Desert Flowers Dahlia

I had the good fortune to purchase Desert Flowers Dahlia and to be honest, I wasn't expecting much. The opening is a bit confusing because I can't make out what it is that I smell and I can't claim I have smelled Dahlia. It is odd that I don't exactly get any of the notes listed but after smelling the fume carefully, you can can pick out and relate to the notes present. This kind of scenario is a first for me and I find it very interesting. What I do get in the later stages in what seems to be my imagination is something like crunchy honey comb (maybe due to the cypress) cracking open to reveal subtle hints of jasmine, a very very faint tuberose which could be acting as some kind of soft vanilla like base (if that makes sense). What is obvious here is the orange blossom note which is present in most stages. The Tuberose doesn't take over the composition as I have found it usually does in other perfumes that I have tried. It is all somewhat floral but not exactly floral so men should not shy away. It is not luscious and neither ethereal, I wouldn't even say it is creamy. Whatever it is, it is very pleasing and creeps up into your nose to remind you of it's presence for hours on end... 12 hours and counting and it's not even that faint! It does remind me of a more powerful version of Boadicea Invigorating minus the mentholated licorice note which I am craving to smell and I can't because I sold my bottle in my bout of idiocy (and because it was a bit weak) so I feel lucky that I have in a way been reunited with something I really loved. All in all, I think it's a very good composition, it's different, not loud, not a skin scent but has some great persistence. The bottle is something different to look at and despite what the pictures may seem like, the yellow-gold bits are not plastic! This really does add to the value of the product I think. Finally, I do not understand why this has never come up on anyone's radar and why I have never heard of any fuss being made over this. It has some serious potential because it is very easy going yet has this character which is not normally associated with mainstream stuff. I wish I had found this sooner and I wouldn't have wasted my money on so many mediocre niche offerings. Maybe it would have sold well if it were repackaged and sold by a popular brand name. What a great big shame! I feel the need to introduce this to my family and friends because it feels like a revelation.

Scent: 8 This perfum is a flowers bouquet into a bottle. I dont know how a dahlia smells (i hace seen thwm lot of times but never realized them having scent) but if its similar to this would smell wonderful. What i find here the most is a flowers similar to chrisanthems. The mix with Woods and and spices makes the fragance very interesting. I feel It fresher than intense or sweet. Longevity: 10 This perfume has a great longevity. On my skin It lasts more than 8 hours and days on clothes. Sillage: 8 The projection is good, and It projects with a good intensity around 4 hours. Everybody os going to feel your presence wearing this perfume. Quality/price: 10 It usually costa around 90€/100ml but It is easy yo find very good offers. I got It for only 9.95€/100ml so i bought It blind and i am very satisfied. Versatility: 8 I must day tht people can use this perfume everyone and everywhere because It is not an invasive smell but as It is not very intense o think is more suitable for a daily use. Ideal for working ir going to the faculty. 100% unisex. Global: 8

Wow! I must say that this is a really underrated scent..First of all it is QUALITY - lasts a LOOONG time, not watered-up, it smells expensive and intense - in this sense it could stand in line for competition with any Tom Ford or Chanel creations, and no kidding here! I must agree with all that`s said above - it opens with an intensive honey or honeycomb kick (I was surprised that this note is nowhere to be found here..) and slowly opens up tuberose, vanilla, wood and dahlia, this latter one is mainly in the drydown for me, and also pepper, which makes it maybe a small bit strong, maybe even masculine just a tiny bit. But all in all it is a very potent and complex perfume, right amount of sweetness, right amount of flowers and wood. An ideal scent for winter or a night out, or if you just want to envelope yourself in something mysterious, oriental that lasts all day without being heavy or intrusive. I absolutely adore it!

I must contradict greuceanu. In my opinion is NOT a masculine fragrance; it leans toward being a conventionally "feminine" perfume. I do not pick up on oud or suede at all, because Dahlia is so expertly blended. The base notes must be supporting the glorious florals though, because of its depth and richness; this is definitely an oriental perfume. Dahlia is very powerful if over-sprayed and can be overwhelming in a confined space - please be warned! I own this and Peony from the Desert Flowers range by JDP; both are - in my opinion - of niche quality. I would love to own Lily, the third perfume in this series (but have been unsuccessful sourcing it), because lilies are my favourite flowers; they are highly toxic to cats (I have three), so can no longer have them in my house or garden. If anyone has Lily available to sell or swap, please PM me (I am in the UK).

@Mark0 I think you should wear whatever you like, irrespective of it being designated for men/women. Perfume has no gender. In my opinion though - of the two Desert Flowers scents which I own (this and Peony) they are traditionally very "feminine". I hope this helps you. ETA I can see one of the reviewers below me has described it as masculine! Perception is a strange thing, isn't it? I suppose I should qualify my opinion by explaining that I own a lot of perfumes which are designated "unisex" and love traditionally "heavy" oriental scents from the 80s, some of which would be considered masculine to many of today's sugar-loving young women.