Death by Stereo!

I didn't love this at first, because it is very sweet and I wanted something grimier from a perfume inspired by The Lost Boys . But it grew on me throughout my first wear, and I can appreciate it for what it is. I don't love that any dessert or incense notes listed in a Sixteen92 scent usually end up taking over the whole thing, especially when Claire's descriptions are so eccentric and interesting. Death by Stereo is a street fair gourmand that primarily smells like incense-flavored candy, with a pastry note hovering in the background. I think it's supposed to be melted ice cream, but it smells more like funnel cake to me, which aligns more with the fair concept anyway. The incense does give it a trashy, beach city smell I recognize from childhood vacations. But I've smelled it before in the similarly incense-based Shout at the Devil, a hair metal-inspired perfume that's supposed to smell more like cocaine and hairspray than cotton candy. The effect is endearing, but not as interesting as its description, and not something I'd want to smell like all the time. It's easiest to appreciate Death by Stereo when you go in understanding it's much more Frog Brothers than Lost Boys, more Goonies than queer cult horror. I love the idea behind this, and it's not quite what I wanted it to be, but its ambience is charming. If I were to make this into the Lost Boys perfume I wish existed, I'd throw in oud for that funky burnt stereo smell, with a heavy focus on sweat, leather, dirt, and salty beach air. There'd definitely need to be a wine note in there too, and metallic undertones would add a nice, bloody feel to the whole thing. Marijuana is supposed to be part of Death by Stereo, and I love that nod to Grandpa's greenhouse, but I sadly just don't smell it. I like the idea of throwing junk food notes in there, because The Lost Boys is such a fun, crowd pleasing movie, but I think they'd would work better as a base than anything else. A perfect Lost Boys perfume would be dark and self-serious on top, only to gradually reveal a sillier, sweeter nucleus.

I would NOT say this is floral/fresh, but it's def not the grimy vampire boardwalk I had hoped for. However, this is a wonderful scent that smells amazing. Just maybe not The Lost Boys. ;) I love the night air note (it's also in Party at the Moon Tower) and this is a SWEET scent. However, the apple/candy does fade into a boardwalk shop hippie incense. I do not smell weed. Anyways, I still LOVE this and have a full bottle. Would buy again because it comes along every year in Legacy.

There is a sweet wet-dirt-ness in the first few moments of the initial spray and a strong sweet incense on the dry down. Kind of post rain mud meets groovy thrift store smell. I really like it, not what i was quite expecting but the notes drew me in conceptually, even if theyre not super articulated in the scent