This July Evening

Wow a rich and controversial perfume, I've never come across such a Vanilla ! My first encounter with it almost brought me to tears. Dominant Notes: Vanilla, Chamomile, Star Anise Secondary Notes: Blackcurrant, Immortelle Subtle Notes: Jasmine, Cinnamon, Myrrh, Styrax, Tonka, Turmeric Nonexistent Notes: Rose ingredient listed on Floraiku's website* It's the exact scent of the sun dissolving into the horizon as the earth exhales its last burning breath. It's the transition from day to night, the movement of the earth, the dynamics of the plates. The taste and scent of the sunset that lifts the heat stored in the soil, the sand, the roads, the coppery flowers, the ferns, and the spices of Martinique's market. A very special time, from 5 pm. to 6 pm, when night makes evidences of a hot day evaporate around you, hanging on until the following hour, sadly its absolute demise. In nature, it's an ephemeral scent, lasting only a moment (60 minutes flat), whose olfactory composition is a thermal and atmospheric variation. It's for all islanders, all those who have left their islands or the equator. And for the others, it will be the scent of summer in mainland, or elsewhere... as its name suggests. You'll experience a very similar nostalgia, the one that precedes our endless summer nights. The first seconds evoke a warm, sunny glow, an invisible, peppery Vanilla (pink peppercorn style) induced by the Chamomile, herbaceous and frankly divisive. Spicy or aromatic? A fragrance much less floral, less "almond" and fruity than Amouage's "Sunshine" but much denser, more sensual, and dimensional. A vanilla with pollen and dried flowers like nothing I've ever experienced, it pulses gently on the skin with a warm and languid vivacity in the shadow of a green blackcurrant and a fresh, star anise. Its voluptuous and enveloping personality classifies it as a lazy powdery fragrance; I even thought it contained a creamy ylang, turmeric, a blond iris, or a frangipani. Yet, none of that... But it's only in its drydown that we understand its balance, this almost medicinal burnt vanilla edged with resins (Styrax, Myrrh, Immortelle). The air is heavy, then laden with wax and the chirping of cicadas and tropical frogs. It's almost pagan; it's the scent of a climate, of an entire hemisphere, when the soil slowly gives up what it has drunk and absorbed from the sun, what it has swallowed, and I say soil because Chamomile resembles dust. I have a hard time catching a glimpse of Rose, undetectable to my nose. A scent that won't please everyone. In fact, it took me weeks to understand it myself. I'm this close to making it my signature. But if you're looking for the twilight memory of a never-ending evening and a fiery, ember-like sky that reddens from warm to cool tones, from orange and fire, to violet pink, then mauve, then black... this is the one for you. ♥ 10/10 ♥ The cap lid reminds me of the plumpness of antagonist Boo in Dragon Ball ドラゴンボール.

I got the sample from Floraiku website, it's very convenient that you could try almost everithing from the brand. I wasn't exited about it reading the notes, but I really loved it. It's not intoxicating, not too sweet, very natutal vanilla sweet (thats why it's more unisex leaning). It's not overpowering and headache inducing for me, like with a lot of fragrances that are not fresh or woody. I could enjoy this warm vanilla with some flowers at the base, definately giving that summer evening wibe, but considering it's VERY hot summer. Maybe even hot summer evening in the garden with honey on the table and wheat in the fields, more in the end of July/start of Summer. It suits every season and day-time in my opinion. If you ever tried vanilla absolute you will find it there. If you want something really unique, thats might be not it. Though for someone like me, who isn't very experiensed with indie/niche fragrances it's standing out. Normally, I don't like most of the designer/mass segment and most of my perfumes are from Jo Malone or some series like Jardins Hermes/ Aqua Allegoria. If you have similar taste you also might like it. I think that Crichet Song from the same brand have the similar wibe, but with more green/grassy (like, sun burned grass) notes, little bit more nasculine. I am a women, and Like them both and think I could wear and enjoy both. Sand and Skin goes to this category as well, but less sweet.

First of all, the notes listed here are incomplete. There are like 10 more listed on Floraiku's website. This is a gorgeous, gorgeous vanilla fragrance that is extremely unique. Seriously, I have never smelled a vanilla like that. The opening blasts you with sweet star anise, then vanilla comes in almost immediately, and then something floral that I could not put my finger on for days. When I finally looked up the full notes, it hit me: Tagetes aka Marigold. It adds such a distinct warmth to the scent. And of course, the peaceful, modest chamomile is also here. This is truly a scent of a sunset hour on a very hot July day. The colors change to golden, the sun is still hot, but not scorching, everything is calm and still. A 10/10 for me, but I am a rabid fan of chamomile and a lover of vanillas. Longevity is kinda blah, perhaps 5 hours. Projection is minimal to low, which is how I like it because it makes it perfect for work, where I spend most of my time. This one is one of the least known Floraikus, but give it a chance! It might surprise you as it did me.

Ambery vanilla, a little smokey. A few seconds of an animal smell - passes quickly. I don’t get a lot of flowers. Not a gourmand but I get a slight gram cracker note? I did sample before I bought as this is very expensive. Super cute fun package with the travel spray cap but I would prefer it less expensive without the fluff packaging. For me this is an 8/10. Wish it projected more. It doesn’t feel like a summer scent even though July is in the name. In the US July is very hot. You need to reapply every couple of hours. Maybe that’s why they include the travel spray/cap

I love floraiku but this was a disappointment. It’s similar to memoire d'une but without the almond-y greenness (and performance) and more jasmine. Virtually a skin scent at application and practically undetectable after around 3 hours. Edit: I have to admit that this grew on me. The projection is still terrible but the longevity is actually decent nose-to-skin. Surprisingly as a Guerlain fan girl I’m not crazy about Angeliqué; however this guy is kind of a similar idea that works better on me. Stalked gray markets until I found a steal and went from like to love~