MAGIC CIRCUS

I can't help but wonder why all the MiN scents have a ton of dislikes on Fragrantica. This one is extremely likable and interesting, slightly polarizing but definitely not the stink bomb that the love/like/dislike ratio would imply. It's an extremely unique take on the gourmand genre. Super sweet (but not cloying somehow?) with interestingly inedible nutty nuances. The wood, geranium and patch add a heavy, almost old school masculine undertone. In a way it reminds me of ELDO's Divin Enfant with the juxtaposition of sweet "fun" notes with heavier traditionally masculine notes. However this is much more wearable and fun imo. I definitely get caramel in the top, as well as a roasty peanut note. The drydown is mostly a sweetened patchouli woody thing that lasts a good couple of hours but doesnt project in the least bit (I kind of prefer that with my sweet scents, maybe Dzing! has conditioned me but I hate sugar bombs). Ive loved both of the MiN scents I've tried (moon dust being the other) and I wonder if I just got lucky or if this line is really under-appreciated. I'm looking forward to testing the other fragrances for a definitive conclusion! 7.5/10

I was so intrigued by the description of this fragrance that I could hardly wait to try it. It's not like I expected it - gourmand notes barely detectable and disappear quickly - but I like it overall. It's an easy going patch perfume, but it's not a simple one: every time I sniff it, I sense a new detail. My favorite from MiN, even though I'm conflicted about buying a full bottle - the price deters me a lot. Projection good, duration not a beast, drydown is pampering sweet and feminine, like a cotton candy skin scent.

A playful and lively parfum, evokes in me a fanciful atmosphere... a magic circus, a melody from afar sounds, resounds in your subconscious a feeling of joy and peaceful. An alternation of sweetness and spices/woody meet... the patchouli is very evident in the drydown but very well balanced. This is a memorable perfume, with a childlike beauty. Beautiful! Sillage: 7./10 Longevity: 8.5/10 Scent: 8.5/10 Overall: 8.5/10

What I love most is how it feels so versatile—elegant yet fun, perfect for any occasion. The scent is unique, leaving a lasting impression without being overpowering. Even my family adores it; everyone remarks how it smells fresh yet comforting. It’s a fragrance that feels like an experience, and we all enjoy how it lingers, making us feel a little bit more special every time we wear it!

Man I really love this one. I think it would be stunning on a woman. It's instantly nostalgic. Boardwalks. Carnivals. Making out. Twilight excitement. Being young. Still working with a sample to see if I could rock it. It leans a little whimsical and feminine and pretty at the moment. Considering buying a bottle just to experience it from time to time.

Its an irresistible combination of woody, sweet, and earthy notes. The warm richness of patchouli and the smooth sweetness of caramel create a sophisticated, multi-layered scent, while a touch of fresh spicy adds an exciting twist. This fragrance is both captivating and comforting, perfect for any occasion. Loved it!!!!!

Ok this one is awesome! It starts like a cotton candy with a little nutty smell accompanying it. It's kind of flinty smelling throughout. .difficult to explain and great to smell Full bottle worthy 9/10 Very creative!

Magic Circus and it is definitely magic on me, a gourmand that swirls on your skin, never to sweet, perfection, cotton candy, peanuts, popcorn, sawdust, happy children and laughter. FB is a must for me.

In my skin lasts 12+ , 2016 batch Very unique

If you are looking into this fragrance due to the cotton candy note or hoping it will be gourmand then you may want to think twice before blind buying this one. This is not gourmand nor is it even remotely sweet as shown in the fragrantica breakdown. I feel this should state that it is woody, aromatic, and fresh spicy. Circus is a very dry scent with almost no sweetness to it. The wood chip note and patchouli are predominately what I smell from start to finish. You get a tiny bit of the pink pepper but, unfortunately, the other notes don't read for me at all. Imagine an antique chest that was handmade with local wood that has been in your family for generations, but has been well maintained -- it smells like the inside of that chest or at least that's around the scent profile I'm picking up (if that even makes sense). It's not bad per-say but it's not something most will want to smell like all day. I'm not mad at this fragrance but it's more niche than most noses are adjusted to -- so if you are not into the niche market yet or you are just getting into fragrances I'd steer clear of this one for a bit. I think this would layer decently with other fragrances so I shall try my best to see which works with this profile. For anyone interested here are the official notes per the brand's site and the official packaging: Top: Bergamot, Pink Peppercorn, Ananas & Cotton Candy Heart: Cistus, Labdanum, Nuts & Geranium Base: Patchouli, Caramel & Wood Chips Edit: I'm leaving the original review I posted up as it was the first impression, but this has definitely grown on me! The sweetness comes through now but it is still a very dry woody fragrance. Also, the peanut note comes through magnificently it smells just like fresh peanuts the shell and all. Super happy to have it in my collection. Give this one time to sit!

As a huge lover of gourmand fragrances, I knew I had to try Magic Circus. A friend of mine very graciously acquired a sample for me, and I've spent the past couple of days testing the fragrance and seeing how it wears. This fragrance is very sweet, dark, and heady. There is a very prominent labdanum note which combines with patchouli and woods to create a deep, leathery tone. Magic Circus is an interesting type of gourmand scent that does not smell entirely edible -- it has gourmand elements, but the overall composition does not make you think "I want to eat that." The bergamot, pink pepper, and geranium notes allow this fragrance to pass as a more mainstream men's cologne and almost disguise the gourmand notes, allowing them to slip in unexpectedly. I very much enjoy the way this smells, although the longevity is disappointing. The projection is good, but it is too short-lived to justify the hefty pricetag. But I know that this will make an amazing signature perfume for some lucky person out there.

It’s 1984, my mum is in her mid 30s, she is getting ready to go to an evening dinner party. She is wearin a nice evening dress and a floral-patchouli vintage perfume. It’s an elegant patchouli rather than the dirty mildew type. She has her hair up and it is fixed with hairspray. Meanwhile she is just taking out of the oven a warm Christmas cake - it is buttery and spicy with dried fruit. she chooses a very nice brandy to pour over. For me this perfume evokes a combined memory of comfort, elegance and something a little adult even dangerous... the comfort and warm glow of seasonal sweet spicy tones... and elegant yet unseen adult world of seasonal parties with the patchouli and labdanum it rests upon. Pretty unique, certainly wearable, but not a blind buy - more an evening occasionally and more towards an autumn - winter occasion to my nose. But I am trying in summer and it does project well. My first time smelling this house and I am impressed with this creation.

This scent opens unisex but the drydown is feminine. Longevity is long lasting but the projection is limited. It is suitable for spring and fall, day and night. Also it would be wonderful for summer evenings. Dominant notes are mild cotton candy, geranium, pineapple and caramel. There is also a strong woody patchouli note which works like a platform embracing all those ingredients. At the opening dominant notes are labdanum, geranium, woody notes and incense with a light rubbery vibe. All these die as time passes. This is a beautiful scent if you don't carre about the projection.

In general, it is a patchouli-based perfume. Patchouli is very intense and I can feel the caramel and amber scent accompanying the patchouli. Amber begins to be felt after staying on the skin for a long time. I don't think it's a sugary scent at all. it's more of a light sweet patchouli themed fragrance. Permanence is average silage is insufficient. Can be used as a night scent. I can say that it is a unisex that is dry down to male use. its scent reminded me of nicolai ambre cashmere intense.

I wanted the peanut and caramel to be stronger and more present (I love these weird notes), but unfortunately it was mostly synth-patch sweetness from about 20 minutes in. It turns quite femme really quick, too. Like something Victoria's Secret would put out (nothing wrong with that), so I was disappointed, given what I came in expecting. The caramel remains, however, but that is merely 'influencing' rather than leading... Worth a try, but not for me...

Mine smells like cattle, stable, haystacks and horseshit 💩 so basically yeah ... a magic circus 🎪

The patchouli here is...awful. It’s oddly sour and totally ruins the sweet gourmand aspect of the scent

Immediate NOPE for me... got a 2ml decant of this and will be selling or swapping coz this just did not work on my skin. At first I get a very vintage vibe, I can smell the woods, peanut and maybe patchouli. Waited for a bit for it to dry down and all I get is burned wood (actually on my skin it smells like cigarette smoke... strange): Some old man got back from his break after smoking quite a few cigs and he’s chewing on a chewy caramel candy and wearing some old school deodorant spray to mask that terrible cigarette smell. Sadly the bad smells overwhelm any caramel or cotton candy that’s supposedly in there. Very old smelling and off putting to my nose. Was expecting something more UP, happy, carnival-esque... maybe this is the smell of the carnival after a fire burned everything down to the ground...

This scent is pretty boring. I wish I got more of the patchouli and pepper (Lord of Misrule-esque), but all I get is the sickly sugary sweet of cotton candy and a tiny bit of caramel-y warmth. To me it's just sweet with no depth or complexity. If that's your thing than this might be perfect. Otherwise the cloying low performance sweetness of this just makes it feel cheap (and at its price point it's not).

I honestly expected Magic Circus to be way worse that it actually is. 90% of the notes involved speak about nemesis to me but, as a matter of fact, this is nowhere as bad as it could have actually been. Good news...I guess. Yes, it's a roasted cotton-candy / caramel bomb but the sweetness, while being definitely the main focus here, it's somewhat in check and the fragrance doesn't smell too juvenile or overly foody. The main accords are very realistic, bordering almost into *scratch'n'sniff* gourmand territories and yet, somehow, the fragrance doesn't feel like you're kissing your baby girl on the forehead after she ate a lot of pink cotton candy while visiting Disney World. It has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes of Magic Circus, a plausible fragrance for anyone into straight-forward gourmands. Also, there's a nice juxtaposition provided by aromatic geranium notes and citruses together with smooth woods and patchouli, that give this delivery by MiN, its very own credibility. It's almost an element of *disturb* that definitely plays in the fragrance's favor. Downline: Nothing I would even remotely consider buying (or wearing, for that matter), but if you like the genre, it's worth checking out. Rating: 6.5/10