Lover in Dark

Blind-bought this based on the notes (was particularly curious about thyme) – and it didn’t disappoint me! Opens rich and fruity, with prominent plum. Then it becomes warm, woody, enveloping, and sweet without being cloying. A bit powdery – just the right amount. Enjoyable and comforting. Yet it’s the thyme that makes it absolutely addictive to me. I loooove thyme – as a cooking herb, as tea, as aromatic ingredient in cosmetics, as the summery smell that fills the air on the hilltops under the scorching sun. Thyme is the central jewel in this olfactory crown, supported by cinnamon and vanilla on the flanks – yet surprisingly, these delicious ingredients don’t make this scent edible. Maybe drinkable? It does remind me of herbal tea. It’s a bit similar to Oriflame’s Amber Elixir, but lighter, brighter, and with just a touch of herbal bitterness. If you like Amber Elixir, but it feels too heavy for everyday wear or too “migrainey” for a stuffy office, try this one. It’s a “love” from me, which doesn’t happen too often. I’m still hunting for the scent that I wouldn’t get tired of in a day or two and Lover in the Dark is number one in the running. By the way, I don’t perceive this scent as particularly “dark,” rather, it’s warm and pleasant – like staying in the shade during the heat wave. Mind you, neither do I see Dior’s Midnight Poison as “dark,” so maybe I just don’t understand what “dark” means in perfume.

So, despite the bottle being absolutely hideous, the juice inside is amazing. This is a very interesting scent. I didn't have in my collection anything similar to this and I must admit I am very glad I bought it. Upon the first spray, it was sweet-spicy but with a twist. Then, it became intensely powdery but with a fresh undertone and at the same time, the spice was really alive in the background. Then, a masculine aromatic touch started to develop and at this point I could really picture smelling this on a man and truly enjoying it. Later, the vanilla came in the spotlight, while the powdery notes remained, but toned down a little. The fruity side is not so prominent to my nose but I don't mind. I also don't mind that it tends to lean masculine at some point, on the contrary. Overall I think this is a pretty complex scent and it's a real pleasure to smell it throughout all its phases. It has a certain depth that intrigues me. It's like a warm, safe and intimate embrace from your dark lover, so under this aspect the name is well chosen. I see that the notes are almost identical to Alive by Boss, but I tried that only once a long time ago and I'm not sure about the similarities between them.

Being aware that perfume is a subjective matter, I don't agree with @carat, @nakota and especially @valentina.marini's reviews. I don't sense any putrid plum, no harshness or cheapness in this perfume. It's a dark, spicy, strong and lasting scent, with great sillage (at least an arm's length), of great value and quality for its price. On my skin it's not linear at all and it takes at least an hour to develop. It's mainly a masculine scent, more suitable for cold(er) weather. It's not identical to YSL Libre Intense. Golden Decade from Zara is a spot-on dupe of Libre Intense.

What a beautiful fragrance. It smells far more expensive than its actual price. I got a 50 ml bottle for only €6. I blind bought it thinking it would be a dupe for Hugo Boss Alive, but honestly, I like this much more. Personally, I think it’s actually closer to Seductive Noir by Guess. I don’t really understand why some reviews describe it as masculine. I suppose it could be considered unisex, but to me it definitely leans more feminine. I get the plum and apple in the opening. After that, it becomes mostly an aromatic woody vanilla fragrance.

A fragrance that opens fresh and fruity, sweet without being cloying, but quickly evolves into a pleasant woody fragrance with a hint of vanilla in the background. I see it more suitable for times on the cool side, and very sensual for nights. I really like the bottle, although the cap is plastic, it fits very well, it does not fall off. It's worth it for its low price and I don't have anything like it in my collection as I don't have many fragrances with woody notes. I think it will be a new favorite.