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.

Sample given for purchasing Tihota, opening with Litchi, lily of the valley, soon rose and sugar come to the center of the stage. Slightly vanillic. The opening reminds me of Dior Diorissimo. Floral fruity perfume. Definitely have a fruit jelly or marshmallow candy vibe.For me, it is quite versatile, it can be wear in many occasion and weather, Toward feminine side. Still testing it. The first impression is good. Considering to buy the full bottle. Edit: 21Jul2022 Finally I decided to buy a full bottle. The appearance of the bottle is as rough as expected. The top notes are a bit sharp, the smell is pungant at the beginning and overalll it is not the most natural rose scent, but it has an appealing charm. After 10 minutes of initial spray, scent transitioned smoothly, and to my nose the rose-fruit jelly or marshmallow smell is lovely and flattering. Although it smells candy like, its never childish. Love it! Suitable for women. All-year-round.

I’ve seen so many reviews here and elsewhere stating that this fragrance is cheap and childish, but I ask those people: are you actually appreciating the artistry in this scent? It’s smooth, well blended and bodied, no hint of harsh alcohol that is usually found in less expensive fragrances. It lasts, it projects, it evokes happiness- like a pink ray of sunshine. And it’s nowhere to be found, which makes it even more delightfully your own secret. Are you wearing your scent to enjoy it yourself, or are you doing it to impress people around you? I’m not young and I’m not ashamed to love this. I’m not ashamed to wear this. I feel enveloped by a beautiful pink bubble. This is the essence of youth. It’s a bubblegummy rose, it certainly has musk and vanilla? It gives off a tuberose-y vibe but comparing it to a tuberose fragrance, the floral is distinctly a sugary rose in this one. Love at first sniff.

Manakara might be the most striking litchi scent ever created. It is really intense smelling and sweet. Underrated and ultra feminine! Litchi and rose combo is very popular in fragrance today thanks to PDM Delina. But here is done differently. It’s a girlie scent, bright and juicy, linear but addictive. I like this and I would be interested to add it to my collection but I am not sure if is worth the price. It is an expensive scent and only comes in 50 ml bottle! While the scent gives me expensive vibes, the bottle and the presentation is too minimalistic for my taste. The bottle's design and overall packaging seem a little poor to me. I think they could have done more with the presentation cause this juice is certainly not cheap. If I invest a lot of money on a fragrance, I want the full experience to feel luxurious.

To me it smells like a wonderful alluring rose water pudding. The rose isn’t fresh or dewy more so sweet and slightly powdery. It has this custard like quality and I think the lychee helps brighten it up but it’s definitely an extra in this production. Don’t expect the lychee to be a main or supporting cast, I feel it’s just there to stop it from being too mature or serious. It’s sophisticated but playful, perfect for spring. It truly is special and unique. I’m so glad I have a full bottle. I say this as someone who didn’t get the hype of Delina and finds most rose scents aren’t for me. I feel Manakara adds just enough sweetness to hook the gourmand lover in me. If you don’t like rose scents, I believe this is still worth a sample.

Do you remember the soap gum? this perfume smells exactly like that... I'm really surprised not to see other similar comments. it's sweet and spicy. Honestly, I don't think I can describe the smell other than to compare it to the soap gum I ate when I was little. It's beautifully made, I can see myself wearing it in the evening in the summer or even all year round to go for a drink or to the cinema. can be worn for any occasion in my opinion. in the notes there is only rose and lychee, but it's definitely more than that. the vanilla is very present and I detect spices too. Honestly, I don't get litchi at all. I describe this perfume as a custard with Roses jam's, full of vanilla, sugar added and spices.Magnificent.

A few months ago I decided I wanted to find my signature scent. I knew nothing about fragrance and still know little. I bought a bunch of samples from lucky scent, just randomly picking more feminine scents. This was the first one I tried and was instantly in love... but I thought there's probably something better if the first is so good. My other samples were nice, but I always would come back to sniff Manakara...it is so addicting. I finally committed to a full bottle. Even though it is more pricey than I'm used to, I feel it's worth it. It lasts a long time on my skin and a little goes a long way. I feel so feminine and pretty when I wear this.

absolutely love at first spray. this is the most beautiful lychee-rose combo i've ever smelled. it smells like rose-infused lychee jelly and vanilla custard. the rose is very sweet but not at all medicinal like jammy roses tend to be, and the litchi isn’t too juicy or tart. this is definitely a gourmand-leaning rose scent, but it's creamy and refined. smells like a sweet, tropical princess!! a bit pricey, but worth the money because i've truly never smelled anything like it. i want my whole life to smell like this. UPDATE: ok yeah so this does kinda smell like hairspray in the beginning... but the beauty comes out in the dry down!!

I'm back. After wearing my sample again for the first time in a while (I've been saving it, as you can imagine), I just want to add that the longevity is impressive. We're at about the 12 hour mark and it's still going strong - I mean actually projecting. It wasn't loud when I put it on but it was noticeable and present and the volume has stayed consistent all day. I'm especially in awe considering I was sweating out in the sun today in 73% humidity/90+ degree weather. Not to mention the dishwashing and housework. I seriously wonder what percentage of perfume oil Indult uses. Yeah. This is moving up a few points on the want list.

This is MAGICAL!!! I didn’t know quite how I’d feel about it, given the the notes are so simple and few, but oh man, did this little gem blow me away! It’s so sweet, feminine and girly but doesn’t feel at all “immature”. It’s lychee HEAVY, with lovely fresh background rose notes to round it out and make sure it doesn’t lean too cloying. It has almost a syrupy quality about it without giving you a toothache. I like this so much better than the original PDM Delina (hot take, maybe). 100% worth the price, imo. And the bottle is super cute and modern, so that’s a bonus!

Honestly, I love this perfume, but I can't justify purchasing it for the price given it's weak projection and longevity. The scent itself is such a beautiful fresh rose with jammy litchi, straightforward and linear. There's almost no alcohol stink when you spray it, which I enjoy. Unfortunately I get one, maybe two hours at an intimate projection, and after that maybe another two hours where I have to literally have my nose on my wrist to pick up anything. It's a shame because it's really a lovely ultra-girly feminine scent.

Beautifully blended, very tropical fragrance. Strange that the true notes are not listed here. On the website it is damask pink rose, Bulgarian red rose, lychee from Madagascar, coconut note, candied berry accord, vanilla custard note, musk. I usually have trouble with tropical/coconut because they are never done quite right. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect tropical fragrance for years and I think this is the one. It’s sophisticated, smooth, and stunning. To me, it smells like flowers in Hawaii (+ more).

So, to me, Manakara smells almost like bananas when first sprayed!!! I know it sounds crazy but the first few seconds smell like tropical paradise. Mind you, my bottle is on the older side, the juice inside is dark dark pink and it may have deepened as time has passed. I also smell a subtle hint of vanilla and of course the ever present rose and fruits. This fragrance is a masterpiece! Francis Kurkdjian has done a fantastic job creating a rose that is fun, feminine but also unforgettable and exotic🍌🍍🌹🌴

Notes taken from the official website: Damask pink rose, Bulgarian red rose, lychee from Madagascar, coconut note, candied berry accord, vanilla custard note, musk. I wish Fragrantica would add all the correct notes on fragrances. Many of them are incomplete. This is beautiful. I knew I had to buy a bottle from first sniff. My only gripe is I wish it performed better. I get 4-5 hours before I need a top up. Leans feminine, but I wouldn't object if I smelled this on a man.

This is an olfactory orgasm in a bottle, I love this perfume so much omg! I'm not sure what it is, but it definitely hit the right spot for me on all levels and now I just want to bathe in it! Sprayed it yesterday on the inside of my elbow before going to bed and it was still going strong this morning, almost until midday! So the longevity it super good,I think I just go a little nose blind to it which is of course such a shame given how much I love it. 10/10 for me!

Incredible, amazing, beautiful. Smells like fresh candied rose jam in the most natural and luxurious way. This is an example of how to do intense sweetness right without it becoming cheap and synthetic! Like nature's candy. Edit: Both of my parents said this smells exactly like a scented pencil eraser from the 1970's. Its aroma activated when it was rubbed against paper. Apparently the likeness is so great that it was a nostalgic experience for them. We're Finnish.