Paradisi

The way Paradisi opens made me think of Terre d’Hermes - right or wrong - except if Terre had significantly more muscle on its bones. There is no transparency or translucency to Paradisi in the way Ellena presents Terre. Luminosity, sure, but mist-like weightlessness - definitely not. The grapefruit is definitely there, as is the mineralic-rocky-flintiness sitting underneath, but in Paradisi it’s quite a bit more wet and soil like. There was something very “modern masculine template” to the early stages of Paradisi, but very pleasing and not derivative. I was all smiles. The opening is cucumber water and their sweetly vegetal green skins, but the bitter green aspect of the cucumber gets a bit conflagrated against the bitter and zesty-sour fruit skins that take up a lot space in this opening as well. The fruit has an obvious tropical lean, I can certainly smell guava with its musky-strawberry-white tree fruit character, and perhaps oranges as well. Passionflower doesn’t have a smell, so, no, this is not present - ignore that part of the pyramid, and there is too much overlap between guava, orange, and grapefruit to probably call out passionfruit; Paradisi is also missing a lemon facet that is present in passionfruit, so vis-a-vis passionfruit can be ignored as well. But, it is clear at this point that the theme and the drive behind the perfume is sour soil. The sourness carries into the heart with a verdant and determined energy. The soil accord is beautiful, like a much simplified, more sour, and sans fecal version of Amouage’s Figment Man. Paradisi is pumped full of a good quality synthetic moss material, which helps with the feeling of “masculine template” refinement as the damp woodiness makes it highly approachable, but there are plenty of mushroom-y and wet top soil-like notes thanks to the sourness that is still continuing on, and that sourness dominates the sweeter and earthier notes forced underneath it. Paradisi is likely to become one of my new spring and summer favorites. It’s so very full of character, energetic, and addictive to smell - managing freshness while also managing to smell of biological decay. Criticisms? The only one I can levy is that it falls a bit into the typical McCall trap of “so many synthetics, so little definition” - it’s almost too abstract - everything is presented as a solid mass with few discernible beginnings and ends to the notes. That makes it tough to read for a perfume geek like me, and tends to trip some of my hair triggers; this isn’t a perfume for the keen-on-details. However, that is part of what needs to be remembered with McCall’s style, generally speaking, and it also seems to be the theme of Paradisi delivered in a very convincing and well-balanced way: don’t focus on the trees, focus on the forest. Paradise isn’t a tree, after all.

Jorum Studio is a fragrance house I wouldn’t recommend if you are a new perfume head or have a general interest in niche perfumery. That doesn't mean the fragrances are not outstanding, but it does mean they are challenging for the novice nose. Paradisi is not a tropical fragrance. I don't know how many of you may have thought what I thought, which was obviously Paradise equals tropical. Although there are elements or traces of tropical flowers in this composition, this is a very Green and very earthy fragrance. And when I say earthy I mean earthy! You can smell the soil. You can smell the tomato leaves and you can smell the mushroom. As a true Capricorn, I absolutely love it. I don't even have to show my mother, for as a true libra, she's going to hate it. Perhaps you may be thinking you will experience a bright and citrusy opening with things like cucumber, grapefruit, orange, pink pepper, guava etc. The honeysuckle sold it for me as a bright and delicious fragrance that gently transitioned into a woody and earthy composition. That is most definitely not what happens! But that is OK. If you are looking for something that sits very close to the ground and collects the beautiful materials that emerge to make and create an earthly concoction, perfect for this time of the year, then you have something really special. Borders on Wicca. If you are into that, I recommend you check this out and see if it matches your style.

You’re on a first date with a hot gardener. It’s a humid day in late May or early June, and he spent it taking care of the flowers and vegetables and fruit trees growing in his backyard. He didn’t bother changing clothes before meeting you this evening for aperitifs at a fancy bistro, where he looks out of place in his sleeveless tee and ripped cutoffs and dirty sneakers, but he’s cute and effortlessly charming enough to get away with it. He has the energy of an earthy farm boy who quietly appreciates the finer things in life; he doesn’t care that you can see the flecks of soil under his meticulously trimmed fingernails; he knows a great spot for foraging mushrooms but won’t take you there without blindfolding you; he has a degree in Latin poetry but doesn’t make it his entire personality. After a round of Aperol spritzes, he picks up the check and suggests relocating to a dive bar around the corner, where you both get tipsy on guava margaritas and end up making out on the dancefloor. You notice he’s a little sweaty, not in a gross “wow you need to shower immediately” way but in a sexy “wow you clearly worked hard today and now you’re unbothered, moisturized, happy, in your lane, focused, flourishing” way. He smells like Paradisi.

Reviewing from a review from receiving Paradisi fresh from Fedex! I'll update after letting it rest but I was excited to take a whiff. So this is again very fresh, first impression. I don't get the soil personally! The fruits were kinda there for a bit but they quickly skedaddled away and what is left for me iiiiiis oil paint! I tend my garden regularly and I don't get any memories I have of my garden here. That disappointed me a bit haha yet again I am let down by natural photorealism in a scent, though yeah it is I think super dependent really on our experiences. Maybe Philippine soil is different? It is very sharp though and carries a lot of bitter fruit skin. Grapefruit I can discern. But! Going back to my oil paint comment, yeah to me it takes me to a painting class I took with a friend. It's the linseed oil specifically that I'm reminded of. I get the comments below on how it smells kinda sweaty, or how a gardener might smell under the sun and I do see it but more of an artist actually hard at work, perhaps painting a still life of tropical fruit with set of paints fully loaded (a bit too loaded) with linseed oil?

This is the only vegetal fragrance in my collection...so far. This scent reminds me of a jungle commune with very sexy hippies that tend to the land with their bare hands...and it’s hot (in every sense of the word). This is wet soil, moss, grapefruit, guava, and cucumber (I know it’s not listed, but I get tomato on the dry down) - and to me, it’s addictive. After spraying this for the first time, I just kept smelling my wrist and saying, “damn” over and over - it’s so damn good. Someone earlier said this is Frida Kahlo’s self portrait, and I couldn’t agree more. This is a jungle, Mexico City, Barcelona, and childhood memories wrapped in one. This feels raw and unkempt. This is not for yacht boys or anyone that aspires to be. This is an old artist that doesn’t care if you like their art or not, and they’re legendary because they are singular. This is not for everyone - absolutely not. But, I would love to know the people that it’s for. I live in New York, and it’s cold here right now, but this makes me want to take a vacation to somewhere untamed. For a green, vegetal fragrance - 9/10

Oh boy, this is an absolute GEM. One of my all-time favourite perfumes is Chloe Nomade, and I love how perfectly it blends citrus, freesia, and oakmoss. I love it deeply, yet it's almost too perfect, if that makes sense. Paradisi has this unexpected edge. If Nomade is a delicate forest nymph running through the woods and striking with her beauty and elegance, Paradisi is her forest water pond quirky pixie sibling who's a bit mischievous, likes to prank people, but also has incredible depth and knowledge. Hangs out with mushroom folk and tans in the sun while lying in warm soil; meanwhile, nibbling on grapefruits and gossiping with frogs. A completely unexpected wild ride through the freshness of cucumber and citrus fruits, to then turn floral and morph into soil, earthy, mossy, mushroom, almost incensy smell. Fantastic drydown. This is an absolute masterpiece. I can imagine myself wearing it all the time. It responds to that part of myself that is a bit introverted and often prefers the company of trees, insects, and all things nature.

Man oh man, where do I even begin???? Absolutely gorgeous. Having recently ordered a sample from Lucky Scent, I am beyond impressed. This is, without a doubt, to me, a green/ vegetal fragrance lover's wet dream. On my skin, it opens up with an extremely earthy, damp, and slightly spicy, pepper-esque fragrance. As it dries down, more of a crisp cucumber note emerges, alongside an amazing composition of guava, grapefruit, and rhubarb, all of which work beautifully with that strong damp soil component from the opening. It smells like someone has cut up all of these fruits and vegetables and buried them in extremely wet, damp soil in some kind of futuristic greenhouse. I dare call this fragrance "photo-realistic," as in when I close my eyes I can literally picture this setting, while smelling this. Seriously, if you love vegetal and/or green fragrances do not hesitate to get your nose on this. I'm definitely considering getting a full bottle in the near future. Overall I'd rank, Jorum Studios Paradisi a 9/10.

I am enchanted by this very unusual fragrance. I was actually hoping for more wet forest floor and less tropical fruit, and to my delight that is exactly what I got. I do think the notes here are probably confusing. Based on those alone, you would think this should be very fruity, citrusy, tart, and maybe a little sweet. There is a quiet undercurrent of these things, but the predominant note by far is the soil tincture. It feels like you are laying down in rich, wet, fertile soil redolent with mushrooms and decomposing trees looking up at the sky through the canopy far above. A gentle breeze that's exactly the temperature of your skin brings down the scent of the tall fruit-bearing trees and their flowers from above. I got a sample and immediately knew I had to have a full bottle. Love it or hate it, it knows what it is and I honestly can't find any flaws in it. It's surely not for everyone, but I love it. 10/10.

From my collection of hundreds, this is may favourite 'green' perfume, bright, juicy crisp yet deep and earthy, rooted living plants giving off their enchanting and therapeutic volatile oil compounds into the humid air to be breathed deep into the lungs, invigorating and energizing, this perfume smells ALIVE. Like I've walked into a greenhouse with every type of herb, fresh meadow grass dotted with wild flowers, big dark green spiky exotic leaves giving off mysterious scents, can definitely pick up the tart rhubarb note, very light florals in the background, cool and minty, a perfect summer perfume. I'm a woman and I've gotten compliments wearing this one, particularly from men. I also love to scent my home with it, or the bathroom when I'm having a spa bath, it's a wonderful spa scent. I would like to see it made into a home scent diffuser and a cooling shower gel.

Zoologist Capybara? This has the same quirk and aplomb of a Zoologist fragrance without the meddlesome castoreum. I agree this is very hard to describe in an objective way. Bottled rainforest rain - lush and green; earthy and laced with just ripened tropical fruits hanging off mossy vines. I tend find earth notes more appealing in theory than practice, but here it’s balanced just right between the bitter greens and the sweet rhubarb and guava and unusual florals. Not too mushroomy either, thankfully. A jungle aquatic? Is this what Eden smelled like? I don’t know, funky but I can’t stop smelling it. As it dries it becomes less green but stays sweet and wet earthy (the papaya/soil mix works weirdly well) This is my first taste of Jorum Studios, but it definitely won’t be my last. Extra points for the affordable 30ml size.

Hoooooly shit. Just sprayed this, and what a beautiful opening. This is my dream. The green, grassy opening is very realistic, snapped leaves that are not sharp (like, for instance, Philosykos or Demeter's Tomato, which are still two beautiful fragrances). The soil note is strong, and the grapefruit and cucumber gives the grass a fragrant color. I don't smell tropical fruits, but there is a lack of bitterness that I imagine comes from some barely-there sweet accord. The whole opening feels natural, like grass ripped from the earth. It dries down nicely, still green (when I say green, I mean plants, not remotely soapiness or anything sharp at all), more grapefruit. I love it. Just bought the full bottle. It's not a strong sillage. Lasts pretty well. I'm a big fan.

Another post-shower heatwave scent, so dark green it's almost black. Sharp/bitter in the vein of Coven and Scorpio Rising but Paradisi beats them out for me. I get no fruitiness from this at all, nor any of the humid rainforest type imagery some people seem to. It makes me think of a clash between earth and chemical, like climbing out of a chlorinated pool on the hottest, driest day of the year; the plants were just watered but the top layer of moisture is already burned off by the sun. Consistent throughout the wear and thank god for that. Agree with the comment below comparing it to Brut/vintage men's aftershave, but as a lesbian, I am delighted.

I've always been homesick for a place I've never quite known and this could be the smell of that place. I could never not want to smell this. The only problem is that the bottle is tiny and the longevity is not very good on me. Note: the patchouli isn't actually patchouli, which is probably why there's nothing I don't like about it. They used "Clearwood®" which is a sustainable biotech ingredient produced by fermentation, not directly from patchouli leaves. So it's much cleaner smelling. And the soil tincture is everything to me. Every note is perfectly balanced. This house makes me want to be a perfumer.

jorum studio is so sexy, this is incredible. so damp and earthy and the way the cucumber opens into a dirty fresh patchouli-mushroom thing, just... bjork said “it can be very, very sexy to drive a car, and completely unsexy to flirt with someone at a bar,” and smelling this you come to understand what she means. the smell of soil can make you go feral. the jeremy fragrances of the world wouldn’t understand how hot this is. edit: when i wear this to work i reek of spilt apple juice and ball sweat by EOD from all the running around i do. still a love but have to save this for absolutely perfect conditions

Everything marieberd said below me! It's wonderful! When I first got this in the mail it was a galbanum bomb with a little fruit. Fast-forward a couple months to now and the first spray was like a tropical sprite. Fizzy, effervescent, fruity. The longer it sits, the more the fruit comes out with topics touches of tropical florals. This is a must for anyone who dislikes coconut or pineapple (or is tired of them 🙋) but still wants a fun, casual or dressed up fruity summer fragrance. If you have a problem with tropical fruits like papaya, guava, or jackfruit (for example) probably best to stay away

This is one of my favorite fragrances ever! Unfortunately I can’t say that my partner feels the same way. He says it smells like sweet body odor. My friend said the same thing! To me it smells like an orange being peeled while you’re on a hike on a hot, humid day in the forest. For the most part I can only detect the citrus, soil, rhubarb/tomato leaf, and cedar notes. Maybe a little bit of the guava and cucumber? I can’t really detect the floral notes, which would’ve rounded out this fragrance for me and made it slightly less masculine. But regardless, I still love love love Paradisi!

Whenever I wear this perfume I feel like a personification of a Frida Kahlo self portrait. It smells green, lush, wild, jungle, hints of unripe fruit, and animalistic. Paradisi is EVERYTHING. It smells like you’re walking through the Amazon Rainforest. It smells like you’re walking through your city’s botanical garden greenhouses. I feel absolutely feral when I spray this. Whenever I want to feel like a huge monstera or elephant ear plant, I’ll wear this and pretend I’m basking in the jungle humidity This perfume is totally Self Portrait by Frida Kahlo.

I love smelling like a summer citrus salad... Photorealistic cucumber throughout the entire scent journey. Extremely light in weight but strong in sillage. Aquatic-leaning in a way I have never experienced before - wet green romaine hearts. Musty and earthy within the dry down. Floral in a sharp and bright way. Moss and patchouli come through in a familiar sense, helping it be more digestible to the general crowd. Damp but not moldy or salty. Cracking rhubarb stems ASMR. The mist in the vegetable aisle. Sweaty gardener.

I plan to get a full bottle this spring/summer. Its a unique take on a fresh clean scent. Instead of the typical citrus this has tart rhubarb and citrus balanced out by watery cucumber pear and honeysuckle with a clean geosmic dry down. A unique uplifting earthy scent which sounds like an oxymoron but this manages at doing just that. Its like smelling fresh water from glacial runoff filtered through forest things like soil, moss, roots, leaves, twigs. mushrooms, flowers in the spring

At first it smells predominantly of cucumber and grapefruit, green and zingy, as well as wet earth. There is no other way to describe it and "wet earth" may not sound appealing to everyone but IMHO, it's a beautiful summery note, like the smell of a garden after a June rain. As it dries it takes on the sweetness of rhubarb and guava, perfectly blended with the earthy and green notes. A masterpiece IMHO. Such a fascinating and complex fragrance, I already bought a full bottle.