Secret Sucré

Another favourite in my collection. A rich, sugary, powdery scent - very potent, but not overpowering. It sits close to the skin and lasts (on me) for 12+ hours. It's very linear - starts as a strong combination of nougat, vanilla and caramel, with benzoin and tonka joining after about 15-30 minutes, and stays that way until it disappears completely. It completely obscures any and all outside smells - I tried sampling some other perfume while wearing this fragrance and could not smell it, even with the testing paper pulled right into my face. For me, it's one of the most powerful fragrances I've ever tried - I spray it once and it lasts all day, never diminishing in strenghth until I take a shower. It's rich and its sweetness is nuanced, made complex by the carmelised nature of sugars used in the composition, as well as the prominent benzoin. For me, a fantastic winter fragrance.

It is one of the most beautiful scents I have ever smelled! The first impression is gingerbread. Very sophisticated and discreet. Walnut is also prominent. Somehow reminds the scene if I would open a golden glowing wooden chest with sugary gingerbreads in it & like I would be in a Downton Abbey episode. Definitely reminds me of Christmas but i think it’s not definitely an only winter time fragrance rather a nostalgic one. Soft and harsh accords making a gentle, linear relaxing melody. Although it doesn’t have a big impact -sillage or longevity- a very compact and artistically complex scent. There are fragrances which tell stories to me, shows me scenarios, textures, feelings and eras - this one from the early 1900s. Maybe an older highclass lady who was a passenger of the titanic. I could write a whole book about what this one makes me feel!

One thing I've learned from testing lots of frags is that benzoin smells great with my skin chemistry. While some describe it as a note that can quickly skew medicinal, on me it's a rich, spicy, resin-y note that enhances other notes around it. The benzoin in Secret Sucre is much smoother than it is in, say, Madonna's Truth or Dare Naked, but is still very present. It gives a sweet and spicy depth to the caramel, nougat and powder in SS and the effect is like the chicest fireside imaginable. In fact, SS recalls Margiela's By the Fireside and Reminiscence's Tonka as well. But this isn't a dupe of any frag I've sampled; Secret Sucre is the epitome of a well-executed gourmand. I'm so grateful to have swapped for this with a sweet fellow Fragrantican! ❤

Absolutely lovely 💕 This isn't a super sweet, gourmand perfume with strong projection/longevity if you're looking for that! If you want true gourmand then fragrances such as Bianco Latte are a great choice. This is quite airy and sophisticated. Secret Sucre is definitely not a sexy, date night perfume ..rather an everyday daily one. I have the post-2023 version and I do not pick up the vintage, mature facet in Secret Sucre, actually it's youthful! Imagine a powdery, sweet nougat-ish smell, nothing like makeup powder at all - a bit of nuttiness, woodsy characteristics. Tl;dr Secret Sucre smells high quality and niche. It's a feminine and classy office-oriented perfume.

First impression review - this is beautiful! It's a soft, sweet gingerbread scent. It's a pretty soft sillage and projection. I did about six sprays. Not sure yet about longevity. The spices are soft. It is a super feminine scent and lovely for every day wear. This can be worn in any season. It's not too spicy that it can only be worn in the fall/winter. It's soft, sweet and girly. I did amp it up by layering BBW Jolly Gingerbread Village. I smell soooooo good! Excited to have this in my collection. Will update on longevity later. But I don't mind layering or reapplying. Such a happy scent. Two thumbs up for me.