Scherzo

Oh how elegant the composition of Scherzo is...♥️👌. It almost brings tears to my eyes and has also for me personally opened me up more and more for also the world of oud in perfumes. We thankfully today live in an era where fragrances are more and more viewed from a unisex perspective. But there are still notes and fragrance families that we traditionally recognise as more of one or the other. And oud has clearly been that to me. A k a a note or an accord that I view as something masculine and therefore have had a bit of a hard time embracing as something to wear on myself. Mathieu Nardin has for sure helped me evolve my own experiences thanks to his mastermind perfumery behind Scherzo. Scherzo to me now is a little genius in a bottle. It’s a fragrance with the potential to open up our senses without challenging them too much which so easily otherwise can make us close a door instead of opening it wider... Now Scherzo was not love at first sniff by any means for me either. I mean it has not only oud but also rose, another note I have been struggling with in the past until I found rose could mean more than just one thing (cloying bubble bath foams when I was a child). I nowadays have grown to love rose in fragrances (which is another story I am not going into here). But rose with oud kicks it up a notch when it comes to challenging me... Or at least it did before Scherzo. Now after Scherzo I can appreciate also very niche and sophisticated oud rose blends like Parisian from Fragrance du Bois! that before would have made me run for the hills... And I sincerely have this little gem to thank for it! Now, why was it not love at first sniff then one might wonder (or one doesn’t...)? Well it is still an oud! And the oud note is prominent also here. This is by no means an oud fragrance that is just an oud on paper but where the oud note is so hidden it’s virtually not detectable. Sherzo is an oud rose fragrance. And she (or he) is by no means a shy kitten. But rather a beautiful majestic cat with a silky soft coat and hazy eyes. But one who still knows how to play and get the zoomies once in a while. And could scratch you too if she wanted to... The secret to the wonder of Scherzo lies in what Mathieu Nardin has chosen to accompany the agarwood (the oud) with. Traditionally oud fragrances from a male perspective have been a lot about strength and projection and boldness. And oud is therefor often flankered by strong notes of rose, vanilla, amber or more darker notes like murky woods and dirty musks, animalic notes and powerful herbs all sorts of things that traditionally has been connected to masculinity. But here the oud in itself is not of the most sweaty or murky kind. It is a smooth and elegant but still very noticeable oud. And then there is the rose... which is light and happy sweet and naturalistic and beautifully partnered with pittosporum and narcissus which makes the rose even lighter and more airy. Then the geniousness of adding a bit of olibanum (frankincense) to the heart which makes not only the oud a bit more resinous, but also the rose a little bit powdery which again softens the combination of oud and rose here in the most elegantly and dare I say feminine leaning way. But it doesn’t stop there. Another genious move was to accompany the base of oud here not with amber or amber patchouli or amber patchouli vanilla as it’s commonly done. But instead stay away from the amber and let the resinous part stay in the middle of the composition and not making the base more heavy. And then the best of all - put in some sweet/sweet-fruity candy like sugared note at the bottom together with a little patchouli and some vanilla. And then a little light burst of fresh orange at the top which together brilliantly softens the slight bitterness of the oud and make it a lot more palatable and creamy smooth and light and if you will also a lot more feminine leaning. Together it creates a smooth soft oud rose composition that is also sweet and powdery without becoming either cloying or too heavy but a scent that can be worn anytime any day and at any occasion. (Well at least almost any. I guess in fragrance sensitive environments all fragrances can be considered too much and probably this too. But almost any situation then...). But you have to give Scherzo a chance and you have to try it on your skin and not just on a blotter. As it is together with your skin the magic happens. At first you do get the oud. And you get the rose. I will not beat around the bush with that. This is an oud rose fragrance after all. But when it settles on your skin the accompanying notes and accords will begin to do its magic and soften the composition to become this creamy and addictive powdery (and a little bit dusty) now lightly vanillic rose sprinkled with a little zest of something fruity/candy like that makes you just begin to beg for more... And the more it dries down the more addictive it gets. And before you know it you have just embraced the oud in a way you may have never felt possible before... It’s quite an achievement for a little juice coming from such a humble little flask... if you ask me. Now is Scherzo just a feminine fragrance that only women can wear? Of course not! But it is not a traditionally masculine scent either, but a fragrance that can be worn by anyone who want to get their feet wet in the oud ponds without becoming too overwhelmed. But still wants something that challenges the palette a little to make us grow and evolve. But still with a very beautiful score. I see some here describe Scherzo as a very strong fragrance that projects a lot and offers a prominent silage (scent bubble). But to me I find scherzo to project on a medium level perhaps a bit more strongly during the first half hour or so while drying down. But once it dries down I would classify it as a moderate projection and moderate silage that through the day will stay closer and closer to the skin offering a scent bubble that makes you and people drawing near to you still feeling it clearly, I do however think that sprayed on a blotter the oud and the rose will project more as powdery notes normally do not come forward very well on paper, but shows more on the skin which changes the whole experience. It lasts however very well on my skin and will not be fully gone until the day after I put it on. One thing I really love about Miller Harris as a house is that they offer smaller bottles at a fairly reasonable price which gives you a chance to try out a fragrance more than a couple of times . As I feel a fragrance like this deserves more than that for it to begin to do its magic on our mind... So the smaller sized bottles are perfect I think for someone who is either a bit weary or afraid of ouds or for whatever reason do not want to commit to a full size bottle but still intrigued enough to give it a chance. I have almost finished my small bottle and will for sure buy the largest bottle they have of this as a Scherzo will always be a part of my fragrance wardrobe. That’s for sure! (She says while she can’t stop sniffing her arm where she put her little Sherzo on before writing this review... ) ❣️

UPDATED REVIEW: Oh. My. Goodness. I love this fragrance so much that it's become my new signature! The first time I ever sprayed it, I was reminded of Shalimar EDT for some reason? I think that's because I wasn't too familiar with oud at the time and my brain was trying to make sense of it. Once my nose adjusted though, it all clicked. This is nothing at all like Shalimar. This perfume is exactly what I've been looking for: bright and shimmering but with a deeper, extremely alluring backbone. It refreshes the senses upon application and becomes intoxicating and flirty throughout the drydown, all the while never losing its sparkle. This is the only perfume I own that I can wear if I'm feeling nauseous...in fact, it actually helps my nausea go away instead of making it worse! What is this sorcery?? This perfume is lovely and clean, but nothing at all like your typical "freshie" - it's so incredibly well balanced. The sweetness that develops over time is not overly sweet...it's just right. Though it's beautifully feminine, to my nose it also has a tomboyish or masculine side to it, if that makes any sense (it is a unisex fragrance, after all). Scherzo makes me feel positive, energetic, happy, and playful. It reminds me of my younger, more carefree (and tomboyish) self, while also embracing the woman I've become. It's the only perfume I've ever worn that makes me feel like the best and truest version of myself, connecting the past and the present. Thank you Miller Harris for your gorgeous creation - I never want to be without a bottle of this, it's just pure magic! The packaging says it all: "You're the only girl I've seen for a while that actually did look like something blooming." -F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tender is the Night Edit: I just saw in the comments that someone else also said this perfume brings out their best self! That's the best way to describe it :)

Scherzo is a rose-oud with a modern twist. The oud is smooth enough for beginners but still packs a punch, perfect if you want to dip your toe into the rose-oud world without diving in headfirst. This isn’t a dusty old rose - it’s fresh, slightly metallic, sweet, and very sensual. It’s for those times when you want to feel feminine, a bit sultry, and like you’ve somehow got your life together (even if you’re just winging it). As a Scottish girly, this is exactly what I imagine Princess Jasmine smells like - bold, a wee bit exotic, and unforgettable. Now, I’m no expert on how Middle Eastern noses might perceive it, but to me, it’s like a playful, modern twist on the classic oud-rose tale. Not too heavy, not too sweet- just enough flair to make you feel like royalty without needing a magic carpet. Don’t be fooled by the first spray. The real magic is in the sillage! a delicious cloud of Turkish delight that trails behind you like you’ve got your own personal scent entourage. Honestly, it smells way better floating in the air than when you spray it on your wrist and take a close sniff, so give it time to work its charm. My secret weapon? Layering it with Lancôme’s La Nuit Trésor. If you own both, you absolutely have to try layering them! I start with three sprays of La Nuit Trésor, then follow up with three sprays of Scherzo 👌🏼 It’s a game changer. Expect questions, compliments, and maybe even a few jealous glances.

Very pretty, uplifting, smooth and beautiful scent. Starts citrusy, then goes into a floral direction, while the dry down is where the magic happens.. Scherzo seems very popular and I can see why! It’s a tame, entry level oud, with rose, jasmine, sweets, patchouli, vanilla, fresh and citrusy notes in the same time. Complex and fascinating, bright and juicy. Interesting take on the Middle Eastern classic rose oud combination, but created in a European, French style of perfumery! The way it was created makes Scherzo very wearable, mass appealing and a guaranteed compliment getter! I find it to have good performance on me. The presentation of this fragrance is one of my favourite. I absolutely love the elegant, sleek, clean, classic bottle with a touch of pink added on the side and the golden cap. The front of the box looks more fun and youthful with that intricate design on it. Also, as a unique touch, it has on the back of the box, a quote from one of F.S. Fitzgerald’s novels, one of my favourite writers. I am quite tempted to buy the other half of this F.S. Fitzgerald inspired collection, called Tender, but that seems a bit more unusual and challenging. Full retail price is up there, but can be found online for a reasonable price!

I blind bought this and it came in the mail just now. I've just sprayed my arm twice, and man...Miller Harris...Okay, sis... you may take ALL my money. If sexy and elegant had a love child, it would wear this. So far, it's reminding me of a sneaky wink given from across the room. SO GLAD I bought this, hands down a YES for me. I bet this would be beautiful to layer or wear alone (because, damn this is good). Update: wore this out today for the first time and although I appreciate it and don't need a compliment to love a fragrance, it's always nice to get compliments. I was stopped by two women who asked me what I was wearing and wanted me to write it down. I passed them by and my scent trail caught their attention so much so that they told me they were trying to figure out who it was that smelled so beautiful. I am so happy with Scherzo - ALSO I think this really plays differently on your skin than when you simply spray it in the air or on paper. On paper, it's really nice but on the skin, and especially the sillage - it's so so good. It's warm, woody, sweet maybe a touch creamy, a bit musky, but still very much grounded. It all screams effortlessly sexy and polished.