Flash Back

This niche perfume line was completely inspired by the art of photography. The photographer of this work was Laurent Segretier and the inspiration was the memory, that moment suspended in which we can remember a face, a song, a feeling, etc. The perfumer was the wonderful Olivier Cresp, responsible for numerous hits for Armani, Dior, Givenchy, Kenzo, Cacharel, etc. The fragrance is composed by notes of orange, grapefruit and rhubarb, in the output; in the heart, were added notes of pink pepper and Green Apple of the Granny Smith type. And finally, notes of cedar, vetiver, musks and amber in the base. This is a citrus and fruity perfume, with great presence of Orange and a soft spicy, soon followed. And although is at the top of the olfactory pyramid, the rhubarb has free access to all stages of evolution, with its green and tonic nuances, strolling between the acid and fruity. I couldn't notice the presence of Green Apple, but the heart has a beautiful vetiver, that comes wrapped between the amber and the musk, bringing slightly creamy nuances and, if we insist on smelling, almost medicinal. The sillage is reasonable and the lasting is very good. In my opinion, it would be perfect if had kept the orange aroma for longer. Anyway, I would like to give a tip: who likes the line Un Jardin, by Hermés, will love to meet this creation. Flash Back EDP is a return to happy times.

Unexpectedly lovely ! I'm often wary of vetiver and usually not impressed by Olfactive Studio (love the scents, admire the presentation, hate the poor performance) - but this one's a winner on me, against expectations. Absolutely bristling with sharp, juicy, pink, acid rhubarb notes, really beautifully done, against a sour-yet-light vetiver background without any sedge-reed rankness. These two plants somehow reinforce and improve each other, the rhubarb making the vetiver all clean, crisp and citric rather than dirty-green, and the vetiver helping to really streeeeeeeetch the delights of the rhubarb, which are often shortlived. To me it adds up to a less-sweet, longer-lived, more masculine (but still totally unisex) cousin to Hermes' Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate. In other words it's very very good and will be wonderful for summer use. Still a little too fleeting to be perfect, like all Olfactive Studios I've tried - maximum longevity 4h on skin, maybe a couple more on fabric - and overpriced at full retail. But honestly, really genuinely worth a try for citric freshness that's not a cliche, or for rhubarb romancers anywhere. I approached it not expecting much, but my curled lip soon turned into a smile of delight. Give it a chance!

Such a good opening to this fragrance...a wonderfully realized citrus in the shape of sharp grapefruit which is spot on...really natural. Then a perfect orange note and clearly defined from the grapefruit this is juicy and exudes the flavour of a ripe orange and that freshly peeled white stuff on the inside...gorgeous. Oh yeah...I love rhubarb but I don't get it here really...perhaps an unsweetened 'green' rhubarb that's still growing?...Flash back is tart and sharp but I wouldn't describe it as smelling of Rhubarb and I've sampled it a few times now. The drydown is almost a little warm and that could be the amber listed here although its more pink pepper (which is strong) vetiver and musk which work perfectly with the fruit. I have gotten excited about a few citruses recently (that's because I've tried some very good ones.) but as a rule I don't get to enthusiastic about them...Olfactive studios Flash back is worth it though. Great opening, nice dry down not complex but delivers simplicity very well, my only minor criticism is that it doesn't last very well...otherwise I'd buy this.

Reviewing a bottle form 2013. Flash Back was launched in 2013. This is a bright vetiver fragrance by Olfactive Studio an underrated perfume house. Fresh citrus opening mostly grapefruit with some rhubarb folllowed by peppery vetiver wrapped in musk and amber. Beautifully blended by Olivier Cresp. No synthetic notes. It is in the same vetiver family with Encre Noire (2006) and Roja's Elysium (2017). Flash Back is fruitier to start and has the dry black pepper in the drydown but the feel is the same. It is as refined but less complex than Elysium. Quality- excellent 4/5 Unisex -leans masculine for the dry down Performance- very good sillage and longevity 4/5 Excellent fresh vetiver scent which is high quality and versatile- perfect for spring and summer evenings. 8.5/10

This brand doesn’t seem to be well known which is a pity as the two fragrances I have from them (Still Life and this one) are both really nice in my opinion. Natural smelling, silage ok but not enormous (which I like), quite long lasting. Flash Back for me is a perfect mix of grapefruit and vetiver. I get a bit of the rhubarb but the grapefruit note is stronger to my nose. A bit similar to Terre D’Hermes (which I own as well) but I do prefer Flash Back as more natural smelling and the vetiver seems better blended with the citrus/fruity notes. Had I had know this one before wouldn’t have bought TdH.