Osmanthus 桂花

I wasn't convinced at first, it smelt very synthetic and kinda harsh at the opening. there is an artificial sweetener kinda smell, like it is sweet but hallow. After about 30 min though, this turns into a super alluring scent, very pure and clean floral with some fruity overtones. It is a super realistic osmanthus smell specific to how it is used in china, namely in dessert, tea, and plum drinks, they are flavored usually with dried osmanthus flowers. It does not have the overt leathery, musky, or animalic aspect of the flower when you smell it fresh on the tree. I would say this is a very realistic, elegant, fresh take on the flower. Very beautiful, if you tough it out the first half an hour. Lasts a long time especially on clothe. Wish this is more widely available outside china though.

I get a bit tart/sourness probably from apple, mandarin, bergamot. Maybe osmanthus, but it’s not dominant at all. There’s an undercurrent of greenness, perhaps slightly bitter. But in some florals, I do amplify the plant stem/grassiness.