Manakara

Oooooohhhh.... wonderful!! I'm not the world's biggest fan of fruity florals, or sweet fragrances in general, but this one is exquisite. Basically the only type of fruity florals that I can wear are those with rose (or tuberose) as the dominant note and the fruits subdued and not too sweet. My small collection of such scents currently only includes Diptyque Eau Rose, Gucci Guilty Absolute for women and JHAG Mmmm - and I'd be happy to add Indult Manakara to this exclusive group. I received a small sample, and after wearing it just for one day decided that it is absolutely full bottle worthy. All Indult fragrances are created by Francis Kurkdjian, in his trademark minimalist style: he doesn't work with too many notes, yet somehow manages to create memorable and powerful scents that don't smell like anything else on this planet. Manakara opens very juicy, with a realistic and not too sweet lychee note, and after an hour or so it morphs into a powdery rose with icing sugar. It projects magnificently and lasts 8+ hours from just two sprays. All my colleagues at work were absolutely enchanted with it and agreed that this is what paradise must smell like. Hence Manakara goes straight to the top of my small wish list.

Notes: Damask Pink Rose, Bulgarian Red Rose, Madagascar Lychee, Coconut Note, Candied Berry Accord, Vanilla Custard Note, and Musk. I'd love it if Fragrantica would allow people to fix the notes on this (and a ton of other perfumes). Anyway, for me this is a masterpiece. The most beautiful rose scent I have tried! Mixing the rose with lychee has been done a lot but in Manakara I adore how the lychee gives the rose some sharpness, it's almost a little bit of greenery. The berries sit beneath these two providing some needed sweetness which is rounded out by that delicious vanilla custard note. In the first month or two of owning this I was devastated that it didn't seem to last. Now after a couple of months it is intensifying and is really something special. It's unique for this scent profile and lacks the screechiness of fragrances such as Delina. No synthetic smells here! Wearing it makes me feel like a queen and it is sweet and comforting. I actually enjoy the moderate sillage as it makes the fragrance feel special. You really need to be close to me to realise I smell angelic. This will always be on high rotation in my collection of over 100 bottles.

From the Indult site... Notes: Pink rose, lychee from Madagascar, rose jam accord, coconut jelly note, candied berry accord, vanilla custard note, white musk. An ode to the Madagascar region famous for producing the most beautiful lychees in the world. In the region that stretches from the flowering heights of the Rose Valley in Bulgaria, to the Turkish plateau surrounded by the Black Sea, grows a stunning flower that cannot be picked until the first dawn of the morning: The Rose. These powerfully scented roses are considered to be one the most precious ingredients in perfumery. A raw material that is able to combine the delicacy of the petals with the richness of the essential oils in a single flower, can only find its olfactory alter ego in a fruit that grows on the stretches of the island of Madagascar. This glorious island is home to the exotic, sweet and refreshing scent of the lychee fruit. Manakara is born from this beautiful alliance and this perfect balance. It is a true ode to the unique, exhilarating, dreamlike atmosphere of these regions. Every whiff of this scent is the embodiment of this flower-fruit marriage made in heaven.

This is the story of Manakara,the oldest of three pretty little sisters, Manakara,Miss Charming and Allegoria Bouquet Numero 2. All three are beautiful and radiant,they share a lot of physical features,they share the mentality and a lot of genes! Manakara,the big sister,is the most complex and sophisticated,yet playful and a happy heart! She has no age. Age never matters anyway... Litchi and rose (yes,it's been done before...),but deep,very well blended,with a boozy,warm,almost steamy quality,Manakara is so much more than meets the eye,so much more than one would expect from only two notes.Yes she is a fruity rose,but she has a slightly gourmand edge,almost like a rose/litchi jam,gently simmering on the stove. She is uplifting,approachable,but her class and quality shine! Warm,sensual and hypnotic,yet so young at heart,smiling and winking from time to time.This lady hates it if she is taken too seriously... Excellent longevity,very good sillage and projection. Last but not least... She will reward you with one of the most beautiful dry downs you've ever smelled in a perfume. Pure bliss!

This is so juicy and delicious and happy!! It's a beautifully elevated version of tropical punch that radiates joy and celebration. It is definitely for people who enjoy sweet scents (*raises hand*) and are confident wearing their happiness on their sleeves, so to speak. I honestly couldn't stop smiling while I wore this and felt like I was on vacation in a gorgeous floral dress and big floppy hat and making no apologies for it. As for the price, if I had a larger budget I would buy a bottle immediately (who doesn't want more joy in their lives?), and I don't question the quality of the ingredients or the blend. But as this fills such a specific emotional need, I'm not sure I would wear it often enough to justify the FB. I am an introvert, after all. I would buy a travel spray without hesitation. I bought a sample of this because I am experimenting with rose scents to inform my palate, and I discovered from this that I love my roses jammy, but this is slightly too fruity for my daily wear. I wish I could be this bold person, but I rarely am.