Pavlova

In a word: SEXY. With ‘Pavlova’, SoM take the roses that they showcased so beautifully in their ‘Rosebud’ fragrance and trim them of most of their greenery, letting the velvety vanilla-sweetness of the blooms take centre-stage. When combined with carnations (spicy), cyclamens (fresh), gardenias (rich), and jasmine (sultry), they create a luxurious pink and white bouquet that is opulent enough to grace any prima ballerina’s dressing room. There’s a hum of sandalwood smokiness to the heart notes, but any suggestions of leather are kept deliberately ladylike: more like the buttery suppleness of a ballet slipper than the heavy black hide of a leather jacket. This is a fragrance that is seductive, and unapologetically so. It has a rich, musky, ever-so-slightly powdery quality to the dry down that evokes images of silver screen bombshells in their boudoirs, and while it’s light enough to be work-safe, this fragrance would be an absolute showstopper with evening wear. It’s a classy, high-end scent that effortlessly communicates confidence and femininity, and when I wear it, I’m reminded of the fabulous Gloria Swanson: “I have gone through enough of being a nobody. I have decided that when I am a star, I will be every inch and every moment the star! Everybody from the studio gateman to the highest executive will know it.” I really do feel like a bit of a star when I wear ‘Pavlova’! This is a perfume that demands to be appreciated on the skin – a paper tester strip just doesn’t do this beauty any justice.

Very interesting scent. This opens quite heady with a blend of flowers and herbs that are sweet and bitter at the same time. The bitterness is almost that of crushed leaves and moist soil somewhere in the mountains or in a forest, and touched just slightly by a narcotic note - narcotic not as in white flowers, but maybe petrol or gas, which makes one close their eyes and feel a tickle in their head. At the same time, there is this very grounding floral structure blending in and then taking over, and that is pretty much the way it stays on my skin until drydown, a good 4-5 hours later. In the end it becomes a very pleasant rich - sweet floral - more of a deep musky rose, than a pure, dewy peony - in fact, this is quite a sensual and “meaty” concoction, not a transparent and sterile one.

Personally very interesting. I am not usually a fan of rose, and was weary of the presence of this flower in most perfumes of this house. I did still purchase a full sample pack. I tested Tea tea just before leaving the house and I noted straight away how masculine it is (to me) so grabbed Pavlova to spray later, in a separate part of my skin, to compensate, as I had read that Pavlova is very feminine. Well, it is not as rosy as I expected, it is powdery at the start and it has a note that I think have smelled before in Penhaligon's Bluebell, but I would not know what it is, I am not keen on this note but it did evolve quickly in the heat of the skin and as ingredients mix and settle, Pavlova has become a soft and sweet floral with a warm and comforting base. Its a "love" for me.

Thanks to the generosity of Scents of Man's contest I received a four pack of their perfumes. SoM's perfumes are made from natural materials and cruelty free, both of which are very important to me. Pavlova is an intense floral scent with good longevity and modest sillage. The perfume goes on with a slightly oily texture which moisturizes the skin. P. has floral as well as spicy notes, the latter come into play after the florals settle in. There's a touch of musk, and something very similar to orris, although it's not listed on the pyramid. P. is an unusual scent, quite unlike the commercial perfumes I usually wear. Appropriate for work and/or play.