Ray-Flection

Honored to be among the participants of this unique launch as difficult times call for creative solutions, it was a joy to hear the founders, Alessandro Brun and Riccardo Tedeschi, present the event, and a privilege to hear Alex Lee describe his inspiration and storytelling for the creation of the newest Masque Milano fragrance. Ray-Flection is absolutely glowing, vibrant, exuberant and truly, the sum of its parts is greater than the individual accords even though the accords themselves are of such exquisite quality and composition that they can almost stand on their own. Together, they fit squarely within Masque Milano's refined and sophisticated aesthetic. I'm always up for a unique woody-floral, but the cucumber and waxy, stable honey are delightful additions to the mimosa absolute, aldehydes, bergamot, and cedarwood that wear well and are detectable and enjoyable many hours later. Interesting that as we head into Winter in the States, where there is social and political unrest, coupled with serious health and safety concerns, Ray-Flection is that light at the end of the tunnel--truly, that glimmering ray of hope and optimism that we'll make it through this. It's a reminder that Spring and Summer will come, as it always does, and that when we've reached the other side of things and can bask in the sun's rays once again and in each other's unobstructed company, we can look back and remember that it's always dark before it gets light.

Ray-Flection is a masterpiece. It walks the perfectly balance fine line between being masculine/feminine with a soaring citrus-solar-aldehyde, powdery pollen-like mimosa and with a gently sweet honeycombed base. It just reminds me of a honeyed-floral from the past that I can’t put my finger on (as I can’t remember it anymore) and it’s almost reminiscent of Kim K’s Pure Honey but much better. But Ray-Flection smells like it’s a timeless and classic honeyed-aldehyde floral but still modern, gentle, innocent and soft - along the similar lines of Ashore. When I first put it on, it performs outstandingly for 3.5 hours then it pulls back until another 10 hours later, at my sweaty dance class, it’s rising up again from the heat of my skin like a phoenix from the flames and I smell like sparkling honey shampoo. It’s so beautiful with just the right amount of sweetness from the honey to offset the dazzling aldehydes which soar it into the atmosphere around me. The bottles are only 30ml but it makes it more affordable and portable for such a niche beauty. Ray-Flection is delicate honey with gentle powdery florals and bubbly aldehydes - of course I love this.

Definite similarities to MFK Aqua Vitae Cologne Forte, which is the only Aqua Vitae I’ve tried from MFK, so it may be more similar to AV or AV Forte - they both share the mandarin, solar notes, musk, powdery florals etc. and both are a citrus forward opening & soften with a powdery dry down and both evolve beautifully. I compared them next to one another after frantically trying to figure out why Ray Flection smelled soooo familiar to me! Actually ALL 4 of the Masque Milano I tried were eerily familiar and reminded me of something that I just could not put my finger on. At first I thought RF was a mix between MFK Aqua Universalis Forte & La Vie Est Belle Éclat (wow btw... try it!) but after laying them was getting there but too linen/sweet. Then the AVCF next to RF was pretty close. Definitely still not exact, there are differences but more similar than not I think & VERY Francis Kurkdjian dna vibe So if you have the MFK it may be redundant to get RF, although it is a stunning frag in its own right! Clean, soapy, lightly citrus, sunny, fresh, powdery... everything you could want in a beautiful sunny frag! Really enjoying MM :) great performance

This is the most sophisticated and stunning cardamom fragrance I've ever smelled. It is displayed from head to toe, ranging from wet green cardamom pod to freshly ground powder, dry and spicy. The other top and heart notes (mimosa, mandarin, solar notes, aldehydes) bring an effervescent sunny sweetness to this. I generally avoid aldehydes for their sharp and astringent characteristics, but I'm not getting anything grating here, only a giggly bubbliness on top. The dry cedar perfectly complements the warm spiciness of the cardamom and enhances the woodiness of the violets as well. All in all a perfectly concocted fragrance. Alex Lee may be one of my favorite perfumers - he is also behind my two favorites from the Carolina Herrera Confidential line (Gold Myrrh Absolute and Amethyst Haze) and he created the only plum/prune note I have ever coveted (Accidental Maybe by Abstraction Paris, which is unfortunately not on Fragrantica).

If Ganymede was female scent and it had mimosa in it, this is how it would smell. On me it opens with sage tea, and I smell no mandarin whatsoever throughout the experience. My previous review said some stuff that isn't true anymore, like it quickly fading into basic musk but something changed. I can smell this on me even the next day. Unlike many perfumes, that disfigured aroma left behind smells distinctly like RayFlection, not random femininity. FBB even blindly for those who like mimosa with zero powdery notes and no other florals to take it over after drydown. There's a phase between opening, drydown and eternity when it slightly reminded me of soapiness but it was brief and I'm not entirely sure if it was just me digging my nose into skin until my nasal cartilage is bent. Most stuff smells off when you abuse it like that. Oh. It works in sub zero weather too, it's just more of a strict milf than a kind woman.

I was first introduced to Masque by a trusted seller. I blind tested her favorite.. and it was the amazing, shimmering, bright fragrance! i definitely had a hard time identifying the notes as it was so smooth and well blended. but the notes were definitely happy and comforting. I literally shivered smelling this the first time. I immediately told her I was going to buy a full bottle (and i did receive my bottle after a short wait) -not knowing the price or which fragrance this was. As it turned out, that comforting notes for me was cardamom- i discovered this while eating cardamom flavored sweets after sniffing Ray-flection. the other well blended notes I can only describe as happy, lovely, comforting, bright. if you want something bright lovely and nice... this is the fragrance for you! Storytelling is the heart of Masque Milano, but this one, Ray-flection, was exceptional even without the story!

On me, this is delicate, not too sweet, and pretty long lasting. Like beeswax and mimosa behind static, like a fizzy drink before it settles down. Feels very feminine, also safe for summer. On my skin chemistry it is barely sweet, like a floral sweet instead of a honey scent. The use of aldehydes and cardamom is very interesting. It’s not very similar to Jo Malone Mimosa & Cardamom (that is one that leans sweet on me) but it might be something you’ll like if you’ve tried that one. This certainly lasts longer—on my wrists it withstood about six hours in 90 degree weather without really fading or overwhelming me. It lasts even longer on clothing. It’s not a show stopping or obvious event to wear this, but I was told that I smell like real flowers by a cashier. I can’t really pick up anything synthetic but as always it will probably smell different on different people. For me it’s a new favorite.

I blind bought this one, as i have found that I tend to like Aldehydes...and i have also been known to be a fan of Mimosa, even though Violet notes are very hit or miss for me. I am pleased to say that my suspicions were correct, and I do like it very much. I had never had a perfume with beeswax that I cared for, but this one is good! Solar notes... I would love to know exactly what that is. It really does give me a feeling of being in the warm sun on a spring day, walking through a beautiful flower garden - or maybe just in a neighborhood with a lot of flowering trees, scenting the air with their blossoms, after having just gotten out of the shower. Good clean stuff! Bravo!

This is beautiful, mature and complex. Cardamom is authentic. Flowers are beautiful. At first I get flowers and a prominent cardamom, almost like taking a sniff directly from a jar of grounded cardamom. It’s late summer, the window is open and the wind is blowing in pollen from blooming bushes. Briefly citrus fruits are present, then the perfume dries down to a well blended spicy cardamom. Very perfumery, spicy and feminine. Not soapy at all. Smells expensive and is well-done. Smells mature and unique. Although it smells like summer, I love wearing it during the winter and early spring.

It feels like a breath of fresh air. The initial notes feature a clear tangerine scent, like freshly peeled tangerines. It has a faintly sweet aroma, probably due to the honey wax in the base and the mimosa. It reminds me of a fresh garden, with lovely scents of fruits, greenery, and trees, but these elements don’t overpower the fragrance. I absolutely love it! Overall, it’s a bright and cheerful scent that beautifully captures the essence of nature.

Masque Milano's Ray-Flection was not a love at first sniff for me. We dated. The perfume grew on me. Now, I am in love. It smells like sunshine and light. Uplifting and yet calming. I imagine I do not COLLECT fragrances. I WEAR them. In order to purchase a full bottle of a scent, I need to LOVE it. I love Ray-Flection and wear it.

Testing my sample; this is a sunlit field of honeyed mimosa blossoms teeming with pollen, opens sparkly, citrussy, and a touch spicy before getting to the main show. This is perfect for warm weather, needs heat for it to shine. I'd wear this on a bright and sunny spring or summer day. Sits just above the skin.

Klioux below described this perfectly. The opening was a bit too intense for me but I promise if you stick with it the drydown is worth the wait. It also at times reminds me of L'atesa but the cardamom keeps it in check. Perfectly unisex I'd say and a nice scent for the warmer months.

Oh my, this is something special. A well blended citrus floral fragrance but also warm and comforting. Wearable and yet unique. I'm not a fan of aldehydes, citrus, or violet leaf but it all comes together so beautifully. It's a must have for me!

A literal breath of fresh air in a freshly blooming flower garden. scent breakdown - Opens up bright, sparkling, and very transportive with this wonderful blending of clean aldehydes and solar notes against soft, powdery, and slightly sweet mimosa and a hint of orange juice. As it dries down, the solar notes and mimosa take over the scent in a constant battle for dominance, powdery beeswax forming a beautiful base for the two main accords to duke it out. In the deep dry down the mimosa and beeswax couple together to form a powdery, slightly-sweet, and pretty ending. personal thoughts - A drop-dead gorgeous mimosa fragrance that is certain to be addictive to any mimosa/yellow floral fragrance fan. Super fresh and yet has legs and nuance to make it interesting, even for those who've smelled their fair share of mimosa fragrances. The aldehydes and solar notes in this fragrance are smoothed out and well-blended with the powdery-ness of the mimosa and beeswax. While not particularly to my taste, this would be drop-dead stunning on a woman or a confident, well-dressed man. A steal for the price (you can find it at discounters) and a must-try for yellow floral lovers. performance - Respectable ~7.5 hours performance with ~3.5 hours of good projection, moderate throughout the rest of the fragrance. rating - 7.5/10. Warm weather signature scent worthy. when to wear - Spring picnic dates in your favorite sundress; Outdoor, popup farmers markets in the morning; the yearly run to get more flowers in the spring. song vibe - Tried and True by Ween TLDR - bright and clean aldehydes/solar notes + an overdose of mimosa + delicious beeswax + a twinge of orange juice. A super pretty and must-try fragrance for anyone who's already a fan of yellow floral fragrances. Fresh with enough nuance to keep it interesting, an underrated gem from this house.

I bought this on a sale with maxaroma blind. I based it on the reviews here and you tube. I cannot comment on the performance because i just unboxed it, but i really love it so far. First of all, i can smell it, which sometimes i have anosmia to things so being able to actually smell anything is a great start! Second, this absolutely is so nice and unique. It really feels like a ray of sunshine. The beeswax to me just brings a pollen scent to mind, and feels so springy and light hearted. I love the cardamom, it brings a green aromatic scent in, which i really enjoy. I dont mind the aldehydes at all, i think it is a perfect addition and without them it would be flat. This is fun, uplifting, and bright without being juvenile, shampooey or linear. But i think i love it most for being totally different than anything else i have. Try it and see what u think! Ps the atomizer is great! Update 2025: as much as i liked this at first, i find i dont reach for it often. I just cant seem to find the correct occasion to wear it? You really must love honey and beeswax and pollen type accords to enjoy this. I do like these accords but they can get a bit suffocating. I dont find this to be office safe, i think it would be a bit cloying there. I think daytime, spring and outdoors would be the scenes this is right for. It doesnt seem right for the beach, it doesnt feel right for a funeral, it could maybe work for a wedding, a brunch with friends and It def doesnt fit an evening event.

This perfume is full of contradictions, and that’s what I love about it. It’s very floral forward, and features a sweet and rich honey, yet it’s completely unisex. If anything, it may lean a little masculine. It’s a total summer fragrance, yet it heavily uses cardamom, usually thought of as a warming spice more for cooler weather. And it also has a strong note of citrus, but in no way feels like a freshie, and has a body and weight to it, a sillage and a longevity, that is so opposite to many citrus fragrances that lift off the skin and are gone in a few hours. To me it smells like a lazy summer Saturday, and I’m sat by an open window where white linen curtains lift in a breeze. Outside is a huge mimosa tree, heavily laden with blossoms, and bees buzz around it so energetically the air literally hums. The tree is set in a meadow, with long grasses and some herbs blowing in the wind. As I sit and enjoy the air, I start to peel an orange. There is something about Ray-Flecttion that smells “real”- not like perfume. And I think it’s that use of the cardamom in a summery fragrance. It kind of upends what we expect of this type of perfume and resets our experience of it. It smells like a summer day, not something that came from a bottle with the usual progression of notes. I know it’s been done before, but I think this particular version is the most successful I’ve smelled. It’s really good. Lasts forever, the smell of honey was on my wrist 24 hours later.

I bought a decant of this last year and I remember thinking 'meh'/ forgettable because I gave it to my husband. He came down wearing it for the first time this morning and it smelled absolutely fantastic on his skin, leaving an almost sheer, fresh, mineralic (is this the aldehydes?), aromatic and earthy trail with notes difficult to pull down from afar. I sprayed it on my own skin to compare and all I'm getting a ton of cardamom and then cedar, which are not my favorite notes on me. On him, he smells like it was made for him, as if he stepped out of the shower where he used a very expensive soap and then proceeded to chop wood in the forest all day during a light rain. The honey and musk present in the drydown, to me, remind me of a clean man's natural scent, with a bit of sweat present. It reminds me of Terre but it is somehow both softer and more complex. I do not see this being worn a hot day or a winter day - it falls squarely within the mild weather territory, pretty light and minimal silage after the first couple hours, but lingering as a soap or body oil would and discernable as you move around. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who likes Cardamom or aromatics/fougeres. It's so well executed, and although it doesn't work for me I will probably be picking this up so I can smell it unfold on my husband in the fall. I'm imagining it on a warm or cool fall day where the wind is a picking it up a bit. Delicious.

This scent is much sweeter than I expected. I was anticipating a more floral-forward fragrance with honey and beeswax in the background, but on my skin, it wears almost in reverse. That said, the sweetness isn’t cloying at all, and I actually enjoy layering it with my oud fragrances to create a honey oud scent. Projection is decent with good sillage, so it's noticeable without being overwhelming. It’s worth picking up from discounters if you're into feminine-leaning unisex fragrances, though it unfortunately only comes in a 1.18 oz bottle, which isn’t the best value when you look at the price per ounce. As a niche fragrance, many people likely haven’t encountered anything quite like it. The closest comparison I can make is Naxos by Xerjoff. Specifically, it smells like only the honey part of Naxos, but brighter and slightly more feminine. The bottle is heavy and well-designed with engravings of the name of the perfumer, Alex Lee, all over. The cap is heavy and is click-on rather than magnetic. Overall, it’s a solid scent and a great introduction to Masque Milano.

a bright and sunny floral with mentholated and camphorous undertones to it. It also has a prominent beeswax note that offers a slightly animalic and waxy sweetness to the whole scent. The dry down is much muskier than the very fresh and citrusy opening, but it does read a tad bit stuffy. While I enjoy the scent don't think I'd wear it as a fragrance but would enjoy it as a candle or something else.