Supergloss

This is a beautiful rose with dark but soft spices - someone mentioned cumin, and I agree, even though that note quickly softens. It is lovely, and I got it for a very good price, but I can only give it a ”like”, since it is very weak. Maybe others can feel it as I pass them by, closely, but to feel it myself I have to put my arm to my nose. And I really want to feel my own fragrance. I percieve it to be quite oldfashioned, not modern. Not much tart berries to me. Summa summarum: even though I think it is too weak, I am glad to have it in my collection. Edit: A few hours later, I realize that this is much resembling JHAG:s Lady Vengeance Extreme; only that this one is so Extremely Weak - so of course I prefer my JHAG. But I can use this to layer with Histoires de Parfums Moulin Rouge (1889) if I want to enhance the rose and patchouli a bit. Or mix with something more modern, to get something else. But alone: no, it is not enough for me, unfortunately. Edit no 2, the day after: It projects better today. Maybe because it has spent the last 30 hours or so in my reasonably warm apartment? I am actually pleased with it now. Love the dark and warm spices. I’m upgrading it from being very weak to not quite so weak. 😜

This was a pleasant surprise. In the opening seconds it smells just like Rituals Rose de Shiraz (which I also like) but very very quickly it takes on a cumin/warm spicy clean sweat sort of scent which pushes the rose into the background. After a couple of hours this mellows out and the rose and patchouli come back and it reminds me of Juliette Has A Gun Vengeance Extreme but lighter, Mad Madame without the castoreum, or Agent Provocateur without the incense-y vibe (all three of which are personal favourites). Not a lot of red fruit or florals on me, but that suits me fine.

At first I was thoroughly disappointed with this, it started off with a dry vetiver reminiscent of cardboard, and a distant waft of berries. The dry down is the absolute star of the show however. And I’m glad I waited patiently for this main act. Fruity floral goodness takes over as the vetiver gives way, and it is absolutely breathtaking! It smells like a more grown up version of what I imagine every 2000s teen movie would smell of - glossy, sweet, and beautiful chaos🌸

This perfume is in my opinion if Lady Vengeance, Bottega Vanetta and Mad Madame had a baby. Upon the initial spray it’s quite floral and fruity with rose really standing out, after a minute or two the woodiness of the vetiver starts to surface. It’s a different fragrance, not a safe blind buy but if you do like the above mentioned perfumes you will like this one. It’s sexy and a little complex. It lasts well, I can still smell on my skin 6+ hours later

This isn't a total dupe of Portrait of a Lady, but it has it's similar distinctly unique rose opening that could only be achieved by the same artist. The dry down is more synthetic and fruity, but you can't deny they are from the same unique family. Supergloss is PoaL's younger 30 something sister. I'm hoping it's synthetic notes will settle or soften by next spring. It's early fall now.