Stash SJP Unspoken

Ok, I’m obsessed with this. The original Stash is one of my all time favourites, I think if I had to choose 1 scent to wear forever it would be SJP Stash, I just love it so. When I read that this was a more feminine approach to the original, which is unisex, I was intrigued. I often wear women’s fragrances and no one knows any difference, and really no one cares, it’s 2020 after all, it shouldn’t be a big deal that a man is wearing something aimed at a woman. Anyway, when I first sprayed it on the paper I thought it smelt nothing like Stash, but I still bought it because I wanted the bottle for my SJP Collection and I thought that maybe one day I will wear it. Well strike me down and call me Sally, I’ve been wearing it all week and I am in love. At first it really doesn’t smell like Stash at all, it doesn’t have that strong coconut type smell, but after it’s settled for a little while you see the beauty come out in it. After about an hour you can really smell the DNA of Stash, with just a touch of extra sweetness, I’m guessing this sweetness is what was added to make it more feminine. Gone is the massoia wood base that is prominent in the original Stash. This is a little more well blended than the OG Stash, it seems to have a few more layers, it’s an interesting and very handsome scent. As I said before I reckon this isn’t just for women, it does smell unisex to me, as long as you don’t mind losing the woody base then for sure give this a go. One thing I notice is that the presentation of this isn’t near as fancy as the OG Stash. I remember when I got my first bottle of that I was so impressed because it was in this beautiful velvet bag and the sticker on the bottle was an actual ribbon. Unspoken has no velvet bag and the sticker is just a metallic sticker, gone is the extra-ness. Oh well, it’s what’s inside the bottle that matters and this is gorgeous juice. SJP you’ve done it again. Now!! When will we ever get to see Stash: Prive? I cross my fingers in hope. Have a lovely day and thank you for reading.

The perfect feminine counterpart to the original masculine-leaning Stash. The yin to the yang. While the fruiter, sweeter notes and marketing of Unspoken may read traditionally feminine, despite lacking the original's spicy barbershop opening, it still retains an identifiable amount of the original's DNA and even unisex appeal. A deliciously fuzzy blend of quince and pink peppercorns over a familiar musky, woodsy base. I even detect some of the same nutty warmth from the original's pistachio note. Suitable more for daywear but easily translatable to the evening. Leans slightly more cold-weather in it's density, but unlike the original Stash, still suitable for warmer days in the freshness of it's top notes. Perhaps a calculated if still wonderfully effective response to the bold, gender-defying approach of the original, meeting mainstream expectations unlike the former but still of such interest and simply so well done that once again, SJP transcends the realm of celebrity perfume. Another arguably niche-level offering disguised as a run-of-the-mill celebrity fragrance. Performance is near-identical to the original, with fair longevity and projection for it's comparatively low price point. Of all the now discontinued Stash range, Unspoken in particular can still be found online and in discount stores at bargain prices. Despite the packaging and marked differences from the original Stash, Unspoken is no dull, watered-down version of the original's bold character. It's just as thoughtful and well-rounded, paying homage to its roots while offering a safer option for those opposed to Stash's more masculine character and a sweeter alternative for those already in love with the original.

I have hot damp slightly acidic skin that can burn through top notes in seconds so this is a GREAT fragrance for me. The opening burst is velveted peony, coconutty wood shavings and dash of pink peppercorn under a halo of aniseed. Creamy sandalwood and tonka are the main body. The quince is not a fresh fruit, rather a quince paste which comes off as lightly-honeyed fig -adjacent. Theres something faintly incensy and the marketers definitely forgot to mention the patchouli which is of the smooth dark wood variety rather than the pungent kind. Texture-wise it is creamy & dry, velvety not powdery. As it dries down the coconut and aniseed disappear but a sense of nutty richness and luminosity remain. The musk in the base is sheer which maintains a sense of levity in what could have been a very dense formulation. Honestly, LOVE. I should mention that while my skin chemistry often skews scents sugary or sour, this is not one of them. It stays firmly in the natural/neutral zone. Theres tonka, theres a touch of honey but no added sugar. PS I can see why another reviewer compared this to the underrated peppery fig & patchouli FCUK Friction for Her, which is like a younger, fizzier, syrupy, louder cousin of Stash Unspoken.

I crave wearing this one. I adore Stash for cool weather and crave that one too, whereas I find Stash Prive to be a super easy reach (in a white t-shirt sort of way) as it has a body care lotiony sort of vibe. Stash Unspoken though, is COSY! Like shouty writing worthy, sweet, powdery and COSY! Gentle honeysuckle, but mainly powdery sandalwood and tons of Tonka bean. I don't get coconut myself. I find that to be quite a cold note and Unspoken is Warm with a capital W, but I can understand people mentioning coconut as unspoken does have a vibe of Katy Perry's Indi. I find Indi to be a cold and stand-offish scent - it feels like it's straight out of the fridge and has a coconut cream smell to me. Indi is a spring / summer perfume for in my collection and I love it. Stash Unspoken is like Indi's less uptight sister - it's what I reach for in cold weather to satisfy that same sandalwood mood, but it's soft and comforting like a fleecy blanket. I liked the smell when I first got it but was worried about how sweet it was so waited for cool weather. After the first wear I thought ooooh that's a keeper! After the second wear and it was love. After the third wear I bought a back-up bottle.... totally addictive!

I have to say, I'm not one for 'Celebrity Fragrances'.... but.. this is really good! I've not tried the original stash, I don't care for woody notes so it never appealed to me. I blind bought this based on the notes and that it was £25 at superdrug! I don't think I would pay full price, just because as a celebrity fragrance priced at £60 (100ml), I'd rather buy higher end at that rate. On to the fragrance itself; I really like it. It's different, the olibanum and tonka hold the fragrance, the quince and peony lift it. I get quite a lot of quince in this. I can definitely smell the honeysuckle which is a real bonus, as I love that note. I feel as if there is some birch in it, but it's not listed. I'm not sure if I get a lot of the wisteria, all the same, I find this well blended. This is what I would have liked Chanel Gabrielle to have been like. It's different, feminine, floral and 'sparkling'. Kudos to SJP - I found a celeb fragrance that was worth buying! So far it's got good sillage and wear time is about five hours on me.