Cherry Ambition

I'm in LOVE! First off, I absolutely adore the brand's philosophy and the very ethical and sustainable methods they use to produce these perfumes. 7 virtues seems to really want to give back to the world to some extent, and after seeing some of their content, I really love how they're giving a lot of women empowerment vibes too. Moreover, it's affordable (for perfumes and especially niche perfumes). This brand is such a win-win in that sense, and I'm feeling pretty certain that this will be a perfume house I will be loyal too, because when buying from most other designers or houses, we rarely get these types of guarantees despite paying hundreds of dollars. But of course, this is a perfume, and there's no point in buying a bad perfume even from such a cool brand if it doesn't smell good, but thank god! It smells absolutely amazing. I've never enjoyed cherry scents. I've smelt a couple cherry perfumes, like Kayali's or Tom Ford's, and they were fine. They smelled pretty simple to me honestly. The cherry notes felt pretty basic, syrup, a little too bright, and a tad cloying. I just didn't find either of those cherry perfumes to have much depth, and rather found them very linear. Though if I had to choose out of those two, Kayali is the winner- it feels a tad more interesting and it lasts a while, unlike Tom Ford which stays for like an hour despite costing an obscene amount of money.... The 7 Virtues Cherry Ambition was anything but basic. First of all, the cherry note in this isn't that syrupy, medicinal basic cherry we're used to. Instead, it's a rich, full-bodied, more realistic cherry. Then there's the marshmallow note, which just adds a touch of sweetness to it. They did the marshmallow note perfectly. I feel like some brands overdo the marshmallow note and create something too nauseating and candy-like (I'm looking at you Killian's Love Don't be Shy (bleh)). However, the marshmallow in this is so balanced and fluffy, and adds just the right amount of sweetness. I think this is what makes this perfume really unique and even intelligent... In most other cherry perfumes, the sweetness comes from the syrupiness of the cherry, which is just boring and feels kind of fake. In this, the cherry is dark and rich, while the marshmallow adds the light sweetness to it instead. It's perfect! Then, there's the saffron note that just further balances out the cherry and the marshmallow. The spiciness of the saffron blends so well into this perfume and it gives it so much nuance and depth, it's insane! The saffron honestly does wonders- it's such a sexy and complex note that just blends so well into this perfume And then the vanilla, the musk and amber in this just really ground this perfume and make it so full-bodied. This perfume is honestly intoxicating, with the perfect balance between cherry, sweetness, and spiciness. It's just so rich and complex with such an interesting blend of notes. This perfume is both sultry and yet super cozy at the same time, which I think is just the perfect vibe. I'd say you can wear it anywhere, anytime for that reason. It's perfect for the winter and fall, and if you're like me and live in a colder weather area, it works in the spring as well. And honestly, while I usually think lots of gourmands would be awful in the summer, this one is just so balanced that it could easily be worn on a lovely summer night. Can't wait to test that out next summer. If you have the access and you love perfumes, at the very least you must smell this perfume the next time you're at a Sephora.

Category: Vanilla/amber, cherry, suede, smoky Notes: Sprays on a strong, clean musk, juicy cherry, and something generically fruity - red apple perhaps? Within a few minutes, that marshmallow note adds a pleasant sweetness and light powderiness, some light vanilla creeps in, and a tiny bit of that saffron becomes noticeable as well. After an hour or so more of that, saffron comes out, lending the scent a leathery, sueded feel alongside that warm, powdery amber. After about two hours, the clean musk and marshmallow have subsided entirely, and are instead replaced with frankincense, which adds a warm, smoky, and incense-y undertone. Once this fully settles, the overall scent impression is that of a smoky, sueded cherry and ambery vanilla. Vibe: Black stockings. Chopsticks. Silver jewelry. 80’s modern luxury. New York. Brand clothing. Dirty martini. Leather portfolio. Black tuxedo. Limousine. Blacked out windows. Incense. Cigarillos. Sillage: 5/10. I would say this has a moderate projection, and I think in this case that's beneficial. If this were any stronger, it might become overpowering. Longevity: 9/10. Honestly, a fairly decent longevity on this one as I could still detect it on my wrist a full 24 hours later, but by that point, it was so soft that I barely think it counts as passing the 24-hour test. Therefore I'm giving it a 9 - close but not quite. Wear: Day or night, but leaning toward night. Very much a fall and winter fragrance, perhaps suitable for spring as well, but only on a cool, crisp, maybe even cloudy day. While part of me is inclined to label this as feminine, I do ultimately think it is quite unisex and could totally imagine a couple of dudes who would pull this off beautifully. While this is neither loud nor offensive, it doesn’t feel suitable for an office environment. If you work in nightlife (as, say, a bartender), that would be another story, though. Suitable for anyone above the age of 25, but I’d put the ideal age range between 30-45. Overall rating: 8/10. Looking at the notes of this, I was unsure if this would be a total hit or miss. Cherry is one of my favorite scent notes, but it is often more fleeting than I’d prefer. To add, I have very minimal experience with saffron as a fragrance note, and what little experience I do have has not persuaded me. But wow, what a gorgeous fragrance Cherry Ambition is; warm, leathery, fruity. A well-rounded, smooth vanilla, paired with luscious cherries, a soft, sueded saffron, and a dry, smoky frankincense. Totally grown up without feeling outdated or overly mature, teetering on the edge between unisex and traditionally feminine. A cozy, intoxicating scent that would work just as well on a night out as it would on a night in. For me, this is a somewhat unexpected love. I see this being an easy reach as autumn sets in, when you want something that is cozy but not gourmand. This is definitely going on my want list! Who would wear it?: Anya Taylor-Joy. Lucifer Morningstar in Lucifer (2016-2021).

I initially wanted Kayali's Lovefest Burning Cherry but it dried down as more woody/smoky/spicy than cherry at all. The opening is great and inspired my curiosity for a cherry perfume. Cherry Ambition is better. From the first spray, you get a whiff of cherry, and powdery marshmallow, and for me, it stays like this throughout my wear, which lasts for around 6 hours. I haven't tried it with a cherry lotion and have not layered it with anything else, and I only sprayed it twice, on both shoulders, so I think if I spray more it will have more lasting power. When I sprayed it twice and walked downstairs it could be smelled throughout the stairway and smelled like warm cherry candy. Not bitter in any way. It's not like cheap candy. If I could describe it in food terms: like cherries and sugar melting in a pot together, with powdered sugar dusted on top (sweet marshmallow). I also like Love, Don't be Shy Eau Fraiche by Kilian, which also has a powdered marshmallow note to it, so if you like that you may like this too. When I sprayed it, I wanted to smell it more and more. As it dries down, the sweetness remains, but slowly becomes less intense. Then I would say its like a sweet cherry scent but the powdery marshmallow settles down. When I first sprayed it it was great, but now, 2 weeks later after buying, it's even better. I dont think I liked it crazily when I first bought it compared to how I like it now. I don't know if the colour changed because it is a yellow hue, which I cant seem to remember if it was like that in the beginning. I did not try to macerate it. This scent suits nighttime, but I think it can also be worn in the daytime, I will anyways. I would pair this with a vanilla milky/lactonic with fresh florals for the daytime and milky/lactonic with amber for the evening/night. This would also go well with almond, vanilla, milk, and spice. It's great how theres no oud, spice, or too much freshness. I know there are other notes in it but I literally just get cherry and marshmallow. I'm sure the other notes are there because just reading them makes sense and sounds like it blends well, but because its not leaning too much in the nightime or daytime, it can be tailored to be both. By far my favorite scent. I will update on any changes I notice.

This is a killer (unisex, IMO) cherry fragrance. I've been on the hunt lately, first trying out: House of Cosmo Crimson Aura - solid profile and great performance, however something about the red wine note throws me off slightly, but, this turned me on to cherry-based fragrances as a whole, (8.5/10) then, Fine'ry Not Another Cherry from Target - great profile, love the brighter tart cherry feel to this one, maybe slightly synthetic, so-so performance, (8/10) then, Lost Cherry - a bit dark, more complex than Not Another Cherry, but cherry note fades pretty quickly, and also even worse performance (disappointing), (7/10) more recently, BDK Rouge Smoking Extrait - really great, darker and more complex, sits a bit closer to the skin but the overall profile and longevity are great. (8.5/10) Now, Cherry Ambition - I think (?) pending a few wear tests this could be the one - brighter and bolder, slightly sweeter profile compared to Lost Cherry / Rouge Smoking, pronounces itself a bit more off skin. Initially on the opening, it might come off the slightest bit synthetic, but that settles really quickly into a deeper, rich pure dark cherry scent. It's fantastic and especially considering the price point, so far it's a winner for me! I have a handful more decants on the way (ATH Raw Cherry Extreme, City Rhythm DC, Sospiro Maraschino), so may update this in the future.

Cherry Ambition is a sultry, alluring, and mysterious fragrance. Cherry is a note that is notoriously difficult to do correctly due to the risk of that sickly, synthetic, pungent cough syrup smell. I was always nervous of cherry because I was never a fan of Lost Cherry. The 7 Virtues absolutely nailed this fragrance. This is not a synthetic, sickly-sweet maraschino cherry. The initial spray is this woody, slightly spicy saffron. It then transitions into this beautiful, rich, slightly boozy cherry with that soft, fluffy marshmallow on the dry down. Picture biting into the juiciest, dark, ripe cherry in a dimly lit jazz club. She has this classiness to her that makes me envision a fancy date night. While being classy and alluring, she's still soft and sweet at heart. Absolutely heavenly. The longevity is great too, I find myself smelling my wrist with sweet remnants of cherry and that delicious marshmallow really powering through towards the end of the day. Cherry Ambition has become my signature fragrance for the fall and winter. I will absolutely be reaching for this during the holiday season.