Go Ask Alice

The negative reviews are mistaken. This one constantly makes it onto my top ten lists. The best thing about Go Ask Alice is its complexity. Do I smell all of those notes? Yes, at one point or another every iteration and combination wafts forward. En Voyage uses a lot of botanicals (though not solely) so there are always layers upon layers upon layers. That isn’t to say individual notes aren’t perceptible. The gestalt is an exquisitely floral/dry citric opening (primarily bergamot/bitter orange) usually (but not always) kicked into ethereal dryness with a light touch of the pepper. It isn’t a Pepper Perfume, but the drying effect of well-used pepper notes is there. The patch is also findable as an aged, dry, botanical and classic patch. The other gestalt aspect is a sort of classic, dry amber/clean skin aspect. The patch is also one of the effervescent aspects. It can take on a slight pot/leafy note. You can get a real old school green frag (a la 19) feel at times. A beautiful lemon rose and straight rose note keeps this very rich and expensive smelling in all the formulations. While GAA is a dry/aromatic scent, the cocoa (not individually findable to my nose but moderating) and labdanum/balsam (always findable to my nose here) notes ensure it is never bitter. It can have a warm texture, but has never been sweet on my skin. I like this in all seasons. It has no gendered feel, and all of the concentrations are lovely. You could think of this as a classic Eau de Cologne ((4711, JM Farina, Acqua di Parma) that grew a big couch of basenotes and then threw on a scarf of ‘60’s green. It is so witty and complex and yet just plain damned beautiful. There is not a thing about Go Ask Alice I would even consider changing and I almost never say that.

My first impression: a fruity, sharp and powdery patchouli. Go Ask Alice has an opening that is dry, citrusy and astringent. Dry down turns...., for lack of a better word, moldy. Like dirty laundry that is piled up in the corner of a frat house bathroom. There’s a bit of urine smell too. Maybe that’s the combination of patch and ambergris note? I don’t hate it but it is a dislike— a rarity for me as I can usually find something I like about a scent. I find Go Ask Alice to be very odd, so memorable, but not in a good way. EDIT: I can’t take it any longer, a scrubber!

Yuck! Agreed, this is a scrubber for me. Big no. It has a dirty rodent cage lining smell to me. Dear God. How can this be sold as a fine fragrance?! My body chemistry says this stuff is garbage.