Ambuscade

Opens with a bright, sparkling, vibrant burst of freshly chopped, cold, sweet fruit. It’s heavy on the raspberry but there’s red currant there too, strawberries and I’m getting a little whiff of pineapple, maybe even pear. This is a sweet fruit bomb! There’s a little bit of tangy tartness from the fruits, there is a slight hint of green that stops it tipping into jammy and keeps the sweet fruitiness, fresh and playful. It takes a while for the peppercorn to emerge. Raspberry takes centre stage in the middle, but the other red berries continue on into heart too. It’s here that the peppercorn is retained and it pulls the berries toward a rhubarb note, which is really pleasant. My nose struggles to find any woody notes in the middle, maybe just a hint that gives it a whiff of freeze dried raspberries? There’s a spicy tickle on my nose of warmth and coziness from the nutmeg. In the dry down I’m not really getting the white florals or violet used in the base. There’s a little powder there, yes, from the violets? A definite brightness from the violet, maybe. Some soft, creaminess from perhaps jasmine or gardenia in the white florals but you’d struggle to call it this a floral accord. It’s a lightly spiced, fruity dry down that has lasted 5-6 hours. It’s a rhubarb and ginger gin liqueur , poured over frozen raspberries and topped up with cold, summer berries sparkling water. It’s a summer perfume for sure, but It’s versatile enough that you could wear it in the winter with the hint of cozy spice from the pepper and nutmeg. It’s not overpowering, and suitable for day wear or the office. Its nice. It’s not unique, it’s uncomplicated, it’s fresh, sweet, fruity, feminine, pleasant.

smells like a cloud of freeze-dried raspberries with a spicy undertone. dries down fruity, not super powdery or floral. not super complex but does smell good! doesn't leave much of a scent trail but is very noticeable on skin for <6 hours. i wouldn't go out of my way to buy more but i will use up my bottle :)