Mandrake

This one starts very moist, damp and green. In just a few seconds after application the scent gets really high pitched, intensely shrill, bright green, juicy and tart. I detect the crisp green apple note and the sour leafy rhubarb. A gorgeous, cool toned spiciness from cardamom appears and rounds out the sharp edges of this toxic green opening. The entire opening of this scent reminds me of the scene from Harry Potter where they lift the shrieking mandrake "babies" from one pot and replant them in another. The cardamom leads the way for a deep, velvety floral feeling. I can't really put my finger on what type of flower it is (it says mandrake flower accord in the notes, so it is obviously supposed to smell like the flower of the mandrake plant), but I can't detect what type of notes they've used to create this accord. It smells floral in a violet-rosy-exotic, blushing, velvety kind of way, and the smell has depth, a bit of darkness and weight - it feels heavy, but not suffocating. The green fruity and slightly sour smell from the opening is still present, and lifts the more heavy feeling of this floral accord. This floral phase feels very sensual, attractive and enveloping. The base makes its presence known with a smooth leather and creamy, semi sweet vanilla-tonka combo. There is still traces of the rhubarb left in the scent, and together with the vanilla it creates a dessert like feeling. It smells a bit like a less sweet panna cotta with rhubarb jam. Almost edible, but not quite. You feel like taking a bite, but you know you really shouldn't. There is also something in the base that reminds me of a soft, smooth, buttery caramel. Again a really gorgeous and unique creation. I'm impressed! Longevity is great, I get about 8-9 hours out of this. The scent is strong right away, but dries down to a soft medium.

Mandrake opens with a burst of swirling, bright, and juicy tart fruit of which rhubarb and green apple are most prominent to me. The effect is like swimming in a gigantic bowl of Starburst and Skittles. The fruit stays for a while, mingling with a soft vanilla and some toasty tonka and eventually dries down to a comforting vanilla with hints of patchouli. The leather/birch notes do not stand out strongly for me. A google search reveals another name for the mandrake plant is Satan's Apple and has psychadelic and narcotic properties. This fragrance has the same fun appeal for me as watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or Alice and Wonderland. A colorful, kaleidoscopic adventure ending in a deep, exhausted sleep in the dreamy comfort of a gigantic down bed from which you may not want to wake up. UPDATE: My review was based on sampling it sprayed in a store. I'm wearing it today from a dabber vial I took home and it pretty much faded after the fruity opening. A small dabber sample is probably not the way to go with this one.

I find this a fruity, lady of the Forrest kind of scent. The bold and intoxicating fruits, give way to citrus peel and hanging moss. Later the fruits juice begin to fall on the Forrest trees and leaves as rich earth tries to make a appearance. You are left with the memory of heady pomegranate, young moss and rustling leaves in the wind. I do not not find this unisex and find this very feminine, but strong and distinctive. This is a daring fragrance for sure and like Wolfsbane a love for me.

OMG I absolutely love this fragrance. It took me a few wears to really appreciate all this masterpiece has to offer. The dry down is another level of perfection. The performance & sillage just goes & goes & lasts the entire day. I get endless compliments wearing this fragrance. It's absolutely stunning & become one of my all time favorites. This will always be a staple in my collection. Going on my 3rd bottle! Please don't ever stop making this!!

Mandrake is some wicked stuff. First off, you get the apple and rhubarb, then slowly finishes to a nice clean leather smell. Never smelled “deadly addiction accord” before, but after smelling this, I am hooked! Full bottle worthy and I will be getting one in the near future. (NOTE: I have a full bottle now :) )