Dita Von Teese Scandalwood

So this grew on me, over time. Initially, from a decant, I thought, this is very nice, if not exactly my scent: The blend is beautiful and weirdly linear, yet nicely blended at the same time. To me, and on me, it smells like a dry powdery rose scent but very sophisticated with mild dark notes in the background. Nicely done. I am very picky about rose scents, and I don't like them with too much punch or too sweet or synthetic. This is not like that at all. Some reviews note "creamy" but I don't get that on me, which is great. I kept using the decant. When I ran out, I kept trying to go back for it, and kept finding it was empty. Then I was sad. So just bought a full bottle, and it is on its way and I am counting down the days, because, for now at least, this is my new fall/winter signature scent. It's a mood. The only downside is that longevity and sillage could be better (but it is clean so that is the trade off) but I love it so much that I don't mind reapplying. It's that good. Note: Overpriced for the amount you receive given sillage/longevity so try to get a coupon or wait for a sale. That's what I did.

What a journey this scent takes. On my first sample, I thought it smelled like cooking meat. Like someone wearing perfume who sat in a restaurant for too long and the smell of the food was on their skin. I wrote it off as not for me and set the sample aside for a few weeks. When I revisited it, I changed my mind completely. It opens with an intriguing smoke, like an expensive heavily scented incense. It's not wood smoke, not cigarettes, not quite incense, just lovely. The smoke disappears in about 5 minutes and gives way to a white floral smell I didn't initially detect. This might be the scent the eventually breaks me into enjoying white florals. My brain says jasmine and smoke, a little sour, no soapy scents at all. But there is no jasmine in it, it's ylang-ylang, and bulgarian rose. A witchy date night scent. Dries down to a soft barely there sandalwood, nice. Revisit Edit: I have really come to love this scent, it lasts so much longer then I originally gave it credit for. It's intriguing, smokey, yet somehow clean like fresh laundry. It's so nice.

I'm not sure if this has been reformulated, but the current version has a clear bottle/juice (not red), and the notes (according to the Heretic site) have been pared down to atlas cedar, coriander, Bulgarian rose, labdanum, sandalwood, and white musk. On me, this is my HG sandalwood scent- not sharp nor dry and lacking the pencil shaving and pickle juice quality that many sandalwood scents have. This is smooth and creamy, a little rich without being cloying or heavy. I couldn't tell the rose was there at first until I looked for it, and it enhances the sandalwood moreso than standing on its own, if that makes sense. It makes it smell more velvety. Unfortunately, it disappears in a flash. I sprayed this a couple of times on my collarbone and shoulders before a wedding, and did not smell it at all after my initial spray. It is July, and though I would think hot weather would amplify the rich base notes, maybe it needs cool weather to really shine. I find this perfectly unisex. I would definitely buy a full bottle if it lasted longer.

I feel sexy and confident when I wear this. Such a sensual, sultry combo of deep woods, musk, and rose. The labdanum gives it just the barest hint of smoke, while I get a bit of vetiver and patchouli in the far background which impart an earthiness to the woody backbone. The rose is never dominant but always there, lending femininity to what would otherwise be a unisex scent. I see that several reviews mention ylang, which is interesting because I don't get ylang at all, nor is this note listed in the ingredients on Heretic's site. I think this perfume was recently reformulated, so maybe there was ylang in an earlier version? After about 6 hours, a spiciness becomes prominent - a mix of black pepper and coriander - that makes me realize it was there in the background all along. I find this to be extremely long lasting on skin, I can definitely still smell it the next morning after applying in the afternoon. When applied to clothing, I can still smell it after several months even after going through the laundry.

I'm reviewing the new iteration rather than the Dita Von Teese version. I've tried a lot of the gothic woody Heretics, and they haven't hit quite right like this one does. I tried it first in warm weather, and the woody notes hit wrong, but it's a stunner in cool weather. What I love most is the real sandalwood note, that smells lightly rosy in itself. But it's bolstered by a soothing damask rose. The wood note here smells antique and definitely goth. It's cedar that's mixed up with clove and patchouli. Plus, the cypriol you'll find in the full ingredient list gives it that lovely feeling of breathing in cold air on a snowy day. My only complaint is that, like many Heretic scents, this just doesn't last very long on my skin, even on clothing. It starts to fade in just 30 minutes, but I can get more time out of it with a bit of petroleum jelly on my wrists, but it fades all too fast. Still, you can't beat it for a gothy woody fragrance with a hint of rose. I'm not sure it's scandalous, but it's nice.

I purchased the rollerball to test out this perfume because my body emphasizes spicy and woodsy notes, like coriander. Surprisingly, the coriander note is present, but softened by the ylang ylang and the rose note. This is a beautiful woodsy, floral perfume that dries down into the most beautiful creamy skin musk. I usually avoid celebrity perfumes, but I’m fan of Dita Von Teese and her aesthetic, so I knew this perfume wasn’t going to be the usual run of the mill, sickeningly sweet celebrity perfume and would be true to her style. I wasn’t expecting to love this perfume the way I do and I’ve already run through half of the rollerball. I’m planning on investing in a full bottle. It’s a sexy and sensual perfume, that I'll continue applying liberally, while releasing my inner femme fatale.

I am high on my own wrist right now. Heaven in a bottle. I don't know what it is in this perfume, but it smells like real musk oil. It smells like a combination of Cinnabar and Opium from the 70s! I can't stop smelling myself. Got the little sample bottle to try it because it sounded good. The notes listed didn't do it justice. I still don't know where I'm getting some of these notes but wow! I feel like I've been given special dispensation to smell REAL PERFUME again after three decades of insipid imitations. Oh, there are some fine perfumes today - one of my favorites is Sandalwood in Oak - but this blows it out of the water. Put the subscription bottle on my list. Wish I could afford a full bottle. Or two, since Dita Von Teese creations seem to tend to be limited release.

Got a mini of this and Nosferateu. I was excited to try my first Heretic perfumes and ended up spraying each once on the back of each hand, right hand this, left hand Nosferateu. Full disclosure, I have recently discovered i Cannot wear santal 33, my skin is just giving pickles. 2 hours later, I can still smell Scandalwood and keep sniffing it, Nosferateu is entirely gone as far as i can tell (I'll give it a shot on its own another day). Its perfectly genderneutral in my opinion which is Perfect for me and I am so grateful the sandalwood doesn't come out briny. I'd say intimate projection but not wholly a skin scent, at least on me. Definitely planning on getting 10ML one day if I can!

One of my favorite fragrances of all time is the long-since-discontinued-and-totally-unavailable Erotique by Dita Von Teese. (Stylistically, there are virtually no choices Dita has made that don’t completely work for me.) Her fragrances were absolutely fantastic and absolutely in-line with her overall aesthetic. It was an easy choice to blind-buy Scandalwood. I practically squealed with delight when I first smelled it and picked up a distinct similarity to that long-lost love, Erotique. It is so very sexy, sultry, and exquisite. I’m in heaven and will most definitely buy a larger bottle before this one becomes unavailable, too.

I was so, so disappointed by this. Not for the scent; the perfume is lovely! Burning floral sandalwood incense never smelt so lovely. The problem I have lies in the sillage and longevity departments. The sillage is skin-level at best, and the longevity? Two hours, max, before I need six more sprays to get me back to weak again. This is a beautiful, beautiful perfume. Absolutely stunning. But, because the longevity and sillage are so poor with this fragrance, I don't deem it remotely worth what you have to fork out for it. If there are cheap dupes anywhere, I'm all ears!

Really beautiful, the notes listed don't seem to describe the fragrance well. I pick on an aromatic aspect I can't quite place and don't see listed here. It is close, and not very long lasting. Beautiful in cooler weather. Given the overall performance, it's outrageously overpriced. Atomizer is cheap and has a jerky action that's messy. Thought I got a lemon but my others from Heretic are the same. Exterior packaging, though, is quite nice (and fun too).

Very sensual and smooth. The opening is definitely my favourite – when you get the spiciness of coriander with bois de rose and Atlas cedar. Ylang-ylang ties in warmly with the rose and really compliments the sandalwood and is consistently smooth and creamy. It is a natural fragrance and you can definitely appreciate this during wear. Longevity is amazing, and stays close to the skin.

It starts with an oddly overripe smell, but within seconds transforms into the prettiest dried rose petals with lovely perfume woods underneath. It's simple but extremely lovely. I thought it was very feminine, but my brother who prefers masculine scents (and sandalwood particularly) said he would wear it. I just wish it were bigger.

They should have updated this one. The Scandalwood I tried is just called Scandalwood, and the liquid is transparent. It has a kind of dark feel to it, different from other sandalwood scents. It’s a bit similar to the style of Kilian Sacred wood, which I quite like.

I adore this fragrance, especially in the fall. The notes of woods and rose give it a classic, sultry vibe, but I could see how this fragrance could be overwhelming or even musty to some. I just wish it lasted longer on my skin, especially with that price point.

I love this fragrance. It reminds me of creed viking due to its shared sandalwood and Bulgarian rose notes. No salt accord nor mint. Still testing it out for longevity and complements. I feel it is more of a night out fragrance but will see. Sexy and unisex.

The grown up version of my 1996 Sweet Roses Polly Pocket compact that had a little rose shaped bottle of perfume attached to the top of it. Smells like light wood shavings (gets darker with age) floating on a languid pool of deep rose water. Sublime

This scent is TOTALLY DITA! I love it so much! This is the scent I wear to my burlesque performances and practices, as it gives off a very sensual and sultry vibe. Very heavily incense-like, and oh so lovely.

Favorite from the house out of the 10+ Heretic samples I purchased! I didn't even realize it started as a collab with DVT, but makes total sense. Sexy, vintage, and a little spooky; I'm in love.

Addendum: on my skin, it lasts. I still get a hint of it the morning after(9pm to 9am) on my skin. Even longer if on my clothes.

I blind bought this looking for a simple, femme-leaning unisex warm woody scent. And it’s not exactly that. But it is great for other reasons. It opens with whole coriander seed, cedar, and rosewood. The first moments are definitely male leaning, but nothing agressive or sharp. It’s more clean and cool. It quickly dries down and the woods become front and center, and the vibe turns fully unisex. Maybe even non-sexed! It smells very authentic, stripped down, with no elaboration. Like I’m literally holding three freshly cut pieces of wood in my hands. Equal sized pieces of sandalwood, rosewood, and cedar. It’s very calming smooth and serene, but I don’t get anything milky or warm from this. It’s definitely cool at the top, and dries down to being coolish/neutral on the hot-cold spectrum. It doesn’t have that dusty sun-baked warmth of Santal 33. No vanilla or tonka or milk to warm it on your skin. However there’s a distinct oily/waxy/resinous layer too it which is interesting (the myrrh I assume), and keeps it from being too dry and temple-like, or dusty. If someone described this as smelling like a piece of oiled wood furniture they wouldn’t be wrong! But a modern piece of furniture. Not vintage. And it doesn’t smell like a wood shop thank god, no dust or wood chips here! I previously bought Dries Van Noten by Frederic Malle, which had exactly the woody milky warmth that I LOVE, except for a bitter, sharp, piercing base note in the dry down that I couldn’t tolerate... I had to return it. And I’ve occasionally worn Byredo’s 1996, but am usually overwhelmed by the intense patchouli + waxy note (which to me smells like very very old lipstick that has become sour). Very interesting but not something I want to wear! Scandalwood has a nice blend of the best parts of Dries van Noten’s woods, and 1996’s lipstick. But overall it’s its own thing. My overall impression is a Scandinavian unisex spa/sauna vibe. I used to buy this wonderful lotion at the drug store by a brand called H20 in a scent called Teak Rose, which was recently discontinued, but it was PEAK fancy feminine woody floral spa vibes and I miss it terribly. This comes extremely close! This would be the unisex version though. I should say too that I totally get how this is squarely unisex in the perfume world, but as far as my own collection is concerned, this is as ‘male’ as I can actually enjoy wearing without having a gender identity crisis mid day. (I’m a cis-woman with some androgynous features so I generally like my perfume to skew decidedly feminine and “pretty”.) If this had a little buttery, salty, vanilla or tonka warmth or sweetness, to me it would be a home run. And sadly I don’t get many of the floral notes in this at all; the ylang ylang is sorely missed. But it’s still a great scent. Especially for a world in which covid never happened! Low siliage and inoffensive scent is great for office wear (Lol! As if offices will ever be a thing again!) Or for evening/event wear if I were wearing something too va va voom and needed to ground it. (Events! Remember those?!) To those who were let down by the lack of ‘sex’ in this scent, it’s not hard to see the ‘scandal’ in Scandalwood, with a little imagination. Fresh lipstick and hard wood? An intellectual interpretation, sure. But pretty on the nose if you ask me! But seriously though, nothing about this perfume screams f*ck me. It more whispers, “let’s meditate.” UPDATE: wore this all day and though all of the above still stands, it's just not for me. Selling mine if anyone is interested!

Nowhere near as naughty as the name would suggest. This is a soft, varnished rosewood that transports me before a crackling hearth. Or maybe it smells like someone wearing rosewater in a cedar-wood dry sauna. For whatever reason, I can’t shake a slight hickory barbeque accord. Think more a savoury/smouldery woodfire instead of a tobacco. There’s nothing edible listed in the notes – and I wouldn’t say it smells meaty – though there’s something about the cedar-smoked rose that is borderline mouthwatering. Like most Heretics she flits away after three hours, but the final hour has the the smoothest, most satisfying transition into a singed-petal powder. Mental Snapshot: A gourmet supper in an alpine chalet, snug within an antique armchair. Burgundy velvet, burnished leather, library shelves gleaming with vintage trinkets. You’re dining with an old friend or a partner. Or blissfully solo. Or a tempting stranger. (Choose your own adventure). The windows are sugared in snow, but the ornate fireplace holds the room in a warm embrace. There’s not a single item on the menu the chef wouldn’t recommend, and they’re right. tl;dr: bbq burlesque? 🥀🍖

Scandal... where? This is no doubt a pleasant fragrance. Elegant, sophisticated, and understated with subtle complexity. I could imagine an Old Hollywood starlet spraying this to accompany her everyday engagements during autumn. You’re greeted by the spicy coriander and contemplative myrrh opening - trancelike and solemn. There is the lovely sandalwood heart which is exquisitely matured by the smooth blend of cedar and rosewood. The rose is ever so slight, it flutters. But overall, the florals are very demure. White musk and orris carry the fragrance in a clean, powder-like direction. It didn’t meet my expectations and isn’t at all erotic and riotous as I thought it would be. It’s intimate, and delicately sensual, but I feel even a nun could wear this. Sillage is modest, and the longevity is underwhelming. It quickly becomes a skin scent after about 2-3 hours on me. I feel like if you wanted “scandal-wood”, Santal Blush by Tom Ford would suitably fit that description.

Testing blind a rather soft leaning raw leather, suede and woodsy shoe polish feeling with some warm fuzzy tones and burnt hay. There's a specific raw - inside leather (work) gloves memories being evoked by me, but it's offset my a musky sensibility that has more depth. Looking at the notes (and now aware of it's intention) and other categorization, it's humourous to be how it gets so categorized a feminine so quickly. I find it more masculine leaning but clearly unisex. On the notes, I get no ylang-ylang, but the rest are floating around, but overall the musky interior of a warm raw leather glove is what I get. While I like it, it does at times leave me eh. The raw element is a bit too big at first, but it reduces to much to a skin scent while I prefer it's midday blossoming, although long lasting at a rather intimate distance. Something I'm sure Vita would embrace.

I feel like some of the dislikes here are probably because of the way the scent was marketed - as a scandalous, erotic scent. To me, there's nothing particularly scandalous about Scandalwood. It's a soft, dry blend of rosewood, rose and mildly milky sandalwood, with a clean base of white musk. The white musk is blessedly free of the synthetic smelling "laundry musk" scent that often is present, but it does smell pleasantly clean. It smells like some blender or fixative was used to make it a little airy and not too creamy or heavy. It's light enough to wear year round. Elegant but very restrained. I could understand this not fitting the definition of "sexy" for many people, but I suppose it's subjective. Dita is a burlesque artist and into BDSM; maybe for her, restraint is sexy. Average sillage, average longevity. Mild like.

This scent is not really what I was expecting. Floral and coriander make themselves known right away, and quickly fade into a musky cedar with a hint of that sandalwood and rosewood to balance. Reminds me of an old cedar chest, or maybe a block of cedar kept in an musty closet. This faded quickly on my skin. The drydown is pleasant, and very classy, I could see myself wearing this for a special intimate event, but unfortunately my life as of right now does not have many occasions where I would consider this an appropriate choice. I would say its more intimate and classy, where I was hoping for a more punchy, spicey, sexy experience. From that initial spray to the drydown, there is a small period of time where I was picking up the aroma of a fresh load of woodchips.

I love this fragrance. It’s a collaboration with the iconic Dita Von Teese and it reflects her style and personality. It’s a great blend of spicy sandalwood and rose, clean and dirty, just like Heretic Parfums likes it. The brand uses natural and safe ingredients and it’s cruelty free, which I appreciate, even if that means that the lasting power is not going to be great. I feel a duality in this fragrance: on one hand it’s sexy and alluring and on the other hand, I think it could be a very relaxing scent with those woodsy accords and that superb musk. It makes me feel confident and glamorous. Wear it at your own risk, but if the Scandalwood bottle could wear lipstick, it would be red.

I guess you either like it or you don’t. It either meets expectations or it doesn’t. Meh. I really love this one, though it doesn’t last very long sadly. It’s smooth and sexy, quietly beautiful. A waft of each note; lightly sweet incense, sueded leather, and a warm sandalwood... this is late night scotch in a dimly lit lounge, Fall rain, finding that comfy spot in bed immediately... a really peaceful, content, comfort. I would have really loved that rose note, but it’s not there for me. Unisex, though it may be more masculine if you typically appreciate sweeter frags. 7/10 (more if it lasted)

Upon first spray I was addicted to it, it give me the same vibe as “jazz club” from replica except that it seems a bit sweeter. I cannot really pick out the rose note in it very well, but the labdanum note (which is quickly becoming a favorite of mine) is apparent in this. Unfortunately as it dried down, it took quite a turn. I could mainly smell a bonfire crackling on logs. It became very smokey and for me personally that is not a smell I enjoy too much of. I think this perfume would be really sexy for many others. If you enjoy smokey, bonfire, sandalwood scents, this one is for you!

Wow. This lasted forever on me - just one spray and I can still smell it the next day on my skin, after a shower. Comes on with a punch. This is extremely mature and sexy and expensive, so much so I can't imagine I'd wear it more than once or twice a year. A rich spicy sandalwood that is both clean and mildly creamy. The middle notes of roses and ylang ylang are fresh in the first half-hour but fade. For the right event: black dress, night, in winter, fireplace, red wine, ultimate confidence - this would be divine. If I caught this on someone else, I would probably feel intimidated.

This is a solidly-constructed scent, but I agree that anyone looking for something scandalously erotic will have their great, or even modest, sexpectations dashed. This is initially a sandalwood that is so smooth and creamy that it's almost milky. When it dries down, there's some nice realistic rose and ylang ylang and a bit of sharp coriander and cedar. Overall, it's a light, easy-to-wear woody floral. It's not Heretic's most creative offering, but it's a quality everyday scent.

Got myself a tester after ordering from Ditas site; I was so excited to finally try this as a huge fan of Dita!! It is a beautiful rose, very leathery and spicy ion first spray. But then you get to know her and find the milky sandalwood and rose petals beneath. A lot like Dita herself! It’s a lovely fragrance but I can’t see myself dishing out the £230 on a full bottle. I’ll keep my tester for special occasions and maybe pick up a 10ml at her show as a collectors piece.

I finally found the rose scent that works with my skin! Normally, roses get very pungent and nauseatingly sweet on me, but this one is not, it starts out woody but quickly switches to creamy and then the rose comes through, but this rose is not sweet, it is mysterious and dark and seductive but at the same time hidden, lurking in the shadows. I can see Dita von Teese in it. The sillage is rather intimate, like most Heretic fragrances but that's how I like it anyway.

The reviews below noting how "synthetic" Scandalwood smells are funny because Heretic Parfums claims to only use all-natural ingredients. I don't get "synethetic" from this at all. Smells exactly like the Silence brand sandalwood incense sticks that were responsible for starting me on my fragrance journey years ago. A very smooth and comforting scent.

I got a sample of this a while ago and I remember it totally lived up to its name. However, the most recent version no longer has Ylang Ylang and it smells way more unisex but at the same time, it’s not as strong and I’m a bit sad about it. But it’s also more inoffensive so easier to wear any time of day/year.

I really enjoy the smell of this perfume, as on me it smells like a creamy sandalwood and I think it works great both on its own or for layering. However, it's expensive - and for the price I really do wish it lasted longer, as I often find only a very faint bit of it remaining after a few hours.

I was expecting this to be more potent, but it’s a very demure, almost neutral fragrance on my skin. Definitely very woody with a hint of spice. Unisex but leaning slightly more femme. It’s perfectly fine, but I wouldn’t pay for a bottle.

I love the sandalwood base, but the rose+evergreen combination smells a little like a winter-scented candle. Suggests a Japanese temple where for some reason they are preparing for Christmas. Still, I like it.

On my skin, this is just cedar and sandalwood with a hint of rose and smoke. Beautiful but quite transparent and short lived. But beautiful nonetheless ✨

This is what I envision old school hollywood actresses smelled like. Classy, a touch of amber & woods, sexy and sultry.

We're shifting gears completely from the quiet, fleeting sweetness of Dirty Vanilla now, preparing for a much bolder, more glamorous encounter with Heretic Parfums’ appropriately named Scandalwood. This isn't just another fragrance; it's a collaboration with the legendary burlesque artist, Dita Von Teese, transforming what would be a simple wood scent into a statement of provocative, vintage glamour. I'm not expecting the typical soft, creamy sandalwood—this is designed to be disruptive, aggressive, and undeniably sensual. This instantly suggests a dive into a darker, highly textured, and aggressively woody aromatic experience. The central challenge here is whether this composition can successfully retain the beautiful, creamy core of sandalwood while injecting it with Dita's signature sense of scandal and edge. Does it manage to be a dark, wearable masterpiece of cinematic sensuality, or does this raw, natural approach make it simply too abrasive? Let's find out together what secrets this scandalous wood holds. Opening: The opening is a complex blend of woody, floral, and earthy accords. The primary notes I perceive are Atlas cedar, Bulgarian rose, myrrh, and sandalwood, with the Atlas cedar and Bulgarian rose being the most prominent. The cedar hits the nose first with a dry, slightly sharp woody accord, joined by a noticeable "pencil shavings" facet. Behind the cedar comes the Bulgarian rose, which is rich and velvety, with a jammy floral sweetness. Next up are the myrrh and sandalwood. The myrrh, while squarely behind the cedar and rose, is instantly recognizable as a deep balsamic accord with a strikingly earthy edge to it. Lastly, the sandalwood rounds out the opening with the usual soft and powdery woodiness it's known for. For being the namesake of the fragrance, I assumed it would be much stronger upon the opening, but its role seems reserved for the dry down. Dry Down: The dry down is defined by its woody, musky, and powdery character. The primary notes shift to be sandalwood, white musk, Bulgarian rose, and myrrh, with the sandalwood and white musk now at the forefront. The sandalwood has risen to the top, finally fulfilling its namesake role with a smooth and powdery, almost creamy woodiness. Joining the sandalwood at the top is the newly manifested white musk, which gives the dry down an intimate, skin-like warmth; very similar to the types of musk used in Le Labo fragrances. This is followed by the Bulgarian rose and myrrh. The rose is still present as a sweet floral note, but it is much softer and gentler than it was in the opening. Lastly, the myrrh closes the fragrance up with a deep, ambery accord with some remaining earthiness. Further into the dry down, it becomes a mostly musky fragrance with woodiness underneath, reminiscent of Le Labo's Another 13. Performance: The initial projection within the first hour is strong, easily reaching out about six feet. Sillage is also very strong, leaving a heavy scent trail. After about 3–4 hours, the projection had died down to about three feet, and the scent trail was noticeably lighter but still perceptible. At around the 7–8 hour mark, the projection stayed within arm's length, and the scent trail was only faintly noticeable. The fragrance became a skin scent soon thereafter, marking respectable but not "beast mode" performance. When to Wear: Scandalwood is an extremely versatile year-round fragrance that can be worn during the daytime or evening. Its gentle and unassuming nature makes it fit for essentially any scenario. Whether it's casual, a special occasion, formal, or even office wear, Scandalwood will easily fit the bill without causing offense. Blind Buy: I'd say this is a safe blind buy for anyone who enjoys gentle, sophisticated, and unisex musky/woody fragrances like Another 13. However, do not let the name fool you into expecting a sandalwood bomb, because that's not what this is; it's a soft-spoken, elegant, musky wood. Final Verdict: Scandalwood turned out to be a very safe, gentle, and mass-appealing fragrance that ultimately stayed far more easy-wearing than the name or the Dita Von Teese collaboration led me to believe. The composition, built on smooth sandalwood and clean musk, presents itself as a beautifully versatile option with moderate but respectable performance. For that admirable versatility—a fragrance that can truly be worn anywhere, anytime—I applaud Heretic Parfums on this creation. However, my personal preference leans toward fragrances that are bolder and more exciting. Scandalwood is simply too soft for my taste, and the clean musk profile with the added rose, particularly in the dry down, leaned slightly feminine for my preference. While I applaud its refinement and easy wearability, its inherent safety and lack of the promised "scandal" mean I will not be adding this fragrance to my collection. Sorry Dita. Scent: 7/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 6/10 Versatility: Excellent Mass Appeal: High Gender: Unisex, leaning feminine. Value: Overpriced

I thought my mind was playing tricks on me when I thought I could smell a lowkey charcoal on a barbeque kind of scent with this, but based on some reviews here that seems to be noted by others. Unfortunately, on me this fades into essentially nothing after that. Perhaps a faintly nice scent after the burned wood smell I get at the start, but it's as faint as what my hair would smell like after washing it with some sort of mildly scented baby shampoo. Thank goodness I bought a sample first because I was so close to blind buying this due to it being a Dita Von Teese collab (I love the image she intentionally crafts for herself within the modern day of celebrity culture today). I've tried quite a fair bit from Heretic in the form of samples, and this one sadly falls on the spectrum of their perfumes that just don't last very long on me. I'll eventually have to use up the rest of the sample I have, but I'll probably layer it with other fragrances with the hopes of increasing its longevity on me.

This is a very gentle scent that can easily get lost, as evident by the amount of people saying the performance is quite poor given the price. It's certainly intimate, I'm imagining a small wartime home from the 60s with wood panelling, the bathroom consisting of a pearly claw-foot bathtub surrounded by vintage glass bottles filled with soaps and creams, lit by candlelight. It's a little mature, but there's certainly an elegance to it. At times I find it a bit too incense-y, taking away from the sophistication. After some wear, the woodiness wears off and it becomes more powdery and light, but again, almost too much so as the scent becomes far too delicate, almost nonexistent. If anything, it amplifies the natural scent of your skin, though alternatively, this can be sensual in itself. I've pawned this sample off to my friend, and she loves it, so don't let this review deter you if you're one for woody, delicate scents!

I don't know how to describe this. It's unscented lotion with labdanum absolute and a bit of australian sandalwood mixed in there too, or a blend that wants to be. A very tiny amount of rose absolute is also around, enough that it contributes, but it lost its identity as a rose. Definitely aged wicca vibes. I'd expect this scent in a lotion. Bitter and medicinal. It does not feel like a perfume. On the plus side.. it has EXCEPTIONAL lasting time. I cannot wash it off. Conclusions.. to me, it is not appealing, and that's coming from an natural-everything girly. I am trying so hard to like this bottle because the brand is ethical enough to show their ingredients, and the goth branding is on point. I'll be coming back to this bottle for that reason.

I am very much impressed (but a bit coldly) by this fragrance from Heretic Parfum in terms of the effects it produces: I would never have guessed you could get a perfume quite like this from the notes used, and I can't even imagine which notes generate which particular results in this case. It smells like burning cedar, with some sandalwood mixed into the conflagration, and quite a bit of musk. I am surprised by the enthusiasm this perfume generates in the reviews here, because it's just not appealing to me: but I do appreciate the complexity of this fragrance and the thought that went into it.

As a firmly sandalwood and sandalwood-adjacent fragrance wearer, I was very excited to try this. Interestingly, the rose really takes over for me and I’m not a fan of floral fragrance myself. There are some great warm sandalwood notes but it definitely leans on the creamier side of the scent. The rose settles down as you wear, but the floral note was a bit too heavy all around for my nose.

It's a little bit on mature, slightly old fashioned side of perfumery. I don't think it's awful in fact I don't mind using it once in a while but every time I spray it my husband in next room screams, "eww, old lady powdering her private parts smell" >.>

This is Erotique with a heavier price tag. Longevity and sillage is also exactly the same as Ditas original. For those of you missing Erotique, here it is, just prepare to spend more.

Dark, gothic vibe. Black roses sprouting from rotting wood in a strangely beautiful way. 🥀 Intriguing. Skin close, had to spray a lot & press nose to skin to detect it.

Sweet leaning dark woods, and roses with a hint of wood stain. It stays close to the skin. Reads non-binary/genderqueer to me.