Mojave Ghost Absolu

Mojave Ghost Absolu is definitely up there for the house of Byredo, creating a realistic, sweet melon scent that is unlike any other. I recently visited the Byredo store in search of the infamous Bal d'Afrique, but was shocked to find that Mojave Ghost Absolu resonated with me more. The opening lays out a strong, sweet floral/melon mix with a very faint spice in the background. It dries down to a bright and bubbly melon drink type scent, with the high concentration making it so it not only projects well in the air, but lasts forever on skin. It's light and very pleasant, a very unique fragrance to say the least. This is definitely a warmer weather star that leans a little more on the feminine side, with the sweet florals giving it that sense. However, Byredo tends to overdo their fragrances from time to time, with Mojave Ghost Absolu possibly being in the suspect line-up for this trend. Its overly-sweet scent profile could be headache-inducing for some but also extremely pleasing to others. The dry down neutralizes the sweetness to an extent, but is still the main component of this fragrance, and what makes it so good. Overall, the refreshing sweet melon scent combined with its airiness and strong DNA, Mojave Ghost Absolu keeps itself in the top three in my opinion for the Byredo house. It's unlike anything I have smelled before, topping the other melon and floral scents I have smelled by adding a pleasing, hyper-realistic sweet melon done to perfection. Over time, it begins to lean into the sweetness and melon that it is praised for, staying true to the hype and deserving a high rating. Edit: Mojave Ghost Absolu is my most recent pick-up and has probably taken first place in my fragrance collection. Mojave Ghost is a refreshing melon/floral scent that lasts for a decent amount of time, projecting at a decent length. An easy wear on spring or summer days but defiantly kept for warmer days. It's sweet but not overwhelming, something I admire in this fragrance, and gives off a natural scent. Mojave Ghost stays somewhat linear, not changing too much for me when applied on skin, only evolving more into a cedar(ish) base with its other primary notes. Of course, it is also very unisex, another thing that Byredo does well in all of their fragrances. Although it can been seen as a little more feminine due to its middle notes of florals and sweet leaning profile, I think it holds the line. Mojave Ghost is unique in itself, with melon scents not being heavily advertised or hyped up. However, Byredo does a great job formulating this one, taking a step up from the original. It's defiantly a fragrance you would want to sample before purchasing. Simply put into a few words, its a mix of Louis Vuitton Imagination and God of Fire with melon mixed in. The balance of sweet with not being overdone as well as being fresh with its florals makes Mojave Ghost a summer time go-to for me. I'm very excited to wear this and have already been noticed for this scent the first time wearing it after purchasing the 50ml bottle.

My colleague tested this in her lunch break and came back smelling like she had transformed into a goddess who just spent her day in a spa in Bali. From a distance, its a predominantly warm, woody and musky smell. Almost spicy, but too smooth and rounded for that. It smells like a more elegant version of Chanel Chance eau Tendre, but without the cloying quince in the headnote. I of course also had to sniff her wrist, it was slightly fruity and floral, but that does not reflect in the projection. Its warm, pleasant, just enough to keep the fragrance from being stale or boring, but to me, those notes don't take a prominent centre stage at all. I don't know anything about the staying power, but the projection is really interesting. I can clearly smell occasional whiffs across our office from her, but its not cloying or anything. I left the room for a meeting and when I came back, it was a really muted scent in our 25sqm office room, it didn't take up and occupy the entire room as you would imagine, it was a very elegant and restrained presence, yet with a surprising prominence on her. Whenever I can smell a fragrance on a colleague to this extent, the entire office stinks of just that. The balance they found in this is really interesting. The price tag is criminal, but then again it makes Chanel smell cheap with its exquisite sophistication. I bow to the perfumer who created this gem!

Compared to the original EDP, the fruity notes, especially the sapodilla, are much easier to detect, while the powdery aspect has been toned down and pushed further into the background. In my opinion, what made the original fragrance so captivating was the rich balance between the shampoo like freshness and the soft powdery texture. That dimension feels less prominent here, making the fragrance sweeter, fruitier and slightly more conventional. The difference between the two is not dramatic, but the performance is noticeably improved. The fruity sweetness feels richer and more saturated, while the longevity and projection are stronger. As much as I am in love with the scent of the original EDP, I always found its performance and projection a little underwhelming. This version performs better in both aspects and leaves a stronger presence. However, it does not feel quite as mysterious, atmospheric or melancholic as the original. The EDP has a certain quiet depth and emotional character that I find more captivating.

This is basically a repackage of Marc Jacobs Daisy. To be fair I've always felt that one was more unisex. It has the sour note that lots of male designer frags have. It's a beautiful scent but for some if you are reminded of MJ Daisy or Chanel Chance eau Tendre it might make it hard to shake the association. My biggest complaint though is the performance, longevity is 9hrs plus, just the projection is so light, where for many you are going to forget you are wearing it. Especially men, since we can't spray it on our hair and run it throught with our fingers down to the tips (excluding men with majestic manes ofc) This is such a soft projector for most people, (it's meant to be) but those fortunate enough to be more sensitive to the smell will get a nice scent bubble. The rest, will have to live with others complementing you on the scent you don't detect without sniffing your shirt.

I've never owned the OG Mojave ghost, only ever tried it at the store, but based off reviews I decided to buy the Absolu. Pear-like quality, warm and slightly dry. I almost find this fizzy or sparkly in a way almost like smelling champagne. Very unique! From what I can tell I'd say the Absolu is slightly more sweet and not as dry/crisp as the og. There's definitely longevity in this one stays on skin for 8-hours at least, yet it stays close to the skin and remains inoffensive. For me it's perfect for work or casual days. One thing about this one though it's super comforting and just wonderful to get whiffs of during the day. My boyfriend loves this and tried it on himself but he doesn't think it suits him, possibly because I'm the one wearing it and he associates it with me? I think it's slightly more female but it's definitely unisex.