Frangipani

At first blush, I suspect this would strike people as nice but nothing special. There's nothing wrong with it--it doesn't flatten or disappear after the initial citrus-floral burst, it doesn't deaden into a cliche woody base, and it lasts well given its effervescent character. Even the ratings here bear out that most people think this is just fine: out of 1,079 reviews at the time of this writing, the greatest plurality likes it (41%), and 56% of people either like it or think it's "ok". But for me, this perfume contains beautiful contrasts between bright, crystalline sparkle and hazy, fuzzy, fruits. This perfume is ultimately a fuzzy peach with a bright citrus-cedar duet providing an enchanting sparkle. It's the contrast between the summer haze and sparkle that keeps my interest. An uncomplicated, casual choice for summer days and white linen blowing in the breeze. Tiare and Osmanthus from the same house try something similar, but in my view this is the only one that gets it right.

Although I initially didn't give this scent much attention, I recently tried it again and I am now obsessed with it! The opening is so fresh and reminds me of a key lime pie and meringue, something slightly sweet and citrusy, without being clogging or heavy. It then develops into the most enchanting and delicate bouquet along with soft honey. On my skin, the drydown reminds me of freshly washed sheets with just a hint of vanilla. I have to admit I have never smelled frangipani in real life, but nonetheless, I find this fragrance absolutely stunning. I can be very picky and I am not a fan of overly sweet or sharp scents. I prefer elegant, modest and soft fragrances. To me, this fragrance is an invitation to travel, but not the sunscreen/coconutty type of scent. Instead, it feels like I am wandering in a lush tropical rainforest with my lover. It is sensual, fresh and delicate at the same time. Definitely signature worthy!

When I was in high school, I lived in Hawaii, and we had white and pink plumeria (frangipani) trees in our yard. OJ's Frangipani is exactly the scent of those plumeria directly after a tropical rainshower, crushed flowers lying under the tree with their sweet and sharp scent. It starts off with the scent of greenery and crushed plumeria. It is not long before a shy jasmine and tuberose peep out lending a slight sweetness. I'm crazy about tuberose scents, but prefer the ones with more complexity than just a shrill note of tuberose, so Frangipani's hint of tuberose is perfect. Finally, the amber lends just a hint of powdery goodness to the cedar and vanilla. A truly lovely tropical floral. I tend to have a bit of chemistry mis-match with several of OJ's musky drydowns--they become a little too sweetly neon on my skin, so I'm very glad that the musk note in Frangipani takes a backseat to the other basenotes.

Gorgeous, refined fruity floral. Frangipani, plum, magnolia, iris, and the signature Ormonde Jayne drydown are the predominant notes on my skin. One of my favorites from this house along with Tolu and Rose Gold. For those new to this line, Ormonde Jayne's perfumer Geza Schoen uses iso e super like Chanel uses aldehydes. It offers lift and refinement to a composition, but can also cause headaches and temporary nose blindness depending on the concentration and the individual. Iso e super is also likely responsible for the ghost behavior many observe from OJ perfumes. They disappear and reappear hours later or days later on a scarf. Other reviewers have noted they have better performance when they apply less. I only apply 1 spray. I am guessing that keeps the overall concentration of iso e super low enough to avoid nose blindness.

Such an effervescent scent. The line notes really shine here up front and I love how the florals ride alongside. It’s very fresh scent and I really enjoy it. I’m not an overly sophisticated perfume lover preferring a more simple scent profile, but this was a surprise. Its layers are almost addictive. Additionally I was quite frankly worried there’d be too much cedar (I can’t help think of hamster habitats🤢), but it’s thankfully really subtle. It’s def a spring or summer scent that reminds me of lime flavoured cocktails on the veranda in the sunshine surrounded by flower gardens. I purchased largely for the frangipani accord and it’s there definitely, highlighted by the rose and magnolia and even a touch of plum. I will certainly herald in the springtime sunshine wearing this delight.