English Major

Sorce's English Major is outstandingly evocative yet very wearable and comforting. On initial spray, this truly does smell like aged books. There is a slightly dusty facet paired with a spot-on interpretation of a vanillic, ambery quality that is reminiscent of vintage book binding glue. This book accord carries lots of texture, and the smoldering vanilla, brown sugar, and paper facets blend together in a way that reminds me of the sugared oat crumble topping used in desserts. This fragrance is ever so slightly 'dusty' smelling, perhaps from the orris note, but it is not especially obtrusive to my nose. The dry down is relatively simple, but preserves the smoldering vanilla base of this fragrance in a really lovely way. I would say that this fragrance is certainly gourmand-leaning, but it is aromatic, woody, and unusual enough that it is difficult to classify. Longevity is excellent, with a moderate sillage. This perfume really blew me away, I have seldom seen such an evocative yet palatable perfume. 9.5/10

TLDR It smells like you're at the library, you're wearing a sweet marshmallow perfume, but you got soaked by rain on the way in. but like in a good way. This is my first Sorce fragrance and I'm not going to lie, I was REALLY worried that it'd be overhyped and I'd hate it. WRONG. I love it. I love marshmallow and orris , two of my favorite notes but I wasn't sure how I was going to like them together. Perfectly executed. I get the sweet fluffy, slightly toasted marshmallow right on top and the base smells like outside after it's just rained. Maybe that's the fallen leaves, but it very distinctly reminds me of rain or wet earth. It's exactly what I'd hoped for. I could sniff this all day long. Easily one of the most interesting fragrances I own. Edit, this review was in February, I'm now at the end of June. I let my bottle sit and it's far sweeter now. The marshmallow has really deepened. I love it even more now.

Really lovely vanilla iris with just enough library to make it interesting. The powdery sweetness reminds me of marshmallows. It simple but smells good quality and lasts for 8+ hours, wears close. It’s very nice to wear to bed or on rainy days, times you’d usually read a book. Similar to Warm Bulb by Clue in concept but more wearable imo. I’ve been chasing a scent like this for a while, sampled and bought many but this is my favorite thus far. Kepping it simple was a good call. Like all of their fragrances it comes in many sizes and configurations and is priced very affordably. Bonus points for friendly staff! Fragrantica is wrong again on the note list so I’ll do their job for them: Library books, orris absolute, marshmallow, decalepis hamiltonii absolute*, carrot seed, sandalwood, fallen leaves

This one is *weird* in a good way!! Initially, the "old books/dusty library" smell is THERE. And she's almost a little musty/dry mildewy, like actual 100-year-old books in an abandoned castle. But then the sweetness kicks in. The marshmallow here smells almost like berry bubble gum. It's sweet, whimsical, powdery, oddly addictive. Instead of a warm and gooey marshmallow, this marshmallow is cold, dry, dusty. It sounds weird but it's good good good. The dry down is so sweet and pleasant, a little powdery, a little musky. The earthiness fades away as the day goes by. LOVE. (the notes here differ to the notes on Sorce's website - missing the carrot seed/fallen leaves notes and adding coconut and fire. Not sure what's up with that)

A past review noted there is reminiscence of the glue you would use to bind the spines of deteriorating books and after I sampled this, I realized that they were dead-on. I'll admit, I almost scrubbed it the first time because the opening screamed, "PAINT", but I found the dry down worth giving it a few more test-runs. After I knew what to expect, I began to be able to appreciate the marriage between the industrial side of this and the honey-sweet gourmand. It reminds me fondly of my school library, growing up. I find it comforting and just unusual enough. I've had great luck with the longevity and this is easily my favorite Sorce perfume. I would love to see more perfumes in a similar wheelhouse from them.