Ghibli

Obsessed. Counter-intuitively, this is a sweet, heavy scent that somehow wears very well in hot, humid weather. For me it's definitely an evening scent, and one spray from a sampler is enough to provide ample sillage. It's more syrupy than I usually like and I definitely agree with GizPop's assessment of Ghibli as 'upscaled scandal by JPG' - it feels like a designer fragrance but done with really high-quality ingredients and excellent balance. The other difference is that Ghibli offsets any sugar overload from the nougat with a green-sharp note (the leather?) that isn't immediately noticeable but is a beautifully odd minor facet, making the perfume feel much more lively & interesting than I first registered. Growing on me by the week. EDIT: I first wore this during a heatwave in Rome, and the nougat-leather harmonized beautifully with the high temperatures, urban pollution, and big-city energy. Trying Ghibli now in cold North-European weather it feels a bit harsher and more assertive, although still very much not a day perfume. Maybe this perfume just needs hot Mediterranean air to really flourish...

I don’t recall how I came about this brand but someone suggested I try khamsin although my eye was set on ghibli after my research on the brand. I got khamsin and said this is a TF ombré dupe ( didn’t know it was the same perfumer that created both) - thankfully, I got a sample along with the bottle so could send it back for refund. And then I listened to myself and blind bought ghibli - and as always, I was correct lol! (Yes yes I’m being sarcastic). An absolute gorgeous take on leather, I do not smell nougat at all but plenty of honey surrounding an abundance of leather.... Gorgeous, simply gorgeous! It’s not easy to find a realistic leathery scent for women without smelling like a dude and thus far I only succeeded to have one in my collection (Galop Hermes) - this is my second addition and a valuable one for sure... now excuse me while I go get myself a backup bottle as apparently this gem is discontinued../

I love and adore Ghibli. This one isn’t talked about as much as its counterparts, but it deserves some recognition. This is the 2nd Ella K I’ve tested next to Lettre de Pushkar. I love how Sonia has evoked a sense of exoticism in these fragrances. I truly feel like I’m transported somewhere else on earth when I smell them on my skin. I’d say Ghibli is pretty unique in that I can’t compare it to anything. Yes the note composition of Fragrantica is incorrect. See AleksOud’s review below for the real composition. I get Nougat dripped in honey & a little saffron, with touches of neroli & jasmine— The leather isn’t too prominent IMO, which I’m okay with. It feels very regal and enchanting. Job well done!

Very unusual sensation for me at the first sniff. Quite impressive, since this scent didnt sound like anything i smelled before in a perfume. It intrigued me. I wondered; what am i smelling? Something gourmand, dense and creamy, but not heavy. Its like a good dessert that contains the right amount on salt and sugar in it. But there is this expensive feel to it, thats very inviting. It says nougat. I agree... this is what you smell at first, and after a while, leather takes off. This is a very intense and sensual fragrance, strong but not "in your face". More so it gives off strong "atmospheric" feel to it. Very sexy!

I agree with Aeternitas below that this is perfumey, this is exactly what I thought too, think about feminine warm perfumes from 90s like Poeme. Ghibli however is more fruity, as if with plum juice but still warm and feminine, maybe because of flowers or honey. I can't smell leather at all, it is classically very feminine. Great for autumn or date night as it exudes warm woman vibes. The notes from their website: Nougat, neroli, saffron Imperial Arabian jasmine, hawthorn, toasted barley Leather, tonka bean, honey Edit: it developed that arabic oudy base that I don't like so I won't be buying a full bottle.