Solar Bloom

I REALLY like this perfume and it's been my go-to everyday lately. Funny thing though, I initially had a weird experience with the charcoal note, because it smelled SO strong when I first tried it on myself and my clothes. Having used this for a while now though, it's like my nose adjusted and the pungency of the charcoal disappeared. Now, it just smells like it's blending well into the perfume. I think the charcoal note creates this tropical island vibe but not in the 'I'm going on a vacation now' way, more in a 'I just got stranded on a random island au naturel' way. This is because the charcoal note reminds me of a natural vulcano on an uninhabited island, and it's really intriguing to me. I'm also always excited by coconut notes in perfumes and while it's not super prominent, I do detect a soft refreshing sweetness of it. I don't smell the vetiver at all though sadly. I think the floral notes are quite subtle as well and I prefer that because I personally dislike smelling like a flower bomb. I think it's because the coconut water and charcoal notes keep this scent from being florally dominating, and the combination of these notes adds a 'raw' island feel to this scent which grounds it in a refreshing way. Overall, I think Clean Reserve line doesn't have the strongest sillage and Solar Bloom isn't an exception. However, longevity wise it does perform better than the other scents in the line. I think this line overall is good for those who wanna use a perfume but be more subtle at the same time.

I agree with @perfumenoob, could’ve used more coal! BUT! That doesn’t take away from the fact that this is an amazing and very different scent. One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone who lives in the Northern Hemisphere who says something smells tropical and perfect for “hot weather” when what they really mean is 20 degrees! 20 degrees is what a very cold day in December is like for us in the actual tropics ! So most of what the Northern Hemisphere pals recommend as great tropical scents never end up working for us in the actual tropics. Today is a 32 degree hot as a furnace and super humid day. And folks... this is a stunner! If Clean Reserve can amp up the charcoal and improve the lasting power, this would be a staple in my perfume diet, you best believe! (EDIT: it has about 6 hours of longevity! Be warned though, you do get anosmic to it after about 2 hours but others can still smell you! I know it’s annoying but, can’t say that it has bad longevity) This is what I wished Tom Ford Soleil Blanc smelled like. Soleil Blanc has monstrous longevity on me. Do I recommend this? Absolutely. Find me on Instagram @perfumedmemoirs

This has to be tested on skin to appreciate it, and appreciate it I do! Gorgeous, very surprised! I was nervous about this because vetiver is very loud on me and patchouli is a note I don't care for, but the charcoal really tames those down. Just a smidge of coconut to smooth the fragrance. Smells like a deep breathe of fresh air at a luxury spa. I can see this doing very well in the searing heat and being refreshing. My signature is becoming Skin from this same line, but that may be too sweet for the 90+ degree, severely humid days of Iowa summer, and this would be a very good substitute. Something about it though is also elevated enough that I could see this as a good professional fragrance. Very clean and "put together".

I spritzed a sample and then loaded up on sunscreen and sat out poolside on a sunny July afternoon and I gotta say - it really worked. The chemical pina colada of the sunscreen mixing with the perfume’s fresh coconut and florals (plus a hint of pool chlorine) was fantastic, and out in the heat this projected far enough that it got comments about how “something smells sweet.” This might be a new casual summer fragrance for me. Edit: well, I’ve just about used up my sample, and a full bottle is on the way. It’s a great everyday summer perfume, bright and light and creamy. I do get the wet asphalt smell of the coal, and it keeps the smell from going too tropical.

This is exactly what I wished CB I Hate Perfume's Wet Pavement was. I am so impressed and surprised, and would've never in a million years thought I would find a scent like that in this range with this name. The coal accord is exceptional, it smells exactly like petrichor, it's damp, it's refreshing, it's muddy and milky and floral in a very satisfyingly bitter way. It smells like what having a mouthful of dirt would taste while it rained in a parking lot full of freesias. I try to test every sample I come across for exactly this reason; I would never have expected to find a scent like this here. This is the scent of spring, and just so vividly portrayed.