F/27C later this week (which is not normal) but hey at least there’s no huge wildfire at the moment. So. Let’s talk about two fragrances that hit my radar. First, the new (okay, new to me):
A Drop d’Issey — how many of you blind bought it after Portia’s delectable review? I was one of them. In an amusing moment of discounter math, a gift set with a 1.7oz bottle plus two hand lotions was cheaper than buying a bottle, so that’s what I did.
The bottle is gorgeous. The fragrance is … interesting. Portia does a great job of walking you through the phases from top to drydown, and I get all of that in varying degrees … BUT. I also pull something (the rose?) to the surface and then the cedar, and it winds up settling into a kind of woody … raspiness I find irritating, rather than the musky, creamy, slightly weird floral of my dreams. Oh, well. The whole set got passed on to a friend who was thrilled, and the relative pittance it cost me was well worth it to brighten someone else’s day.
the mini and the ginormous
Next, I randomly tried a mini of Agent Provocateur on Carolyn’s shelf. I vaguely remembered it as a rose scent which scared me off, plus I expected some sort of zaftig, bedroom-y “naughty” vibe. The brand is mostly known for their lingerie and I’m not going to insert any NSFW images here, but feel free to google! It’s quite expensive for looking so … cheap and tacky, they’ve got your light bondage-gear, the Naughty Maid outfit of your dreams blah blah, thanks very much but no.
So, what a surprise when I thought: wow, this scent is really pretty in a completely normal, non-bondage-latex type of way! From their website: “Indulge in Agent Provocateur’s award-winning Signature fragrance. A modern classic combining pure saffron oil from India, Moroccan rose oil, Egyptian jasmine, French magnolia oil, amber and musk.”
I don’t get the rose much at all after the first minute or two, which is probably why I like it. It quickly morphs into an airy white floral, with a hint of creamy saffron and a musky base, and there it remains. I think it’s lovely while also being unobtrusive enough to wear to work, even if you don’t work in a strip joint or brothel.
Interestingly …. it is no longer listed on their website, although with some digging I could find the hidden webpage and it’s listed as “sold out.” Given that it’s all over the discounters right now, I wonder if it’s being discontinued? (Some more discounter math: I got their last 6.7oz bottle on Fragrancenet clearance for $35.) Yes, I liked it that much and I don’t want to use up a mini that’s not mine. If you’re a fan, or want to try it, now might be the time. Oh look, Portia wrote about this brand in 2024, including that it appeared to be discontinuing the fragrances, and now I maybe want to try a flanker.
Any of you tried either of these? Based on Portia’s review some folks find the AP kind of a lot, so YMMV, although I didn’t drench myself in it. Several hours later I think I smell delicious but not in a sillage-monster way, and it’s perfect for this ever-changing weather.
cover image via Pexels
Portia suckered me as well with A Drop — I bought a 50ml for like $25? so it’s not a complete waste. I might use it as room spray, maybe.
There’s a jasmine-oid thing in there that I often smell in non-niche things, that I just haaaate. It’s scratchy and feels blocky in my nose, really harsh. (It was in that Jennifer Aniston beachy thing, for example, and I have smelled it elsewhere as well.) The rest of it was nice.
March is killing me with the drunk raccoon. Y’all did hear about that raccoon in Hanover County, VA, back in December? https://apnews.com/article/drunk-raccoon-liquor-store-bandit-virginia-5109feb2ea9ab9bf8954ec3798689fd0
(For Christmas, I bought Taz the t-shirt benefitting the local animal shelter.)
Oh, I had forgotten about that!!! Thanks. That racoon looks sooooo funny passed out in the bathroom. Really does make me laugh!
Drunk raccoon for the win! I love them actually even though they dig up my plants and make holes in the yard here, they’re such characters.
Ah yes that drunk raccoon! I loved that drunk raccoon. Hmph so “scratchy/raspy” was a problem for several of us with A Drop.
Thank you! A pie eyed trash panda! Would the UK version be a squint eyed squirrel?
Oof AP. My friend liked it and once when we were in the Melrose store she drenched herself if it. Drenched. I couldn’t stay on the same side of the street..
I saw your comment about that on Portia’s post! So it IS possible to overapply haha. Trying to think what scent it was that Musette’s friend did this with cuz she liked the top notes.
The A Drop that I got is being passed on too. It seems to be one of those perfumes that when it works on you is great but if not – was definitely worth the try.
I did have some fun checking out AP lingerie. Not my style but funny to look at. There was even a dog collar and leash, wait no, it was a “chocker and lead”. lol. I remember the AP egg-shaped bottle, but the perfume never interested me too much.
Right now, I’m looking for deals on some/any of the bottles on my list.
Wait, no orders from AP?!? lol. Yes, I think it makes way more sense to work on your bottle list! Right now I’m some combo of no-buy and random blind buys like a drunk raccoon.
Shhhhhh 😉
And I think drunk raccoons would be pretty darned cute!
Meee toooo!
Scent Twin! Thanks for your review of A Drop d’Issey. I also got the raspy harsh drydown — due to ambroxen? — but fortunately I only bought a travel size. And like you I’m gonna pass it on. It’s too bad, the opening is so pretty. And it has great longevity. (Of course it does! We didn’t like it thus it lasts forever!)
I’ve heard of the AP and also AP Strip (which reminds me of the Adam Ant song — love Adam Ant), but never sniffed either one. I’m glad to hear it turned out to be a goodie. (Goodie Two Shoes!) And also glad you were able to find it since it was discontinued. Would not want you to be Desperate, but Not Serious! Sorry. Once i got going on a roll…Happy St. Paddy’s Day!!
Hello Scent Twin! As I said to Portia, that’s part of the adventure of the blind buy, I never feel bad about it cuz my loss is generally some friend’s gain. And yep it lasted forever! I think you’d really like the AP but it’s not Giant Lemming, if you ran across a mini or tester or something at the right price. And thanks for that Adam Ant earworm hahaha
AllerJEEEZ! Yours are BRUTAL… and all that blowing pollen!!! Yikes!
Somehow AP never ran across my radar… now, reading your review, I’m thinking I might regret that.
You know … it’s really nice and I’m glad I bought it but I think you would think yeah that’s nice and then move on to your No. 5 or one of the Amouages.
The AP is a conundrum. Like Narciso Rodriguez for Her and Musc Ravageur it’s supposed to be sex in a bottle. On me, not so much. I really like the bottle though.
I keep meaning to go out of my way in town to visit our local TK Maxx to see what perfume bits and pieces are deeply discounted.
Your weather sounds a bit maddening. I hope allergy season isn’t as bad as in the past.
That is hilarious, none of those things is sex in a bottle on me either although I like them very much. I’d have been happy with a smaller AP, that huge bottle is almost hard to hold. Re the weather — it can snow into May here, so we will see!
Yes I bought A Drop & threw in the Essentialle A Drop flanker in as it was virtually perfume math free. I get the full chiaroscuro ride & 24hr longevity of the almond dry down. Not tried the flanker yet but notes are similar so it might just be a slightly higher concentration.
I did own the AP but set it free as it was very similar to SJP Lovely on me. I felt “a hole” in AP, likely a large musk I am anosmic to, whereas Lovely smells complete.
That is the PERFECT description — a hole! I know EXACTLY what you mean, and that way of putting it is delightfully concise. Jealous about the Issey but hey, life is like that sometimes.
Heya March, I’m so sorry you didn’t get the magic carpet ride of A Drop d’Issey that my nose gives me. BUMMER! Glad your friend is happy.
LOVE Agent Provocateur EdP. FragNet is completely;y sold out of everything they made. So sad.
It wears like a Rose/Saffron/Patch adventure to me with a little Oudh thrown in.
Portia x
My friend loooooooves the Issey. I kept trying and trying and … life’s too short. Not sorry at all that I tried it though, that’s the fun of the blind buy! I think I got literally the last bottle of AP on FragNet but I thought when googling that I saw it on several other sites? I’m glad I tried it in time to get ahold of a bottle, so thanks!