Venenum Kiss

Wow! I thought I loved Venenum kiss for one reason and it turns out I actually love it for another. When I tried it in store I was treated to what I perceived as quite a kitsch, pastiche of a fluffy, pink fragrance echoed by the colour of the perfume itself. It still is this hot pink Cadillac of a scent with an extremely fruity, Jammy rose accord in the opening clearly backed with vanilla, it’s crystal clear and almost too cloying and too much to bare after about 30 minutes. I’m not one for labelling a fragrance too feminine for being sweet and rosy but VK nearly had me beat. However it’s when the Base notes of creamy sweet sandalwood and vanilla and a heart of leathery and opulent saffron take over this fragrance transforms (and not even in smell because all this is there from the get go) with the rose dying back and everything else chiming in, exuding quality. There’s something modern about it that I love, it has an almost pop art attitude, technicolour and unabashed. I really like it, I must say.

Very nice. My chemistry sometimes dislikes the saffron note but not here. It is the dominant note but it's closely followed by the sandalwood and nutmeg. It's way better than the Aramis Calligraphy! It only smells lia bit like Calligraphy saffron when it's starting to wain. I think the rose and artemisia add an interesting twist along with the often used amber and vanilla. The result makes me think of red wine. A sort of warm, perfumey wine. Ironic since I don't drink alcohol. It surrounds me in this warm room. Good sillage. The styrax remains far in the background.

I'm always moved to either love or strong dislike with this brand. This one is a love with a capital L. I seriously dislike most saffron forward/dominant fragrances, but this one is very well done. Somehow it comes across as a creamy, slightly spiced, sweetish rose. I think it's all the base notes playing well with the saffron and nutmeg, but somehow rose is an equal player and not overpowered. Not sure how that was accomplished with such strong supporting notes, but it is what it is, to my nose at least. Thanks Annie, for giving me the rest of your bottle❤

Oh this is delicious but you need 3 sprays - on the neck and behind the ears then in 2-3 min the surrounding fragrance reminds of freshly baked spicy cookies. Although the opening is rose forward and up close I can feel a sharp floral note, the surrounding fragrance is sweet, comforting and slightly spicy, probably the nutmeg and not very rose forward, reminds me more of rosewater than a green or musty rose. Warm and scrumptious, way better than I expected! Perfect for colder months

A denser scherzo by Miller Harris. They have the same DNA and smell really similar. Venenum Kiss is a bit dirtier and spicier while Scherzo is a bit more light and innocent. One if for mom and the other is the daughter. It is a feminine oud and it is stunning on a woman. Very different scent that what you usually smell. Performance is great and Fall/Winter/Spring scent. I love them both. Ex Nihilo didn't disappoint me till now with any of their scents.