Mexican Cocoa

What a little gem from Pacifica! I've tried/owned a few of their other scents and none has impressed me as much as this one. The opening smells almost exactly like amaretti cookies - the almond is quite dominant and I think the cherry some reviewers experience comes from this almond note. After a few minutes, the cinnamon comes into play, but it's sweet cinnamon, not the dry, piquant powder of the spice rack. I don't get much cocoa from this scent, though if it's anywhere, it's about an hour in, when the almond and cinnamon have relaxed at last into a warming, enveloping hug. I'd agreed with the reviewer who mentioned that the scent has a kind of 'sheerness' that keeps it from tipping over into full-blown, rich gourmand territory. It's definitely foody, but wears lightly. Projection is decent - no need to keep sniffing my wrist while wearing this, though I do it anyway! If pressed, I'd say this is more of an almond fragrance than a cocoa one - if you love the scent of Amaretti di Saronno, this one is for you! NOTE: This review is for the perfume, not the solid (it appears most of the less-enthusiastic reviews are for the solid form, but unfortunately I haven't tested it so I can't make a comparison)

This scent is delicious if you love all of its notes - because they are definitely all present. In the initial spritz and for the first five to ten minutes I smell mostly almond and nutmeg. For the rest of its duration all of the notes come through together into a very smooth and nicely balanced blend on my skin. This is a good choice for a very light, slightly spicy, not overly sweet cocoa scent. I like to spray this one in my hair, it smells great and seems to last a bit longer there. It's a lovely delectable scent, but on my skin the sillage and longevity are pretty disappointing. I definitely have to reapply if I want it to last all day, but I still really enjoy it. Lasts longer and projects better in cooler weather. Layers really really well with other Pacifica scents. Edit: Try layering this one with Tibetan Mountain Temple. It reminds me of a crystallized ginger dark chocolate bar!

OK, now that I own this, I need to revise: The solid perfume opens with wedding cake style sweet almond - YAY! and some cinnamon & clove. The almond starts to fade and it's cinnamon, clove, vanilla with a very faint citrus scent. MUCHO NICE!!! On drydown, it fades too quickly, but the vanilla, milk chocolate and spices are still there. This smells so wonderful, I wish it lasted forever!!! ******************end revision On me, it opened with more chocolate with some clove. Very quickly, it smelled EXACTLY like toothache medicine. "CLOVE"-rwhelming; I actually expected my wrist to go numb. I really liked it, honestly, but I'm not sure I can pull it off... (perhaps in colder weather.) Ah, but once it dried down, the chocolate dominated again, with the clove softly hanging out in the background. Very nice finish and certainly worth checking out.

Mexican Cocoa opens smelling strongly of almond extract, with that sweet-creamy cherry aroma. As it wears, it becomes more piquant and warm as the almond blends with the spices and vanilla. I think of cinnamon and nutmeg sprinkled over a soft, honeyed vanilla base. The overall effect is a little like freshly-baked cookies, though it’s not overtly sweet or foody. This fragrance is invitingly spicy, warm and round. I do get the sense of a soft chocolate note in the mix, but overall it’s the almond and spices that take centre stage. If you’re looking for a fragrance with an obvious chocolate note, this probably isn't it. Personally, I love this mix of understated chocolate, almond, and spices. This subtle, warm, and cozy fragrance would wear perfectly on cold winter days.

A sweet delight of delicious perfume! The first approach is a crisp spicy sweetness. There is a bit of clove, immediate nutmeg, then soothing almond. I find a serenity in this intriguing blend, not too gourmand but just right. I find myself drawn to my arm for a calming sensation. This is a delicacy for me and incredibly sexy and scrumptious in the cooler weather!