Prada Paradoxe Radical Essence

Radical Essence is a true winter fragrance that, unfortunately, hit the shelves at the wrong time, right in the middle of summer, and that is only the first of many misunderstandings that follow. A fragrance launched wrong, and misunderstood even worse. I spent several hours testing it thoroughly and I have a lot to say. I must express my disappointment in the way Fragrantica handled this release. No one took the time to publish the correct note pyramid, which led to widespread misinterpretation, mine included. The opening is explosive, bold, and radical, it screams off the skin, demands attention, and refuses to be ignored. If you love Paradoxe Intense, you may recognize a familiar thread here, only pushed to the absolute limit. But what truly sets Radical Essence apart from the rest of the Paradoxe line is the salty pistachio accord. And let’s clear this up right away: this is not the pistachio you find in Mugler Angel Stellar. There’s nothing dessert-like here. Prada’s pistachio is salty, sophisticated and understated. It follows the neroli and orange blossom, which deliver an explosive floral opening rooted in the unmistakable Paradoxe DNA. Is it gourmand? Yes. And no. In the traditional sense, no. But the salty pistachio blended with sandalwood gives it a rich, creamy texture that flirts with gourmand territory without becoming edible or cloying. What Radical Essence definitely is not, though, is a unisex fragrance. At least not on my skin. Beneath the intensity and sharpness, a soft, feminine harmony of notes rises to the surface, evolving into a warm, sensual, and elegant finish. As it settles, the fragrance enters what I love most in any high-quality perfume, a phase of confident quiet. The sandalwood leaves behind a trail that is warm, velvety, and long-lasting, a far cry from the initial chaos that nearly shouts for attention. And here lies the true paradox: from a loud, almost abrasive beginning to a soft, refined finale. The name Paradoxe isn’t accidental. It’s completely earned here. Paradoxe Radical Essence is a fragrance released at the wrong time and presented with the wrong information. That’s why it was met with confusion rather than admiration. But if it survives this initial wave of misunderstanding, it could very well become a cult favorite for those who know exactly what they’re looking for. Not everyone will love it, and that is okay. But no one can say it’s boring. And in a world where more and more perfumes tend to smell the same, that’s already a major plus. I only hope it won’t end up in the graveyard of forgotten flankers, not because it isn’t worthy, but because it’s been misunderstood. This is a fragrance that requires the right skin, the one that can unlock its full potential and carry its fragrant paradox to the very end.

It’s so fascinating seeing the reviews about this! My turn: I love it! Im a sucker for pistachio scents so I wanted to smell this the second I knew of its existence. At first (on the test strip) I really didn’t like this. Angel Stellar had me by the throat at first sniff. This wasn’t anything like that. It was more weird than anything. But after I walked around in Sephora for a bit I went back and sprayed it on the back of my hand (just to see what would happen) I go about the rest of my shopping experience and keep getting a whiff of something I really liked. You see the thing about Stellar is that the part of it that I like the most, fades away. She’s gorgeous in the dry down, sure, but it’s really more so about the Angel DNA than anything else. But the dry down of this is what I like the most. It reminds me a little bit of DS & Durga’s Pistachio fragrance. Upfront, I thought it was weird too, but after it wore for a second, it kind of became this semi animalic woody nutty situation. Radical Essence has the same kind of vibe, but with the floral aspect in the top, it creates a bit of a romantic quality. As this is a parfum concentration, I feel like everyone is going to have to try their luck with this and see what happens with your skin chemistry. Personally, I really enjoy wearing scents during the summer that the internet says that I shouldn’t. Heat creates a completely different experience. Since this is a parfum concentration it needs the heat to help it bloom. One of my favorite wear tests is to put on a scent and take a hot shower and smell myself after to see what I end up with. It’s so revealing. Please give this a try. It’s grown up, it’s sexy, and I look forward to many more wears.

Now, this is a f*ckable perfume. The designer was probably listening to Charli XCX when mixing this up. 🍊🌼🥜🎸💥🌟🖤 It still has that air of shampooed hair, hot girl fruity shampoo we had in the '00s. It has a distinct pear/white floral opening sitting on top of something bitter but edible, something dirtier. Salted pistachios, probably. It smells like suntan after a beach and one spray of that random watermelon spray your cousin lent you, resort scents of food, soaps and fragrances mixing together. Honestly, I'm nuts for nuts in fragrances, but this combination is not for the faint of heart. It's somehow both a hot girl fragrance, but also hot girl scalp after a workout at the resort. It's fresh, athletic, suntanned, fertile. Don't smell it up close, just let it resonate in the air and guide you. It's decent at the opening, but soon it gets musky and nutty - two scents that generally don't mix well without reminding of carbs, sweat or a rough workout. The smell of sweet pear shampoo still lingers over it, hypnotizingly so. It gets better as it goes. I oddly dig it. I think in general I have a soft spot for the bittersweet Paradoxe Intense accords, and I still think this smells pretty sexy, and will probably wear it to work, shopping mall or a beach dinner date. It's a slightly unhinged perfume, both fresh and dirty, sweet and bitter, balanced in it's extremes. It reminds me of trips to the beach as a kid with my classmates, of that hot girl in class B we all wish we knew/were. 🍊🌼🥜🎸💥🌟🖤 It's frankly a rockstar perfume, and I feel so feminine wearing it. Gender affirming. What a fun little number to come out of a designer house!

The first time I tried Prada Paradoxe Radical Essence sprayed on paper was a confusing experience. I thought it was a very strange, overly nutty perfume that was not easy to like, at least at first. To be fair, I was in the middle of a perfume testing frenzy in the store, so this was not a fair introduction. I did, however, try it on because I was intrigued. The first test was still confusing and slightly off putting, but it embedded itself in the sleeve of my coat for at least a week and I couldn't stop smelling it. The second test was intriguing and by the third test I was completely addicted. I bought a 30 mL bottle! PPRE opens with very strong, slightly animalic pistachio and then it dries down to a sweet neroli, retaining musky, almost pheromone-like nuances. There is a touch of buttery saltiness, that, when mixed with the neroli creates something very unique, unexplainable. This inverted note pyramid is coated in a layer of sweet syrup to remove all of the jagged edges. Three Givaudane perfumers (Antoine Maisondieu, Nadège Le Garlantezec and Shyamala Maisondieuare) are given credit for this composition and this team has been working on the entire Paradoxe line, which is a standout among the other designer offerings. I can smell ingredients in this line that, to me, seem like new technology released to the designer market. This is so exciting and, I can't believe that I am saying this, but I can't wait for the next flanker! I can't wait to try other fragrances created by this team!

Any word spoken negatively against this perfume is gatekeeping and a psyop. I’ve never had so many strangers in my life walk up to me and tell me I smell good/ask what I’m wearing before this one. I work in a chopped smelly fast food joint and customers can smell me all the way over the counter and in the kitchen like 6 feet away... this perfume is magnetic to everyone. Theres something so sexy about the Sandalwood and Pistachio note together- the contrast is erotic and a pure pleasure to smell. The dry down of the pistachio is slightly nutty/creamy underneath with the neroli top note contrasting by being slightly sharp on the nose. This thing projects like crazy as stated before— but not in a way that’s annoying or bad. Again, this fragrance has been universally loved if the constant complimenting is saying anything. I am a full time worker and student— my days are long and I end up leaving the house at 7 am and coming back at 11 pm— and it’s still stuck on me by the time I’m undressing to shower. I disagree with voters saying this is way overpriced as you do get what you pay for. I would go to say it’s only slightly overpriced... given how many popular femme leaning Fragrances on here are undetectable in day to day life and last 2 seconds. If you’re reading this— don’t believe the naysayers and go spray this on yourself at Sephora or something. Paper doesn’t do it justice... the truth WILL set you free.

Wow, what a ride this fragrance is! First of all, while I like the original Paradox DNA, I do not love it, because it pulls very artificial for my nose. Therefore I always preferred YSL Libre, which on my skin smells kind of similar. This new flanker however really pulled me in! I still pick up on the artificial vibe from the paradox DNA, but after a while it really balances itself out somehow and I find the pistachio note very intriguing. I warn everyone though, it is a strong, and clearly salty note. For my nose it’s quite a new sensation but not unpleasant. With time on my skin it ends up smelling like Love don’t be shy’s a tad bit artificial steampunk little sister. Considering the price difference between them (in Europe at least) it can be a great alternative. I will still keep on testing it, it is still a question for me if I find it too artificial on the long run or not, but generally I love the idea, the notes, the composition. I am really enjoying the salty note, fortunately it pulls pleasant on my skin (unlike the JPG fragrances that I love on paper, but who turn insufferable on my skin.) All in all it is a very interesting, great flanker, I personally like this the most from the whole line, but it is not a safe blind but and and make sure to test it on your skin. If you like it however I think it is a great investment, quality parfume that surely lasts a long time.

Okay, after reading so many contradictory reviews i had to log in to write mine since i just smelled it on the store. When i smelled it my first thought was... mmm it reminds me of something i have smelled before... oh yes, that’s it, it smells almost identical to pure XS by paco Rabanne. Yes, it has a popcorn note to me that i don’t know where it comes from, but it is definitely there. It must be the pistachio i guess. And by the way, I have to disagree with many of the reviews down there, because even if it can be disappointing since it doesn’t smell nothing like the OG, it doesn’t smell bad AT ALL. It just smells very sweet, almost sickly sweet. A gourmand lover heaven. I am not sure if it is worth the price because at this point you could just buy Pure xs for half of the price. They share the same DNA, that’s correct. Anyways, i am pretty sure that this DNA will garner lots of compliments.

Gorgeous gourmand, seriously. I randomly got a sample from Sephora and now I want a full bottle for the fall and winter. The notes complement each other beautifully, and they’re also very distinct on their own. You can smell each individual note very clearly, but at the same time they create a yummy harmony together. Each note is very strong and the pistachio is NOT overpowering (and I was skeptical about pistachio scents before trying this). Verrrry fall and winter scent for sure. I honestly can’t picture the “type” of person this fragrance is for, which is good, because I feel it’s very universal. The longevity is very, very impressive: I put this on at like 7am this morning, it’s now 10pm and I still smell exactly as intensely as I did before I left the house. I’m just gonna say if you want this, get it before it becomes too popular. ;)

I tested it on my skin in store and immediately fell in love. It is actually completely unique and stands out from all of the rest of the mainstream perfumes on the market currently. A lot of the scents are either very vanilla patchouli forward or extremely fruity vanillas and I'm just not loving it anymore - when everyone smells the same then noone smells good anymore. On my skin it is a creamy pistachio that tones down into a fresh woodsy scent. It lasted the entire day and this is so rare for perfumes nowadays that I went ahead and ordered a bottle. (The price for 30ml was around 84 which is absurd, but for the fact that it lasted the whole day and blended well on my skin, I took the splurge).

The only pistachio perfume I tolerate.👌💫 Like I love pistachios, but in perfumes they give me a earthy almost like dry dirt smell. However, maybe because I own the OG and the intese, the paradox DNA really comes true, and the fresh candy like mixes with the pistachio and it works! 🤩 The pistachio note doesn't last much and in the end you are left with paradox intense. So for me I love it, I will use it, but I wouldn't buy again, as I am ok with the other two versions. If the pistachio note would last all the way to the dry down, I would buy it again, but that's not the case - at least on my skin.

Radical Essence is, in my opinion, an acquired taste. I had bought it rather impulsively and at the time I was strongly disappointed by the scent - too strong, too bold, and a bit harsh with its intensity of fragrance mixtures. As people often say, it has this nutty undertone to it that initially does not mash well with the flowery tones. However, after some time and having decided to give Radical Essence a second chance, it has grown on me quickly. It is most definitively not an everyday choice, but it is meant for the occasions when you want to stand out from others.

Tried this on Holliday in a hot climate I didn’t like this at first but after trying it a few more times I grew to really enjoy it. It’s very unique and powerful. Opens up sweet warm and nutty / popcorn smell but once dried down it has a really unusual wood y sweet scent that comes through. Il like what the person below says about scents reacting different in warmer weather, I totally agree the can all smell so different in different climates. I was a fan of the OG and the intense and low I own this new one. It’s strong and long lasting and unique.

this is so YUM🤤🤤 starts out with a bold, realistic pistachio/nutty note, which i was kinda conflicted about, but it quickly fades into the background. once it's dried down, you have this beautiful neroli and orange blossom, with a sweet creaminess from the pistachio in the background. the balance of citrusy and sweet notes makes this wearable in hotter weather without becoming cloying. i don't get much sandalwood from this, so i wouldn't worry about it if you really hate sandalwood

This is a freaking man magnet. This is the second time in my life I have received a compliment on a perfume I was wearing. The first one was with Givenchy L'Interdit Absolu, the second time with this one. But I am not kidding when I say that this makes people swoon. Honestly, I probably wouldn't go for this fragrance with my usual style as I do not care for crowdpleasers, but it is not bad to have one in the store, and this one is definitely it - especially for men.

I'm seeing a lot of mixed and negative feelings about this perfume, but it has actually become my favorite of the four Paradoxe scents! I was actually really surprised how much I liked this given I'm not typically fond of gourmand or woody scents. Definitely pistachio forward, but I still get a noticeable whiff of that lovely neroli. Certainly the most unique of the Paradoxe scents, but going into the holiday season I have a feeling I'll be wearing this every day!

intensely sweet. and strong. once the nutty scent settles down though it’s a beautiful perfume. smells like entering a bakery and picking the pistachio croissant. like walking through a flower park during spring. it doesn’t have a lot of notes / scents mixed together and that’s what makes me like this perfume a bit more. rather long lasting and will have people ask you about it. for me 2 spritzes are enough cause otherwise i get a headache.

I don’t like the original or the intense. I’ll admit, I did judge this off the accords pyramid and completely wrote it off for the longest time. A woody white floral? Not for me. However, I randomly tried this in Sephora today and WOW. This is gorgeous. Totally reminds me of Pure XS but way stronger and it also has the same floral and pistachio vibe of Irresistible Nectar. I will definitely be getting a full bottle ASAP.

As of late my favourite crowdpleasing perfume that couldn't leave my mind after getting gifted a tester, coming from someone that only wears niche. It indeed smells very sexy and given that my skin cannot hold any perfume ever, this one sticks! Mainstream for sure, it is not a scent you haven't smelled yet, but it smells delish nonetheless. And there is nothing wrong with indulcing in popular scents from time to time!

I absolutely love this perfume. For me this is like paradoxe intense but better because its a gourmand. The floral notes last surprisingly long. For me what makes it wonderful is that it is strong but not too overpowering or headachy. I will spray it behind my neck at 8am and I can still smell it on me at 5pm when I get off work. I would recommend this perfume if you love a warm nutty gourmand with sweet floral notes!

Love it! I can feel very realistic, almost edible pistachio first, which left me wondering will I be smelling like a bag of pistachio the whole time, but THEN flowers...and some creamy-nutty-calm down scent which lasts decent amount of time and is quite pleasant. Will definitely hunt for this perfume but for second-hand version as the price of original is just... Prada get real 🥲

Love at fist sniff for me. It has some thing unique and addictive it reminds me of some beautiful memories I had in Dubai. It is long lasting have good sillage. Prada has done a good job. I will still suggest to try it on your skin and clothes first before buying it because it is on warm side may be people who love fresh scents will not like it. Over all i give it 10/10 rating.

It seems like this smells different in everyone. This smells like mix of the original Paradox with a lot of Marc Jacobs Perfect Absolute or Elixir. I think it is the strong amber note. Radical Essence isn’t buttery or particularly nutty one me, it is very ambery. I’m guessing it the Perfect amber is Sandalwood based, and it is the warm sandalwood I smell the most.

I really love this! It has such a wonderful calming effect on me, it’s almost addictive. The orange blossom and neroli notes are gorgeous, and with the salty pistachio, you get a gourmand profile that’s not sickly sweet. I can understand why it might not be for everyone, but to me it’s just lovely, and it’s been a long time since I’ve really loved a fragrance.

It's good, but leans towards female. Idk why no one has suggested it but it has screaming Gaultier2 by JPG vibes galore. Strong and good for colder weather/winter. Good if you also miss Gaultier2. Frankly, upon further huffing, it reminds me of Ted Lapidus Altimar. Amusing how this has neroli and Gaultier2 doesn't, yet they're almost dead on comparable.

Truly my fav out of the Paradoxe line. It's warm, smooth and almost popcorny-nutty (just like in Pure XS for her by Rabanne). The sandalwood is soft & creamy whereas the neroli is almost mute (it just adds a touch of freshness almost like a breeze). Truly beautiful and can't wait to add this to the collection for fall/winter.

I love this perfume. It smells like Paradoxe the DNA is there, but better and differentit’s a little salty a little sweet. It lasts on the skin about two hours. That’s the sad part before you reapply. I’m gonna try overspraying and see where that goes. Of course, I like all of this line.

Did not enjoy the original or any other flankers, but saw they did a gourmand and decided to give it a shot. Honestly beautiful. Delicious but not in an overstimulating cake way that most gourmands now are. The pistachio sweetness is strong and prominent. Instant love for me.

The opening indulges with refined pistachio — not a dessert-like gourmand, but the true, nutty essence. Sandalwood adds a touch of sensual warmth. The whole composition is wonderfully comforting, perfect for days when you want to wrap yourself in a cozy, soothing embrace.

This is beautiful! It's strong but not overwhelming. It lasts forever. It's slightly sweet with a prominent nutty note and maybe a tiny bit salty. Not a gourmand at all. It will wear better in colder weather or nighttime. It's the best in the Paradox IMO.

It's giving performative male vibes with the pistachio and the neutral feeling. I feel like this was simply released at the wrong time tbh because it's a lovely scent for me personally. It shines in cold weather but I would never wear it in heat.

Such a complicated, yet gorgeous scent that grows and changes over time. Upon first spray it smells almost biscuit-y, then as it settles it releases more layers such as florals and woodiness. One my my go to date night scents

Definitely the best iteration of Prada Paradoxe by far. A sultry orange blossom opening with a soft sandalwood dry down, which lingers for a while. I can see this being my date night signature scent.

I tried it today. The weather was really hot and I was worried the perfume would be cloying. It is not. It is wonderful, feminine, long lasting. I Guess I will have to get the whole bottle.

A M A Z I N G !!! I am in love actually. This is not a plain, boring scent. Very unique and silky. For me the original one is not an extra, so it was a suprise that is one is so good 😍

I have tested it and give this another chance. I am in love now. Finally I can smell the sweetnes as it dry down. Maybe this perfume needs to sit for a while. Nutty, warm and sweet.

I dont get the low ratings at all. I think its gorgeous and addictive and the powdery, slightly smokey pistachio is delicious, sultry and gives depth to the fragrance. Sexy!

Really love this but it’s only strong for the first hour then it starts to disappear, gone at the 2 hour mark. I’ll stick with the intense as that lasts longer.

As a guy this is probably one of my favorite fragrances for a woman. It smells mostly like pistachio and candy.

Oooo i like it a lot ! It is fresh but sweet in the same time and refreshing and strong ..I really like it

This is a dupe of YSL Atlas Garden with a hint of the traditional Paradoxe DNA

So excited for this one. The red bottle looks so cool.

Sweet, woody, white floral, green, citrusy, nutty, fresh, floral, fresh spicy, luminous, feminine, sensual, flirty, charming, delightful, alluring, tempting, addictive, intriguing, inviting, cozy, comforting On me this opens with the fresh and green scent of neroli and sweet orange blossom. As it starts drying down the green and nutty scent of pistachios intertwines itself with the white florals and creamy sandalwood. The dry down is especially lovely, and leans more sweet, woody, and somewhat gourmand with predominantly sweet orange blossom and sandalwood. I never really got into the Paradox fragrances, but I got a sample of this one, and I do actually like it a lot. It’s a more gourmand leaning flanker while not being completely edible. It somehow even feels slightly marshmallow-y if that makes sense. Overall, this flanker has been a very pleasant surprise for me! As of right now I’m planning on at least getting a small bottle of it! I could not figure out what this was reminding me of, and it finally just hit me, D&G Pour Femme Intense. They both have a neroli opening with orange blossom and sandalwood. They’re not identical, but surprisingly close. Pour Femme Intense also has green mandarin, tuberose, and marshmallow notes. They both actually somewhat remind me of Valentino DBIR Ivory, although not as much as they remind me of each other. I also see a similarity to D&G The Only One Intense, probably because of the neroli and orange blossom with a woody base. For reference, some of my favorites include Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow, Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar, Vanilla 28, The Wedding Silk Santal, Yum Pistachio Gelato, GdT Celeste, Bianco Latte, Kilian LDBS, Princess, PdM Oriana, Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid, Burberry Goddess, The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods, YSL Black Opium Le Parfum, D&G The One Desire, Guerlain Mon Guerlain, JPG Classique Pin Up, Rosie Jane Dulce, Ellis Brooklyn Marshmallows, Vanilla Salt, Queen’s Caramel, Phlur Heavy Cream, Vanilla Nectar, Beach Skin, SDJ Summer è Amor, 62, 39, VS Vanilla Lace, BBW Beach Nights, Boardwalk Marshmallow Clouds, Whipped Honey & Vanilla, Fireside Flurries

Just wow! Not a huge fun of Prada perfumes, my favorite was the discontinued Prada Candy Kiss (best sweet musky drydown on Earth). I liked Paradoxe Intense, still can't finish my 10 ml travel spray although it does the job when I want some clean/soapy/formal vibes, but Radical Essence is another story. It's intriguing for two reasons. Firstly, it may opens as a cheap body spray like Cheirosa 62 (I am wondering why it's still not in the 'this perfumes reminds me of:' section) but in seconds when neroli is mixed with the gourmand "pistachio"...say hello to addiction. I love getting whiffs of it in the air. It's not something that it hasn't been done in the past or you can't find a better and cheaper option, but the dry down is good if you're a fun of sandalwood. That means a creamy, slightly smoky and relaxing essence. Secondly, the sillage but mostly the lasting power for a 'vegan' perfume in the era of watered down "waters" is fantastic. I am really trying to keep myself from buying it, even 30 ml of it, because of the ridiculous price and I just can't comment on how the spray sprays heavily. Two sprays are more than enough to douche yourself. Also, this magical gourmand opening doesn't last for more than an hour and the base/drydown of Radical Essence is more of a signature scent instead of a 'first impression-date-night time' option. I can definitely see why people compare it with one of my favorite discontinued perfumes from PR, Pure XS pour femme. I mean, the drydown is almost identical in a way I feel like some notes like ylang-ylang, ambrette/white musk are just not mentioned. So, all in all a very good new release and a must try for those who love gourmand perfumes with a woody base. It's a yes!

The opening was a horizontal cloud of salty roasted pistacho. Hints of a mineral profile the first few minutes, I suppose because of the saltiness, faded to a desaturaded roasted pistacho accord. Far from luminous, radiant or sparkling but dense, cloying, hot and weighty with strong projection. Within 30min the weight starts to diffuse, allowing a soft upward lift that announces the release of the flowery accords. The sugar-dense smell and hotness start to dissipate giving stage to a warmer, gentler and creamy white flower fragrance. After 1h tiny flashes of luminous white flowers mixed sometimes with roasted/salty, sometimes only nutty smell. A competition between the top and heart notes, in my opinion. It starts as a Gourmand that later evolves into a creamy nutty, floral scent with a soft woody profile. Longevity 7/10 Sillage: initially is massive. After it settles: 6/10 Day/Night (if using during the day/spring, apply 2 sprays and way before you leave home so the fragrance settles) Autumn/Winter/Spring. The opening was a real challenge, radical like the name... After it the perfume becomes wearable and ok. I was left speechless and asking myself why did I buy this perfume but it is what it is... anyways.

yeah i don't find Radical Essence similar to Paradoxe Intense at allllll. not even in the drydown for me. in fact, for me Radical Essence is a big departure from the Paradoxe DNA. this was a blind buy as i own the previous 3 and i gotta say....after 3 days of wearing it... I'm sadly not a fan. the opening for me is very nutty, dry, woody, slightly bitter and stale smelling. the best way i can describe this scent, is a bag of almonds and pistachios that you sprayed perfume into. i don't really detect any of the notes, it just smells perfumed and nutty if that makes any sense. a floral orange blossom way. it does start to sweeten up as it dries down. the drydown i love though. it's almost like a creamy, spiced vanilla vibe. Intense dries down smokey for me, like a campfire in a moss covered forrest. Radical Essence has none of those qualities. i would say its definitely unisex (slightly more feminine leaning) and reminds me a bit of YSL Myslf Le Parfum. love love love Paradoxe Intense, the OG is great. i really like Virtual Flower, but other then the drydown of Radical Essence, it's the first flanker i haven't liked.

A heavy floral opening rooted in neroli and orange blossom, which then transitions into photo-realistic salted pistachio against a background of creamy sandalwood. It’s rich, for sure. A touch bittersweet. Not really a gourmand in the highly dessert-like way that most are presented these days. The warm, floral undertones endure throughout and pick up again in the dry down, with just a hint of the OG Paradoxe DNA peeping through. I do feel like this scent was released at an odd time, because to me it’s natural season would be winter. At its heart it’s warm, smooth, and long-lasting, and just perfect for cold, crisp winter afternoons. I also feel like “unisex” might be a bit of a stretch, depending, of course, on your attitude to sweet florals. It is to my nose quite a feminine scent for the most part, except for the initial 40 minutes or so where I agree it strays quite far into more neutral territory. One to revisit later in the year.

I will start from the beginning by saying that I like a lot this version of Paradoxe, Radical Essence, and I would absolutely love to wear it if I would get it gifted. But since I have caved and bought the Paradoxe Intense last year, I don’t need this flanker because there’s not much difference between them. I don’t think this should exist because the pistachio is not even that detectable in the composition, and even though Radical Essence has apparently only neroli, sandalwood and pistachios, smells a lot like Paradoxe Intense. The significant difference between these two flankers are just in the opening, as soon the scent dries down, there’s too much similarity to justify buying Radical Essence! If you don’t have Paradoxe Intense in your collection, then it might make sense to buy this, otherwise don’t bother. It’s same juice in a different, darker shade bottle. And more expensive...I rest my case!!!

This smells insanely similar to the old Victoria Secret "Rapture" scent from the 80's and 90's. VS may still sell it - I'm not sure. Rapture is the perfume my mom wore growing up, so this scent is comforting to me, personally. But honestly, I would rather wear Rapture vs this. Rapture is warm and cozy. This is more fruity and just insanely sweet. One spray on my chest is enough to smell it for nearly all day. It's overpowering at first, better on the dry down. It still creates a cozy smell overall, when mingled with the nature skin musk. I think this scent is best for chilly days - it would be too much if mixed with hot, sweat. I wouldn't reach for this regularly. My husband bought this for me for Mother's Day, thinking it was the Prada Paradigm cologne (green bottle) I mentioned to him. If it didn't remind me of my mom, I probably would have exchanged it.

This is a fragrance for a male presenting woman just as it is advertised. It is a non- fru-fru (non fruity, non floral) sophisticated, I’M HER scent that means you are about your business. So, if you have a contract to sign or negotiations to make, this is the scent to have on. If you picked BLACK ORCHID over Velvet Orchid and aren’t shy about wearing it to the office or you pull for it regularly, PRADA RADICAL ESSENCE is for you. Of course men may also wear this scent, but I find it to be essentially FEMALE/ FEMININE, filling the gap of women’s fragrance that has been overshadowed by all the roses, jasmines & vanillas. It is power- a woman’s power- unadulterated by traditional compositions. It took a while for it to dry down and then it was mild to moderate silage. Then, power doesn’t need to scream or raise HER voice.

I like it in 21°C. It does not have a wow strong effect of Intense version and is much calmer but I gently feel it on myself just fine. I think it is a bit calmer than the edp, too. And it is interesting. Strongly woody floral. Neroli dominates the orange blossom and I am surprised to see a pistachio note but maybe it adds to the sandalwood to create the intensely woody, savoury effect. I like it that it is a departure from the pillar and Intense version and yet the white floral note is a common ground. I think I'll collect the entire family despite feeling lackluster about the pillar because the performance in this family is no nonsense and I like to feel my perfums all day. 3 hours already and it projects a very nice, chin length bubble. It lasts about 6 hours on me in this weather.