Love no Shame

This is GORGEOUS! Wow. There is zero oud detected, definitely no skanky oud anyway. Ok now that I really SEARCH for it - I get a hint, like a 1 on the "1-10 Oud Scale". I have to really search for it to find it. So I wouldn't let the oud scare you! This is a beautiful fruity floral-gourmand. I am getting mostly whipped cream + cherry with almond - I suppose the strawberry note is calming the cherry down some. This isn't "Lost Cherry-esque" at all. It actually reminds me somewhat of LATTAFA Noble Blush (I love that one too!) But this is giving more luxury, higher-quality. I get the rose, which isn't either matronly or fresh, but a nice pleasant rose. I imagine the violet could be softening the edges of the rose some but this isn't SUPER violet-forward fragrance. This is well-blended and beautifully done. A perfect Valentine's fragrance. Gourmand enough for the gourmand-lover in me, but not so indulgent sweet either. It strikes a nice balance, still smelling like a "fragrance", although not "perfumey". Do you smell what I'm steppin in? It's such a pretty feminine fragrance, not for a wall flower - is romantic and playful. The cinnamon is not noticed at all. The vanilla, sandalwood, musk just giving the bright fruits a comfy cozy creamy blanket to set on. I usually don't like fruity-florals but this has just enough gourmand creaminess to hook me. The cocoa is there but not a focal point. I wouldn't call this a "chocolate" fragrance really, but it's actually lovely addition. This fragrance is a sterling silver platter of chocolate-covered strawberries and cherries; a bowl of almond-flavored whipped cream to dip... A bouquet of red roses, some violets sprinkled throughout... all sprawled out on a bed, fluffy white feather-down comforter... On Valentine's Day of course 💝 *dreamy* UPDATE (11/25/25): I still love this fragrance and it is definitely worthy of being in my collection but I do notice the oud in it now after having worn it maybe 6 or 7 times. It's not a dirty or skanky oud by any means but maybe more of a medicinal oud? If I could change 1 thing it would be to replace the oud with a creamy sandalwood note instead, since oud can be a tough note for me. Regardless I still give this a solid 8.5/10. And a little higher around Valentine's 🥰 This is 1 of the only fragrances I own with an oud note. The other being BYRON Mula Mula Double Caramel. (IMO both of these fragrances are better than La Capitale.)

My experiences after this was sat overnight in a cold wearhouse prior ro delivery and then subsequent wears were very different. On first (cold) wear it opened with a strong oud (tinsiest bit medicinal woody oud) for fhe first 30 40 mins with only just detectable cherry underneath (but no ambroxan...hurrrah!) and I was wondering at that stage why it was being described as a gourmand...but then it all but disappeared and for the rest of the day I had a slightly projecting skinscent of cherry and strawberry, which was very enjoyable...On subsequent wear it was closer to the reviewer below but i still get a noticeable oud, but it works really well and the cherry note is yummy and not too sweet or juvenile . This is a complex and changing fragrance...it is not a linear gourmand. I've never met a plume impression I really didn't like...yet :). Really pleased to get my hands on this.

people posting "this reminds me of" when no-one has smelled it yet :/.

As the reviewer below said, the almond note is very prominent at first. But it does soften within about 30 mins to where the fruity and creamy notes come through. I detect more strawberry than cherry. The dry down is a soft musky sandalwood. Overall it gives me La Capitale vibes if someone dumped a load of almonds on top. I like it!

I did not like the opening of this fragrance very much - the cherry note was very aggressive, as if it was coming from a washing liquid. However, as time went by, the scent settled down, it became more rounded and creamy. The drydown is beautiful - an elegant combination of strawberries, vanilla and cocoa.