Perfume Reviews by FSOCI3TY

Sonnet XVII by Olympic Orchids

Sonnet XVII is certainly an intriguing scent, though it’s not as mass-appealing as Olympic Amber. It opens with a somewhat funky aroma, but I don’t find it as animalic or off-putting as some others do. There’s an herbal quality to it, with a hint of ozonic and earthy notes. After the initial opening, the fragrance mellows significantly, revealing a light vetiver that’s slightly earthy. It’s not damp or petrichor-like, but more akin to the scent of hay. It doesn’t have the dirty smell of a zoo or anything of that nature. While some have described it as resembling manure, I don’t get that impression; perhaps it’s a facet of the opening that fades quickly.

As the fragrance develops, it transitions into a mossy, slightly citrusy and sour scent, likely from the limon or champaca, combined with a light vetiver. I appreciate the complexity of the opening, but the drydown isn’t quite to my taste. I think this fragrance is better suited for fall and spring, as it’s not dense or sweet enough for cold winters. I’ll certainly revisit my sample, but it’s not one I’d invest in a full bottle of. However, if you’re into herbal and floral scents, this is definitely worth a sniff. Personally, I prefer the raw and wet characteristics of dirt, while this one leans more towards a dry earthiness.

Red Cattleya by Olympic Orchids

I absolutely love the fruity and sweet opening of Red Cattleya. It presents a vibrant blend of artificial peach, gardenia, and melon. While there are floral notes in the background, the dominant impression is fruity, almost reminiscent of a fruity shampoo. As it dries down, the fragrance evolves into a muskier, more floral profile. The sweetness is manageable, thanks to my ability to control the application. Although it can smell slightly synthetic up close, it’s well-balanced in the air, and the peach note becomes quite pronounced, almost photorealistic. There are additional notes mixed with the peach, preventing it from becoming overly peachy and providing a balanced sweetness with floral undertones.

As someone has noted, if you're looking to upgrade from a generic body spray or a peach scent from Bath & Body Works, this is a great option. The sweetness might be a bit cloying in hot summer weather, so I’d recommend wearing it in fall or spring. It’s playful and lively compared to the earthier, warmer scents from the brand. I’d likely choose this when I want a change from Olympic Amber or Nightflyer and need a mood lift. Though it leans feminine, a confident guy could definitely pull it off for casual evenings.

Olympic Amber by Olympic Orchids

Olympic Amber is more than just an amber fragrance. It features a well-balanced mix of spices that add complexity to the scent. These spices lend a slightly smoky, woody quality to the fragrance. Unlike many other amber scents that can be overly sweet, vanillic, or one-dimensional, this one has a resinous character that evokes an incense-like vibe. It feels like it could belong in Comme des Garçons' incense series. This fragrance leans more towards a smoky, resinous, labdanum-focused scent, with less emphasis on vanilla or sweeter notes. As gimmegreen notes, it achieves a good balance, avoiding richness or cloying sweetness. The vanilla is merely an undertone and doesn’t overshadow the incense. It stands out as one of the top fragrances from the brand.

LIL by Olympic Orchids

Lil opens with a vibrant and aromatic combination of passionfruit and lime. The initial impression is sharp, yet refreshing, striking a delicate balance to avoid any synthetic or harsh qualities. The blend evokes hints of lychee juice, while some have likened it to a "metallic lime." However, I find the lime harmoniously balanced with fruity and floral undertones. It's reminiscent of Virgin Island Water, but with passionfruit replacing coconut, complemented by additional floral and a light woody base.

Despite its sharpness, Lil maintains a pleasant sweetness and quality, steering clear of any household cleaner associations. While it remains consistently sharp, its presence in the air is captivating and somewhat intoxicating. Some may find its sharpness overwhelming, but personally, I find it quite enjoyable.

Comparisons have been drawn to Byredo's Pulp, though the latter leans more towards overripe, rotting apple notes intertwined with blackcurrant, despite sharing a similar vibe.

In hot weather, caution is advised as Lil's sharpness may become overpowering. I consider it suitable for all seasons except winter, although it could potentially be worn year-round with moderation. Overall, Lil stands out as one of my favorites from this brand.

Café V by Olympic Orchids

Cafe V opens with a strong whiff of burnt coffee, lacking any sweetness. As it evolves, it transforms into a scent reminiscent of whipped cream with a hint of vanilla. Rather than coffee, I notice more prominent notes of spiced wood and leather, which initially confused me. It leans more towards a concoction of cardamom and leather tea rather than a true coffee scent, with the cardamom presenting a spiciness akin to cinnamon. For those seeking a coffee fragrance, I'd recommend "Follow" by Kerosene instead. Unlike "Follow," Cafe V doesn't delve into gourmand territory; it's more about dry spices, carefully balanced with a touch of sweetness to prevent it from becoming overly bitter. Some detect a tobacco note, which I increasingly notice over time rather than a chai-like aroma. This fragrance feels more suited to colder months like winter and fall. Like others, I agree with Rogalal: while it doesn't smell exactly like coffee, it offers a pleasant blend of sweet leather and subtly smoky woods. Although I might not purchase a full bottle, I consider Cafe V to be a solid fragrance overall.

Golden Cattleya by Olympic Orchids

Gold Cattleya offers an equal blend of honey and vanilla. It isn't thick or cloying; instead, the initial blast is dense yet balanced. There's a subtle citrusy orange element in the background that adds character. Hints of amber and sandalwood linger faintly in the backdrop. The honey carries a light floral nuance, possibly from the narcissus.

Comparatively, Zoologist Bee leans more powdery with a prominent beeswax note and a heavier base. In Golden Cattleya, the experience is predominantly floral honey with vanilla, gradually becoming more transparent and airy as it dries down. I'd estimate the composition as 60% honey, 20% vanilla, and 20% white florals. Despite the prominence of honey, the fragrance remains well-balanced and blended.

Personally, I find it slightly more appealing than Kilauea, although not compelling enough for a full bottle purchase. It's notably more wearable than Zoologist Bee, albeit slightly less complex. It leans feminine, but as a man, I find it wearable. I would reserve it for colder seasons.

Kingston Ferry by Olympic Orchids

Kingston Ferry starts with a strong, realistic ocean breeze that fades quickly into a prominent green herbal note. Initially sharp, it either softens or becomes more tolerable after a few minutes. The herbal scent is reminiscent of licorice, possibly from tarragon, though I'm not very familiar with it.

Some reviewers found this opening surprising or unpleasant, but I didn't find it as bad as expected. Unlike Hermes' Epice Marine, which leans towards a salty, cumin-like scent, Kingston Ferry stays herbal with a woody base. It's much woodier than typical marine or seaweed fragrances.

I understand why some people detect a burnt licorice effect on their skin. To fully appreciate this fragrance, you need to catch its sillage, which reveals sea salt, light floral hints, and a fresh overall feel. I appreciate the complexity of Kingston Ferry; it's not your usual aquatic like Aqua Di Gio. Instead, it blends herbal dominance with a fresh oceanic vibe, steering clear of overly seaweedy or briny notes.

Kilauea by Olympic Orchids

Kilauea is a pleasant fragrance with a yellow, milky, and ambery floral profile. Initially, I thought I detected ylang-ylang, but it turned out to be frangipani. It's a floral-centered scent enriched with myrrh, sandalwood, and vanilla, which complement its floral notes. I find it suitable for wearing in the fall or spring. However, the vanilla and light balsamic undertones might not be ideal for the summer heat; it could serve as a signature scent in moderate climates. Personally, I don't perceive the mineralic, wet, and damp effects that others mention.

For those less familiar with fragrances, Kilauea might come across as a vanilla-based scent with floral hints. Although "lava" is listed as a note, I'm unsure of its scent; nonetheless, I think I understand the reference. It seems to be a fantasy note, achieved through a combination of balsamic notes and frangipani. I also detect a root beer-like aroma from the myrrh and florals, which creates an interesting effect.

Overall, while not unpleasant, Kilauea isn't among my favorites from this brand. It leans slightly towards the boring side for my taste.

Penguin by Zoologist

This fragrance bears a resemblance to Leau Dissey Pour Homme, albeit with a more pronounced ozonic and watery quality. I find it quite enjoyable, though I'm uncertain if the price point justifies its purchase from Zoologist. It exudes a clean aura with a subtle hint of cucumber, lending it a distinctive character that remains well-balanced. As it settles, the drydown reveals a slightly synthetic musk note, yet overall, I still appreciate its scent. It doesn't evoke a cold or icy sensation; rather, it's simplistic and pleasantly inoffensive.

Berlin im Winter by Baruti

This caught my attention. Chai was a pretty good scent but it was predictable. This one on the other hand makes you think about what kind of picture this fragrance is trying to paint. As others have mentioned, it's slightly harder to decipher the notes. I get a bit of myrrh, olibanum, and light hints of leather. There might be light traces of oud to add complexity. I get a bit of balsamic qualities and a light green aromatic vibe that is almost herbal. I'm very intrigued by this fragrance and will give it additional testing.

Burnt Cedar Rainbow Doves by 4160 Tuesdays

Echoing the previous review, this has very good performance. This feels like one of the smoky fragrances from Kerosene but slightly simplified. It's a straightforward cedar but with a toasted and slightly smoky element. It's not groundbreaking and some might view it as boring but I feel like this would go well if layered with a sweeter scent from the line. There is a tiny bit of sweetness in the background but this is a non complex cedar scent with slightly toasted element. The cedarwood isn't burnt, just slightly smoked.

Sex Goddess by 4160 Tuesdays

I usually don't like the note of violet but this blends it really nicely with blackcurrant, musk, and oakmoss. The violent still shines through and acts as a primary note to my nose but it's complemented really well by a light fruitiness of the raspberry. I think the fruity and sweetness offsets the earthiness of the violet and makes this scent pretty wearable. It's not like Kerbside Violet or other violet dominant scents that have an overwhelming powdery aspect. This is well grounded and balanced. I'll be giving this scent additional testing.

White Queen by 4160 Tuesdays

The opening is slight darker than the drydown and I'm left with a creamy citrus. I'm not sure if it's the grapefruit that persists into the drydown. I don't get much of woods or hazlenut or incense. I may need to give this additional testing. I really like this.

Dandelion Musk by 4160 Tuesdays

Solid performance. The note breakdown is very simple with chamomile and musk but I get a lightly sweetened green herbal note. It's not pungent or overtly green. As someone has described it on Fragrantica, I get a dewy vibe and soft clean musk. I'm returning to this one for more testing.

Bain de Midi by Maison Matine

Light white florals with a hint of ylang ylang. In the drydown, I detect a bit of vanilla and gardenia. Mediocre performance. Forgettable fragrance from Maison Matine.

Silk, Lace & Chocolate by 4160 Tuesdays

If "Over the chocolate shop" is a bit too strong or chocolate dominant, then you can give this a try. This uses the same chocolate note but it's softer and moderated by strawberry. The strawberry isn't really photorealistic. I didn't think of strawberry when I sniffed this scent but when you look for the note, you can find it. This is a pretty decent chocolate based scent. Give it a try if you like that note.

Avant l'Orage by Maison Matine

A soft and sort of generic vanilla and sandalwood scent. Mediocre performance but it lasts slightly better than the other ones from the line.

Poom Poom by Maison Matine

I love the bright opening on this fragrance. Apparently, the kiwi is the opening hook and it works. The kiwi isn't photorealistic but there's a fruitiness and slightly tart or citric vibe but it's fleeting. You're left with a fresh floral with a bit of fruity sweetness. It's nothing remarkable but it's one of the better ones from the brand.

Into the Wild by Maison Matine

This one leans a bit fresher than the rest of the line. Once the freshness dissipates, you are left with a slightly soft cocoa note. Another forgettable scent from this line.

Nature Insolente by Maison Matine

A soft green scent with a bit of citrus. Nothing remarkable. Another poor performer from Maison Matine.

Arashi no Umi by Maison Matine

This fragrance offers a delicate blend of freesia and peach notes. I didn't detect much cedar in it. It leans towards the lighter side, and unfortunately, its performance falls short. Maison Matine fragrances generally tend to be non-offensive. Initially, there's a hint of fruitiness upon application, but it dissipates quickly, leaving behind a subtly sour rose scent.

Crikey! Coconut Caramel by 4160 Tuesdays

When you spray this fragrance, you'll immediately notice the prominent scent of coconut, accompanied by a delightful toasted chocolate aroma, likely derived from a caramel accord. It's a unique and pleasant blend that isn't commonly encountered. While many coconut fragrances on the market are paired with generic vanilla notes, this one stands out with its toasted or slightly burnt coffee-like undertone alongside the coconut. I find it best suited for wearing during spring or fall; it lacks the richness necessary for wintertime wear. In terms of performance, it's fairly average. If you enjoy the idea of toasted coconut with subtle chocolate nuances, this fragrance is definitely worth exploring.

Temptation by 4160 Tuesdays

This is a soft blend of musk, woods, and vanilla. It doesn't lean strongly in any direction. I get a sweet musk in the opening and then the light woods and vanilla come out in the drydown. Longevity is moderate but this isn't a complex scent. It's good but not my favourite from 4160 Tuesdays.

Flora Carnivora by Henry Rose

This is like a stronger version of Windows Down, with prominent tuberose and jasmine notes throughout. It's great if you're into those scents. The neroli fades, leaving tuberose and jasmine to shine till the end. Performance is good, but it's not the most unique fragrance. Still, if you love white florals, it's worth trying.