Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant

This just arrived and I’m so stoked! It’s been on my wish list forever! I knew that I enjoyed this scent a long time ago when trying it in store not too long after it came out (!), at the time it was a bit too mature and powerful to my taste. These days it’s not widely available in physical stores here, so it was a semi blind buy. I knew I would likely enjoy it, as I adore spicy scents, but it was still a bit of a gamble. I found it online for under €60 for 100ml, which is more expensive than my usual maximum price for blind buys of €35-€40, but a solid deal in a fragrance family that is safe for my tastes. Let me start with the bottle. Since I haven’t really looked at this bottle since the late 90s or early 00s, I didn’t really remember what the bottle looks like exactly. From pictures I assumed that the glass bottle was a simple rectangle, but this is not the case. The bottle makes a beautiful, subtle wave, making it more playful and elegant. The matte gold cap is made of real metal and it’s quite heavy. It fits very tightly on the bottle. I think the design is stylish and elegant, but to nee the matte gold makes it look like it’s plastic when it’s not. I think brushed gold, brushed stainless steel or silver/chrome might have made it look more sophisticated, although it’s possible that they’ve tripped those options and the matte gold worked best with this design. **THE JUICE** As soon as I spray it, I recognise the scent, I don’t know from who or where, but I know I’ve smelled it many times before, and I instantly love it. The opening mainly revolves around cardamom supported by cloves and cumin. It transports me to markets in India, with the scent of spices in the air. I don’t perceive it as particularly christmassy or wintery, probably because there’s no cinnamon, which is the main holiday spice imo. In the heart the ylang and heliotrope come forward along with the licorice and the scent becomes softer. The longer it develops on my skin the more the vanilla and amber come forward as well, making it softer and softer. This is not sweet, but it’s warm and soft. It’s like the hug of an Indian aunt who spends most of the day cooking all kinds of wonderful Indian dishes. It doesn’t smell so much as a perfume, but as an experience. It takes you to a place, an Indian spice market. While not listed in the notes I keep thinking I smell Anise, which I think is an illusion of the liquorice mixing with the other spices. It also has an incense-like quality. Not a smoky incense, but something like nag champa sticks fresh from the box, also triggering visions of India. While this scent is wonderful for fall and winter, I believe it can easily be worn in summer too. To me this scent is more reminiscent of the hot bustling spice markets in India or the Middle East, than of the holiday season, and because there’s very little sweetness, it’s not as likely to become cloying as some other scents. I’ve only received this about two hours ago, so this truly is my very first impression. I might come back to expand on this review if my opinion changes (or the scent once it settles a bit), or when I’m testing it in different seasons/weather (it is winter now). ETA: The scent is not nearly as powerful as I expected, I’ve applied twice now to experience the opening again, and it’s not overwhelming at all. However I believe this is because the bottle was very cold when I received it earlier today. I suspect the scent will become much stronger once the bottle settles and warms up more. Other things I’ve noticed.. the vanilla and spices together remind me of cookies once the vanilla comes through more.. not your typical sweet gourmand perfume cookies, but some sort of more hearty spicy cookie that only has a hint of sweetness. The vanilla is quite fluffy and very creamy, and really fills your nose, similar to the vanilla note in Mancera Vanille Exclusive (just the vanilla not the perfume), albeit less prominent and slightly less dense. When I breathe in and out on the wrist I’ve applied this on it releases more of the mango and green notes, which does give it more of a jungle vibe. I am guessing that with added humidity and warmth in summer it may well turn into a simmering subtropical rainforest. There’s also something pine like and herbal this way. ETA2: After reapplying liberally multiple times, and turning up the heating more in the evening, I finally get the holiday season connotations. It now smells like gingerbread! I’m not sure if other people overspray, of if the juice will become a lot more intense over time, but this was definitely not a one spray result. I also still feel like the scent is more exotic rather than Christmassy, but the gingerbread is there. I’m surprised at how gourmand this actually is. While I did expect it to smell spicy, I didn’t expect it to smell this edible. I expected a spicy oriental in a seductive and sexy way rather than a soft, fluffy, comforting way.

My signature, my favourite, my endless love. Since the moment l first smelled this perfume l fell in love. Its intoxicating. This perfume is a savage beast it takes no prisoners. This perfume is not for everyone. This perfume is not subtle at all. This perfume will wake up your senses and blow your damn socks off! It's a powerhouse scent. This is probably one of the most powerful potions ever made, it's concentration is outstanding. She stands alone. There is no other like her. Literally no other. Maybe Estee Lauder Cinnabar or Youth dew comes the closest out of any other on the market or in history but they are more bitter scratchy spicy where this is creamy spicy. I get why this perfume was given the Elephant as its animal. If you imagine a fragrance as a jungle animal the elephant is the largest and most awe inspiring force there is. Everything runs from the stampeding elephant its a force to be reckoned with like this perfume. This oriental spicy dream is so strong l advise you test it on something you can throw away if you dont like it. If you spray its powerful scent on your skin be prepared for it to stick around for at least 24hrs even after a bath and on your clothes even after they've been washed. Oh and don't spray it on your neck straight after a bath, it's so strong it burns, not literally, but stings so bad your skin feels like it's burning! Many a time I've forgotten this rule in a rush and ran for the bathroom to fill my facecloth with cold water to hold against my throat and been left with bright red skin for an hour. A paper trial is a must for a first time tester. It's the middle east in a bottle, like walking through a spice market and all the spice fragrances pull your senses from one direction to another. The cloves are like a throat punch and the cumin and cardamom are prominent. The heliotrope Amber vanilla and floral composition turn the spice harshness to a soft sweet creamy spicy. I've heard others describe it as a "Christmas candle scent" erm its quite a bit more complex and exciting than that huns! Way to turn a beautiful world class groundbreaking scent into a basic bitch. 😆 🤣 😂 As I've heard many say its one of those perfumes where even if you're not into heavy or spicy scents you can't help but like this. For many it's instant love. I must praise the master / genius who created this Mr Dominic Ropion. I thank you sir for my favourite perfume. God bless you and your amazing nose and will to take risks potency and scentwise. Also to Kenzo for marketing it as it was and not asking Ropion to make it weaker to appeal to more sensitive noses. ❤️ This perfume will make you stand out from every other fruity flowery sweet and powdery woman around you. It's unique, nobody will know what it is and everyone will ask you. I've had strangers chase me down the street to ask what it is I'm wearing and where can they get it from? Only 1 person in 30 yrs has ever guessed what it was because their wife used to wear it. When you know, you know! I will never be without a bottle of this ever, in fact l may demand that I'm sprayed with it for my funeral. I bet strangers will be gathered round my grave enjoying the Kenzo Jungle waft coming up through the soil and filling the air years after ive gone. 😆 🤣 😂 I used to wear this to college in the 90's and the students would know when I was in the building as soon as they walked into the place. They could smell this in the reception area all the way up the stairs and up 3 floors all the way down the corridors getting stronger the closer they got to our class, and l used to arrive much earlier than them. Its that strong. Sooo... in conclusion this is amazing, if your not afraid of a savage beast perfume. It's also a beautiful bottle and it lasts a long time because with this, one spray really is enough. I use way more though, because I'm fearless like that. 😆 It gets sprayed all over my neck, shoulders, hair, wrists, clothes, l spray heavy because its so awesome and l dont care if it spices peoples brains out. I like to be wrapped in a cloud of expensive perfume and for those around me to smell a trail of my perfume, or what the hell am l spending all this money for, so l can hardly even smell myself? Hell no! I never understand why people think it's such a bad thing to have a trail of lovely perfume left in a room after you've left it. It's better than smelling people's farts, breath, dirty hair and sweaty bodies. Yes indeed smell me London, inhale my fabulousness, you're welcome. 😆 🤣 😂 I give this perfume a 10/10.

Never underestimate the power of scent. Bear with me here, I promise the following entry circles back to a review. —On a late afternoon/early evening in November 1997, I was driving home on a Tuesday from college for Thanksgiving break. For anyone here who may not be savvy to this American holiday, it’s typical for schools and most businesses to close for four days beginning on the last Thursday of November (Thanksgiving) and returning to work and school the following Monday. My folks live off of a two way state highway in rural Colorado. When I came to a stop and signaled left to turn into my parents’ driveway, I heard a loud horn and less than a second later, a semi truck crashed into me from behind going about 55 miles an hour. The impact turned my car around almost 360 degrees, and four of the semi truck’s rear tires actually went up and over the ceiling of my car, effectively “sandwiching” me inside. I had to be literally cut out of my car with a large heavy mechanical device us Americans call “the jaws of life.” Long story short, it turns out that seatbelts really can save lives. I was wearing mine, so I lived. But my right (dominant) hand and forearm had smashed completely through the car’s dashboard on impact, dislocating my right shoulder, breaking four fingers, severing three ligaments and causing multiple fractures in my lower arm from the wrist to elbow. Due to the severity of whiplash, my neck needed a brace for four months. After 15 total months involving surgeries and physical/occupational therapy, I finally healed and —believe it or not— I had full use of my right arm and hand. Still do. I can still do pushups, planks and lift weights. It astonishes me what I’m still able to do, though I admit these days, especially in cold weather, it all aches quite fiercely sometimes. But although it will certainly never look like the hand and wrist of a hand model, I have full use of everything, so absolutely no complaints here! It’ll never be a pretty hand again, but bodily scars can have their own strange beauty, I think. Now I’m not a church going woman, kind reader, not by a mile...but I do believe in a creator, a force, if you will, that exists. Many times when I’m using my right hand (like now), I pause, point my right index finger to the sky, and say “Thank You.” When I look at the picture my parents took of the mangled mess that was my car, it’s humbling. It still amazes me that I actually walked away from that heap of mangled metal... or well, no...I didn’t WALK away from it, I was driven away at high speed to the jangly tune of sirens, haha. But ykwim. Kenzo Elephant was gifted to me on a frosty Colorado Christmas morning 5 weeks after that accident. Never underestimate the healing power of scent. I was tired. I hurt everywhere. I felt ugly, defeated and depressed. But when I smelled that first spritz, a cornucopia of fruit and warm christmasy spices, it just lifted me up. It was the perfect antidote. Now, when I wear it, I feel comforted, I feel thankful, and I feel hope. It reminds me of just how much crap a person can overcome, and it was this fragrance’s ability to lift me up from a dark place that started my passion for perfume that continues to this day. I keep this in a tight rotation in the holiday season with Serge Lutens Arabie and Fille en Aiguilles. While Kenzo Elephant certainly smells like late autumn and winter festivities in a bottle, I actually like to wear it occasionally in summer too. Oddly enough, I have found that Kenzo Elephant blossoms best in the heat. Or maybe it’s not so odd...after all, many spicy fragrances like this hail from hot desert lands. Try wearing it outside of colder temperatures. Applied to the skin with restraint, it actually radiates beautifully in summer heat.

i’m marrying this perfume y’all to tell u i was so scared at first bc everyone went batsh8t crazy with the reviews saying “indian spice market, STRONG SILLAGE, BEAST PROJECTION, SPICY, SCARY, witchy” and all. Ofc with reviews like that, you’ll think you’ll smell like a spicy lunch but babes, no, I’m grateful that despite the “spicy” comments some people said chai latte (my favorite drink), pumpkin spice, carrot cake, candles, and cookies—which gave me a spark of hope that maybe this beast is just a gentle giant. god where do i even begin bc i’m sniffing my wrists every second. I love you l’elephant. OKKKAYYYYYYYYY it’s crazy how I smelled this from the package when it came (kinda pissed that i got spoiled for that surprise umph) L’elephant is everything I wish for in a spiced gourmand fragrance, it filled that void I’ve been longing for which khamrah never gave, teriaq just left me disappointed with a chicken fried rice accord, nomade naturelle was a tad bit too fruity with a disappointing longevity, and lalique le parfum was more spiced cola than spiced vanilla. To put it simply, I’ve been on the hunt for a perfect sweet-spiced vanilla and the search is over !! I was a bit hesistant of L’elephant at first bc of the mango note bc BABES I DON’T ENJOY FRUITY NOTESSSSS 😭 BUT NOOOO MANGO WAS NON-EXISTENT, MANGO WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THANK GOODNESS. It’s also probably bc it’s extremely macerated like it should be lightly golden but mine came in DARK BROWN VANILLA ESSENCE SHADE 🪵 like a richly macerated kayali vanilla 28 L’elephant starts off with the sweet and slightly mentholated aroma of cinnamon sweets that instantly reminded me of cinnamon gum, omg GUMDROPSSSS!!! and crushed hot tamales candy, after which, it quickly develops into a sweet, Sweet, SWEEET, ambery, caramelized cinnamon-sugar and cardamom dessert or basically any spicy-sweet food and drinks. I’m talking: eggnog, chai, pumpkin spice, carrot cake, horchata, gingersnaps, snickerdoodle, gingerbread, banana bread, pecan pie, fruit cake with dates, and other more lovely, festive, homey, comforting and autumn + winter desserts. There’s also this lovely, thick, and honey-like aroma in the mid dry-down, quite waxy and balmy, which adds more to that warm-hug-like comforting feeling. Lastly, the dry-down ties it all up to perfection. Once you’ve indulged all the spiced desserts you can think of, l’elephant washes it all down with a cup of milk and slightly woody licorice. I totally get why people call it a beast because it indeed has a beast performance, but scent-wise? It’s a tamed beast, it’s not as scary as how people are making it look like. TOTALLY NOT OLD-FASHIONED OR RETRO DESPITE IT BEING A FRAGRANCE FROM THE 90s. It’s a lovely spiced gourmand that’s impossible to dislike, otherwise it would be denial, if not, you lack appreciation. (jk ur preference is urs whatever i’m just biased LMAO) I know people would totally hate scents like this at specific time, occasions, and seasons but I AM SO READY TO BE OBNOXIOUS AND WEAR THIS IN MY DAILY ROTATION. because who wouldn’t wanna feel like a little gingerbread princess wearing a spicy gumdrop scented perfume !! 🍪 It needs more love and appreciation, this is a misunderstood beast. And I mean by VERY misunderstood. PLEASE STOP SAYING L’ELEPHANT IS SCARY BC SHE IS LOVELY 😡 GOURMAND LOVERS BETTER GET THIS BC PEOPLE PROBABLY SAY IT’S SCARY TO GATEKEEP IT FROM YALL. I REPEAT, GOURMAND LOVERS BETTER GET THIS !!

Been eyeing Kenzo L'Elephant for a few months now, but didnt wanna pull the trigger and spend $70 on blind buying a frag that may lean way too feminine, most of my frags are unisex, and I use some feminine leaning scents, just not completely feminine leaning. After the initial purchase, but before I'd recieved it, I'd read somewhere that it'd been reformulated (much weaker) and that the cap was now plastic, I became so upset as so many brands do that crap and then I find out the hard way. And YES, presentation does matter to me, most frags I blind buy are bc of notes list and the beautiful bottles at times. L'Elephant is one of those instances. I'm happy to report that the cap is still metal and beautifully detailed, but while the opening is still quite potent, Im not too sure about the longevity or sillage, I sprayed some on my shirt and while I can still smell it a good amount a few hours later, Its REALLY calmed down quite a bit, so according to many reviews here on fragrantica, I have to wonder if "the reformulation monster" got to this? Bc I just wouldn't call this "beast mode" like described here on fragrantica. Im hoping the fragrance just needs to open up some more after air is introduced into the bottle like it happens with so many of my new frags. Also, I was REALLY surprised at how much L'Elephant smells a lot like Cacharel's Eden, another, floral/fruity (mango) 90's powerhouse, except L'Elephant has a (little bit) of added spicyness. And Eden has no spice as far as I can tell. Beautiful, fruity, spicey fragrance, and I definately say it's more feminine than masculine, yet confident men can still pull off wearing L'Elephant due to the slight spicyness... 8 outta 10 scent and Im so stoked that I hadn't yet read that bs about reformulations and re-packaging as I would never have gotten it...... Thanks to whomever took the time to read my review! ----------------UPDATE------------------ So, my bottle of L'Elephant has been maturing for about 6 weeks, and WOAH! Now I get what they mean by "Strong Cinnamon and Clove" what a CRAZY difference! This "maceration" thing is no myth I guess huh? I've now had a few different fragrances change after letting them sit for a spell, but this one had a pretty drastic change. This just went from "unisex leaning feminine" to straight up UNISEX bc of the very strong spiciness. yYAYy!😁 I LOVE spicey frags! Oh, and that strong Mango note that made this smell just like Cacharel's Eden, has now been tempered by the delicious spices which make Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant it's own thing!.. Smells really yummy now! But, If wearing this thing to work or office setting, maybe 2-3 sprays max now fo sho!