Tears of Eros

So it’s been a while since I’ve recoiled in horror at the opening of a fragrance. I mean (Versace) Eros is bad enough but his tears fucking stink! 🤣 No in fairness the challenge of this scent is something I relish and tears of Eros is a massive challenge but already as it’s settling, it’s twinkling facets of jade greens and turquoise blues are really starting to elicit a more positive response, this gets better and better as it dries down. There’s a huge, wet floral note of hyacinth, I mean it’s not even that element which is unpleasant, but usually in isolation not my favourite thing. I think it’s just the opening is such a concentrated mass of ‘stuff’ brutalising your nostrils, I mean I grimaced 😬 I actually grimaced 😬. It’s metallic, resinous (galbanum or Angelica perhaps?) ozonic, it’s more than breeze or seaside this is not at the ‘side’ it’s a Mariana Trench, marine depth charge of a thing! I think it’s absolutely inspired! Hugely memorable anyway. Tears of Eros is not my scene but I can get off on occasion to stuff like this because it’s such bold, unique, perfumery. Something about the style of the drydown reminds me a touch of French Lover and that’s a very positive association indeed. I can’t believe the flip flop from, intrusive, and atrocious opening to something very nice indeed when settled, just goes to show you shouldn’t judge a perfume too quickly and harshly, I kinda had a funny feeling in my waters that it was going to get better. I’d say, of the three I’ve tried so far ...this one is probably my favourite just due to the sheer artistry can’t wait to wear it properly. UPDATE 09/06/21 Can I just say that when talking to people who asked me what where the highlights of my 2020, I say 'Tears of Eros' I CAN'T STOP THINKIING ABOUT IT. I really can't, and yet everything I said above is accurate. It's one of the most interesting works I've smelled in a long time, it's a pure piece of olfactory art. I described it recently as 'Heavy metal Hyacinths' and that's pretty accurate, If I bought a bottle I'm not sure if there would ever be an occasion suitable? Perhaps if Iron Maiden started doing gigs at the botanical gardens or something? Paul deserves massive credit for this and his line in general, it's really hard for an indy perfume to balance polish and really wacky new ideas but he seems to strike a really good balance.

Built to reaffirm the smell of a very happy accident Tears Of Eros was inspired by a mess of incense from Kyoto’s Sanju Sangendo, a bowl of discarded clementine peel and a night blooming hyacinth. These three things combined in the moonlit air of the artist’s studio and coalesced into a narcotic and heady living incense. Understandably the hyacinth is incredibly prominent in the formula but it comes bolstered by rich iris butter, salty ambergris and the ambery gums of labdanum and benzoin. The incense aspect works quietly in the background with the clementine sitting pretty as a very gratifying highlight.

So disappointed in the longevity and sillage of this. Absolutely zero lasting power on me, if even entirely vanished from my clothes within about two hours! Devastating because the notes are sublime. This perfume seemed to immediately vanish from my skin a few minutes after spraying and I ended up spraying quite a lot to try and get it to linger. As a result, I would say this perfume is rather intimate. I can imagine that, if you were to spray this profusely, and then wear in on a night out in a small, cozy restaurant, it would be rather impactful. But until I have the opportunity to do so and test my theory, this is an extreme disappointment.

Opens with lots of hyacinth and sharp notes, of incense, resins and woody notes. There is also a bit of orange peel bitters in the background. I consider this scent too sharp for me to wear, although I do find the composition very interesting! Sillage and longevity are moderate, lasted about 6 hours on my skin. Interesting composition, though not wearable for me personally because of the sharpness of the scent, it's not my thing. This scent would suit one of those days with rough weather in spring-- hailstorms and sunshine. Try it if you like hyacinth and incense and are up for a bold combination!

One of the worst, stinkiest perfumes I've ever had the displeasure to smell. It starts off smelling nasty, VERY sharp, and smelling a little like pickles, pot and urine. And those were the good parts. Considering how this perfume came to be, I would call it an UNhappy accident!