Woo Hoo Posse! This came as a GWP after I bought a bottle off a FB Sale doc here in the Australia group. It’s a boxed sample of Ex Nihilo’s extrait version of Lust in Paradise and I’m excited to try it. Honestly, I’ve not tried the EdP version, and that will make a difference to the review, but I thought you might like to know my thoughts on it as a stand alone adventure. Recently I tried Ex Nihilo’s Viper Green and was completely blown away by its delightful galbanum heavy patchouli/vetiver. So when I realized that this little black box on my desk contained another from the brand it was colour me interested.
Yesterday I gave Lust in Paradise a good wearing. For some reason I was expecting some thing MUCH different. Screechy, zingy top, heavily packed and a collapse onto a scratchy woods/amber nothing. YAY! Not that…
Lust in Paradise extrait by Ex Nihilo 2026
Ex Nihilo gives these featured accords:
Top: Blackcurrant, Pink Pepper, Rosyfolia™, Red ginger
Heart: Petalia™, Rose absolute, Jasmine Sambac
Base: Akigalawood™, Cedarwood, Ambrofix™, Musks
The opening is sweet, but not true candy sweet. More subtle and sophisticated. Berries and a little spicy ginger with that sweet sizzle of pink pepper. There is zero vanilla in the notes but I smell that dark warm, earthy, something something that a good vanilla pod has.
The roses are very, um, you know those small, single petal row intensely fragrant climbing roses? Altissimo from 1966? They have this strong, vegetal musky, clove and rosy citrus vibe with a backbeat of white floral. Imagine that turned up to 11. The blackcurrant is still powering alongside and it smells like the two are shoulder charging for supremacy.
As Lust in Paradise heads towards dry down the woodiness comes through. A high pitched rose stem cutting of wood, still green and fresh. There is still a little of the berries and roses all the way to fade. As the Northern Hemisphere starts to cool, this would be a very nice addition to the rotation.
Lust in Paradise is obviously aimed femme BUT any man could easily wear it. Perfume doesn’t care who wears it. Is it incredibly ground breaking? No. Does it smell well thought out, and expensive? Yeah, it does to me. Longevity is really excellent, the first 40 minutes it is a bit of a beast but then it calms beautifully. It would be a kindness to your co-workers to do half your regular spritzes, and maybe give it a single spritz top up in the afternoon. For those annoying people who love Beast Mode, your regular amount of spritzes will clear a room and dry clean the curtains.
Surrender To Chance has samples of the EdP.
March does a super snarky review of Ex Nihilo Sweet Morphine on Posse.
Have you tried Lust in Paradise? Does the extrait version call you?
Portia xx
It sounds kind of me..
And I loved March’s review. But I read before the tea kicked in so I read “sparkling red rabies” instead of rubies..
HA! So if the beastie sparkles red, it is rabid. Good to know, Thanks. 🙂
Sparkling Red Rabies is a FABULOUS perfume name Tom.
Portia xx
Agreed!
I tried this recently in Cos Bar and could NOT sort my feelings about it, but I think I was having a bad nose day (allergies.) I’m thrilled they’re carrying these locally so I can go back and try again. Rose is Not My Friend but this all sounds different and interesting enough (I didn’t know the notes, just sprayed it on) I’ll give it another test drive.
Excellent! I’m glad you have them nearby too. My favourite of them is Viper Green, so far. I think they’re making a big push to be the next Amouage or by Kilian. We also just got Marc-Antoinne Baros here in Sydney with HUGE posters.
The guard may be changing.
Portia xx
You must try M-AB Tilia. Such a beauty! He works with Quentin Bisch & it’s an excellent partnership. There are 30ml bottles too.
Thanks. I forgot about them. I was interested in trying Adalbaran once. I’ll add it and Tilia to my list.
I have a sample of Aldabaran that arrived just before we left home for a week away. Will try it & report back.”
Omg! Altissimo!! IHAZ one and I love it! It needs to be attended to, which I will do in late September.
The perfume? Hmmm… I got excited about the opening but then… ( shrug)
Woo Hoo! So glad someone knows where my rambling nose and mind take me. It felt like a crazy niche scent memory to be bringing but YAY you get the reference Musette and now I’m chuffed.
HA! Can’t win em all.
Portia xx
Imo it’s the clearest RED single in the rose world!
You could be right Musette. So beautiful.
Blackcurrant/rose/green wood sounds like some of me. Not at that price though.
Yeah, they’re pretty aspirational. I’m going to an Ex Nihilo Masterclass next week. Though they are well out of my price range the few that I’ve smelled are pretty good.
Let’s see…
Portia xx
Maybe because it’s a really heavy, humid day here, but I have no clue what to think about this. My brain doesn’t go ‘yes, that sounds worth a go’. It doesn’t go ‘feh, not for me’ either. It just goes ‘next, please’. I did look at March’s snarky review.
…. me? A snarky review? Never! 😀
I loved the last sentence. Pure gold.
You? Hmmmmmmm 😉 🙂 lolololol!!!
Heya Cinnamon,
Hope your confrontation weather subsides soon and your brain gets back to functioning temperatures.
HUG
Portia xx
I will never try Lust in Paradise because it has akigalawood in it. When it’s in a perfume, that’s all I smell. It’s strong and vile and disgusting! I refuse to sample any perfume with it in it.
I was surprised when you mentioned March’s review of Sweet Morphine. What she experienced was nothing like i did. It was the prettiest lilac-centric fragrance on me. It was just way too short-lived and the price was too high to re-spritz several times every wearing.
Lol! Maya, you need to come out of your shell and tell us what you REALLY think about it!!! 🙂
Xoxo
I’m working on it Musette! lol! Or I could do what my father used to do – when people asked him a question and he knew they wouldn’t like his answer, he asked, ” Do you really want to know?” 😉 xoxo
Lol! No… Don’t Do Dad! I ADORE your forthrightness!!
Thank you!!! No worries, I learned the forthrightness from Dad too. lol!
What a bummer that you’re hypernosmic to akigalawood Maya. It’s being used more and more. I’m presuming it’s a created? Just looked it up. Yes, it’s a Givauden created scent from patchouli oil waste.
Isn’t it interesting how differently we all smell the same perfumes? I’m glad it smells beautiful on you.
Portia xx