Strenesse

Curiosity about the milk accord made me buy this perfume blind. I’d never heard of Gabriele Strehle or her clothing line Strenesse until I stumbled on what seemed a really good bargain on UK Ebay. Let me comment first about the packaging: it is ever so chic, a black box within a white box, and there is an insert with some info about the fragrance in German. Even the protective plastic is of distinction: translucent rather than the normal throw-away transparent. The liquid inside my 50ml bottle is not milk-white as I was led to expect, but translucent and even opalescent, as I imagine the first drops of mother’s milk would be. There is an indentation about the size of a thumb, but without the lines and whorls of a print, again, different from the descriptions below. No matter. Probably just a redesign, or the design of the smaller bottle. The bottle is pure and simple, like something resting on a glass bathroom shelf alongside high end skin care serums and the like. Now about the perfume: it sprays out in huge bursts, and is VERY sweet on impact. It almost burns the nose, but I cannot stop sniffing my palm. It is like a first taste of condensed milk after a period of deprivation. It is in this initial burst that the modeling clay/Play Do note described by some reviewers appears. (It was also in this stage that my husband edged away from me on the couch and clapped his hand over HIS nose: he hates vanilla / gourmands). Shortly after, a faint jasmine note emerges and dies down. And then, the scent (not the sensation of taste) of sweet condensed milk with a dose of vanilla takes over -- and holds. It’s possible others may smell the jasmine at this stage, but my attention tends to be wholly caught by the milk. The milk element is very strong and reminds me of another perfume I own, Arrogant Cat Dawn I, minus the discordant lily and orange elements. I’ve been wearing Strenesse in copious amounts because I love it, but I’ve taken care to spray it on skin beneath two layers of clothing, because as I sit working at my computer in warm spring sunshine, it CAN be a bit much. Waking up one morning, I was disorientated to smell the dry down of Ambre de Cabochard on myself. Then I realized it was the Strenesse from the night before. The two dry-downs are virtually identical, which is a bummer, but at least I won’t be using up my Ambre de Cabochard all in one go, nor lemming for Arrogant Cat Dawn’s twin Dusk, anytime soon. Bottom line is, Strenesse is exactly as people have described: a very sweet milk bath in keeping with the sophisticated-naturals personal care trend, and a great find for vanilla freaks like myself.

bello questo liquido colloidale e opalescente, che ricorda alla vista la pietra di luna, e che partendo, da una insolita mandorla che a me sembra fruttata (di pera), restituisce una sensazione dolce e confortevole come di una tazza di latte e miele caldi. la cremosità iniziale pian piano scema fino ad approdare ad una bella vaniglia sostenuta da eliotropo e dall'ambra di fondo. anche se non è del tutto "me" mi piace molto e lo indosso con l'impressione di abbandonarmi ad una coccola. molto buono.

I've just received a generous decant of Strenesse... I expected something a little bit different, but I like it, as it's more complex that I imagined! I can smell the peach (It's not listed here) and the sandalwood with a powdery heart, so it remindes me (somehow) Tresor Lancome! But then it becomes more amber and vanillic, with a beautiful milky touch...so it becomes sweeter and gourmand and sooooooo cozier as the time goes by! I like it very much. I wish it would last longer!

After the first potent bitter almond blast it settles down to a warm milk smell with a hint of vanilla.

This one seems to be listed twice on Fragrantica - once here and once under the name "Strenesse Gabriele Strehle." Looks like most people are posting their reviews here, so I'm moving my review here as well: This is a very pleasant blind buy surprise! Citrus-almond creaminess in a simple, elegant cylindrical glass bottle with a thumbprint impression. The juice is an opaque white colour, resembling skim milk. An unusual and interesting addition to my vanity. Starts out with tangy peach, but that mellows down quickly to an almondy-musky-woodsy base - but not at all heavy or heady. There's a hint of jasmine too, but it's definitely in the background. The tart citrusy smell remains throughout the dry down, but it's more airy and light, rather than sharp. The scent is named after Gabriele Strehle's fashion line, Strenesse, which is regarded for its minimal, elegant, clean lines. This perfume is the perfect embodiment of this look and style.