Ruby – Eau de Parfum

When Ruby appeared on the market a couple years ago, I quickly procured a sample of the pure essence oil. I'm not a huge fan of gourmands, but I am a fan of Bruno Acampora. Intrigued by what the house would do with a gourmand, I took the plunge. And color me very impressed. I've not tried too many chocolate fragrances, but this is by far the best, most realistic one my nose has encountered. This never veers into "Tootsie Roll" territory as others in the genre can. Sweet, yes, but rich and dark, much more adult than juvenile. I do get a bit of fruit, maybe a little rose if I really hunt for it, but any additional notes are buried beneath decadence and musk. Ruby doesn't have a "polish" to it either. Rather, it's a little earthy and dirty (as in dirt, not sweat), plush but more dusty than creamy. Really, quite gorgeous. After only a few wears of the oil sample, I splurged on a small vial of the pure essence. And can we talk about Acampora's pure essences, too? They are not kidding around. The amount of scent packed into a single drop must be equivalent to whole bottles from other brands. I apply just the tiniest swipe to a wrist, dab both wrists together, then lightly run them along my neck. With only that minimal application, I'm surrounded by Ruby for more than 24 hours. That vial I purchased a couple years ago? I only just opened it yesterday, because that's when my 0.3 mL sample was drained! (To be fair, I don't wear Ruby all that often, but the sample got more than a dozen wearings, probably closer to twice that.) Bruno Acampora doesn't come cheap, but the bang-to-buck ratio is high. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention that Ruby makes me feel like King Midas with a chocolate touch. It seems to suffuse everything in my orbit with a milky luxuriance. Typing on my computer? BAM! It's now cocoa. Driving? BAM! The steering wheel becomes a solid, calorie-laden dessert. Loving on my pets? BAM! Edible chocolate threads replace their fur; ganache now pulses through their veins. So, yeah. Ruby is magical. Highly recommended.

Oooo! I had a feeling I would like this. Imagine a bittersweet dark chocoloate truffle, filled with cranberries, sour cherries, a little liqueur, and a heap of Bruno Acampora's original musc. I want to say "it's not gourmand," but it certainly is. 😝 But it is different from your average, everyday vanilla-baked good-smell-like-a-snack Hostess cupcake Zara spray. This is for adults only. There are some bright florals here (jasmine, rose) as well as some earthy notes (perhaps vetiver and iris) that give me an impression of potters clay. Projection is powerful!

I got the 30ml extrait, complete blind buy. I like it. After the dry down I kept sniffing myself and trying to think of what it smells like as it was very reminiscent of a smell I knew but just couldn’t remember. Then it sprung into my mind... Palmers Cocoa Butter. I suspect that is the cocoa of course — this is not a bad thing either btw, the smell is pleasant. The opening is cocoa, berries and I get pink pepper too — I wish the berries you get in the opening would hang around a little longer as the sweetness it adds to that dust-like cocoa smell is quite delightful. Ruby’s longevity even for the extrait is pretty spectacular. I’m talking 18 hours strong on skin type of spectacular (with just one tiny tiny spray). Don’t really get much projection or sillage with this (though I’ve only ever sprayed a teensy bit at a time), but probably the some of the best longevity I’ve seen. I imagine the essence oil would be next level. I probably won’t buy this again, but I will enjoy it while I have it.

This is fun, it’s really, really fun 🤩 Other reviews before this one describe perfectly what this fragrance is about, but they have yet to mention the sense of party atmosphere that Ruby can generate. The overdose of sweet chocolate in the opening seems never-ending, but it accompanies you from your place to the venue where the party is held. Once there, you can easily dance or drink wrapped in a whirlwind of berries and roses, oddly enough, not sweet at all, but tart yet captivating. It’s absolutely not an everyday scent, and it’s not for those who don’t want to grab attention: it’s playful, so considering its high price, it’s something to buy only if your mindset contemplates the possibility of wearing it just a few times during the year.

Photorealistic rich dark bittersweet chocolate - a prick of tart sourness that tingles a little. Very linear. I went on a chocolate perfume smelling spree a few years ago, and the rich realness of this has just taken the crown of authenticity.

I was looking for a classy scent with a dark chocolate note. Turns out this would be an incredible, sophisticated scent, if the chocolate note wasn't in it. This is a blast of sticky chocolate candy, floating above a gorgeous musky berry concoction. The two elements are entirely separate; the chocolate doesn't blend at all with the rest of the notes, it looms over them. The other notes blend beautifully together, and if the cloying chocolate note wasn't there hovering over the top, I would buy a full bottle without hesitation. Sadly, I can't get past the chocolate factory element. This makes me think of an upscale, attractive woman carrying a toddler who spilled cocoa pebbles all down his shirt. What a shame. 😔

First of all, this fragrance will last on my skin FOREVER. Amazing longevity. The chocolate comes across slightly dusty, something off about it. The berries and rose mix together and kind of just give it a "tang". The dusty chocolate and tangy notes combined with musk is just a no from me. I don't dislike this fragrance, I just don't want to smell like it. It's not for me.

I love berries, I love chocolate and I love ruby chocolate. I wanted to love this perfume but I don't, because I get hospital disinfectant vibes. If I push myself, I can smell a berry there but it's just not worth it.

So so bad... this is the most horrible chocolate perfum i have try ... go with gourmand coquin if you want something beautiful ...Ruby is old earthy dust

I love this house in general but Ruby is awful. I don't get any chocolate, only dirty and dusty covered by cheap red fruits body mist.

um...hey guys...prior comments...have you ever eaten "ruby chocolate"? im thinking maybe not... just like red velvet, it is made by taking non-alkalized chocolate (which is dirty and musty) and adding a dash of vinegar or citric acid which causes a chemical reaction that converts some of the brown pigments to red and accentuates some of the natural fructose in the cocoa bean. unlike red velvet, ruby is made with a special bean where the process leaves no brown pigments, fewer red pigments, and a higher ratio of white cocoa butter...which mixes to make pink (red + white = pink)...and leaves an oddly floral berryish taste as a byproduct along with the chocolate and vinegar flavors. most ruby chocolate bars have tart fillings like grapefruit. so...if the fragrance smells like chocolate but more dirty, musty, acidic, and slightly floral-berryish sweet...sounds like the perfumer got it right. (i do have the very recently released sample of the parfum extrait, which may explain why i dont get "cheap" in mine, but the rest of the comments....well im not quite sure how you were expecting anything other than what you describe)

i need to update on this one , i tried , i really did tried to love it , but there is something really off putting with this one i love bruno acampora musc, all of the muscs gold, silver bottle all they are AMAZING by far the best ones, i like bianco and nero as well. ruby is supposed to be the gourmand one and yes it does smell like white chocolate with berries and while not my favorite genre it would have been ok to leave it at that, but they added some musc, some rose and the whole thing turns headache inducing and my god the sillage is killer , this is a fume that won ́t let go i like bruno acampora a lot but with this house is not blind buy safe not even musc which in my opinion is like i said amazing ! i tried , i failed i tried many times on my clothes, on my hair and so on but is just too sweet , is very realistic but is just overwhelming

imagine this put your nose on a bag full of melted by the sun white chocolate bars and then you add a good dose of berries any berries you like , a little bit ripe but good to eat still . this is ruby i don ́t get any musk , any dust , any powder it just get in your face white chocolate with berries , i won ́t be everybody juice and you need to be in the mood for this it is definitely not an everyday wear for me at least , i like it but then i love bruno acampora i am glad i got the tiny oil bottle because that one is plenty. sillage is MONSTER just a drop really , this is just as polarizing as some very heavy gourmands like angel you either like it or hate it or maybe both depending on the day and weather , so i am happy i finally got a real gourmand because it really doesn ́t get more sweet and chocolaty than this fume trust and believe

I am using the Extract version from a Lucky Scent sample. I've read all the reviews on this, and well, on my skin it was beautiful. I wanted to try something out of my normal range (I don't like chocolate fragrances) and at first it was just too much, but only for the first few minutes. It lasts forever and it really is a beautiful fragrance. It does smell like chocolate and red berries to me. I don't get the other stuff people are getting like dust, dirt, too much musk, or plastic. On my skin I can tell it's made with quality materials and lasts forever. I won't be buying it, but I'm glad I sampled it.

Absolutely divine!! A biscuity wafery chocolate - and a coffee note! Once again :) wakes it all up - there is a twinge of tartness but subtle - it is needed though in these kind of rich gourmands. To me this is less dark chocolate and more a light wafer with a spread of jam. Beautiful gourmand and a little peppery - not feeling the rose (yet) will confirm drydown later. Drydown is so incredibly sweet!! I am all for gourmands but this is too sweet, even for me :) Still great scent though has oomph

Not up to the standard of all the other exquisite offerings from this house, although it is great to see BA try something different. Chocolate with strong plastic notes, reminds me of scratch and sniff stickers I used to collect as a kid! The vibe seems at odds with the context of luxe perfume oil. This is something more along the lines of what I'd expect to find at Lush or Bath and Body Works. Perhaps a fun little "grown up" gift for a very young girl.

I got a sample of the oil version of Ruby from Luckyscent. The chocolate note is sweet, strong and lasts forever, unlike other chocolate fragrances I've tried. I like the intensity of the chocolate note but there is something in the dry-down that puts me off. I suspect it's the musk, either the type used or too much of it? It's a little harsh to my nose. The longevity of the oil version is incredible, easily 12-16 hours.

WOW! This is the chocolate scent I have been searching for...this is a dark truffle with liquor, rose and ..maybe a cherry note? it is not like a candle, it smells like real dark chocolate truffles with liquor... It is delicious! a little rose and musk comes and goes but it is mostly dark chocolate, natural smelling, decadent and fun! It is amazing!

I really like the opening, smells like a strong boozy chocolate cake. Then it turns into a regressive coco pops left for too long into warm milk... Since I've never enjoyed this kind of dish as a kid, and considering its juvenile facets, I have a hard time enjoying it. For some reasons, it makes me nauseous, as if the milk was slightly sour...

So true the two reviewers who mentioned palmers cocoa butter and also how pink white chocolate would smell! Spot on! Long lasting and great sillage. Love the dry down as different to the initial spray which is more biscuity.