Frånk

Frånk and Calacas are definitely cousins, but hear me out: Simon takes that lime-frankincense combo in a COMPLETELY different direction here. Calacas is sharp, zesty, sugary, sour lime gummies in liquid form. Frånk, however, is unabashedly aquatic, toeing the line into aldehydic territory, almost. (I'm guessing that's the ylang ylang doing the talking.) The mango feels very pulpy to me, in the best way possible. If I didn't know any better I'd think there was a bowl of freshy sliced pieces next to me right now. I appreciate how it offers those fresh, watery nuances, but also gives the fragrance a fruity edge that compliments everything else going on in here - the citrus, the floral, the amber. I can just imagine how much of an absolute banger this would be in the summer months.

Wow - part of a sample box and it is rare a fragrance gets my attention like this. So fresh and the smell of lime and lemon straight from the first spray and lingering, but with the deeper notes coming through every now and then. This is very different whilst i do not usually like citrus notes, this is in my top list to try more of. Underneath is the vanilla and a dark earthy overtone that matches the citrus perfectly.

This is an interesting one, and I'm not sure I'm getting what other people are getting from Frank. I get the citrus, but it's more of a candied citrus as opposed to fresh one. There is something almost medicinal about it. The general vibe is that of hard candy; it's limey but it's sweet. Citrusy but not overly so. It's fizzy, in a way it reminds me of parma violet sweets. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the fizziness reminds me of the original Lolita Lempicka? Which is strange considering how little overlap there is between the ingredients. The way this perfume is blended makes it difficult for me to distinguish individual ingredients. I get no mango nor vanilla. Something resinous (perhaps that's olibanum), yes, and something fresh, but that's it. If scents were colours this is deep green and purple. Definitely an intriguing and original scent, and potentially a bit of a head turner. At the moment I find it a bit too medicinal for regular wear, but who knows?

Incense, one of the heaviest known fragrance notes, has been completely toned down by becoming a supporting note to the lime. The lime becomes earthier and rich in the presence of incense, which is sweetened and softened with vanilla invoking something like coastal sandstone. I think this is actually a really great fragrance for what it is trying to accomplish, I just find it a little bit plain, particularly in the dry-down when the citrus has mostly evaporated. It could be that the perfumer prefers to keep things simple and let such an unusual combination speak for itself. Perhaps simplicity is the key, it's just not quite enough to keep me wanting more. With that being said, it is one of the better lime focused fragrances I have sampled (Bohemian Lime, Guerlain Homme, Foconero etc.) so I think it should be commended for that.

On my skin, this is like a mango and lime version of the Apple and Lemongrass perfume from LUSH, called Love, they smell like sisters.... almost non-identical twins when worn. Love is more medicinal and stronger, but feels quite similar to wear. The deep dry down of Frank veers off and gives me slight vibes of Shade from LUSH - their stunning sweet sandalwood and olibanum perfume - but with a fruity top. Frank is a perfume that makes me feel happy! It's tangy but it's smooth. It’s zesty but it's sweet. It's bright but it's warm. Honestly such a joy to wear! You could argue that I don't need a full bottle of it because I have both Shade and Love and maybe if I layer them it will smell like Frank, but that doesn't stop me wanting a full bottle of Frank ‘cause it’s amazing! *I had to get the 10ml because I love the mango!