The Garden Party Frangipane

Notes according to The Party Fragrances: Top: Bergamot, Cinnamon, Heart: Jasmine, Osmanthus. Base: Tolu Balsam, musk, oakmoss, heliotrope, patchouli. As you can see there's no Frangipani in this fragrance, it's simply a white floral in which Osmanthus and Tolu Balsam makes most of the fragrance. It's more harsh than honeyed and kind of oldfashioned except for the lack of aldehydes (thankfully). Not a favourite of mine but not bad either, but not priceworthy as they all are kind of overpriced. From this brand the Party in Manhattan is the only one I think is worth the doe.

I was looking forward to testing this one, because I like frangipani, however, I am really disapointed. On first application I was thinking that the sample must be off - there is a note that lingers there for a while that's hard to describe, but it's really quite repulsive. The only positive here is that (the note) it's pretty weak! I can't stand stupid statements of the kind that something smells like an "old lady", however, in this case I quite understand where people are coming from (some negative reviews on LuckyScent.com and elsewhere). The official description there says:..." Frangipane harkens back to a time before today's crazy bustle of traffic and cell phones..." which in this case I would have to interpret as rummaging in old stuff in the attics and coming across a 40 years old bottle of perfume that could have been fantastic back then, but today...although it doesn't seem to be completelly rotten yet and although it does have a hint of luxury and flowers in it, it does breathe out those 40 years of exposure to moth balls, mouse droppings, dust and mold and discoloured powder. Or else - this note reminds me of that stench that comes out of a blocked drainage - after unblocking it! Faint smell of sewage. Sorry. Fortunately it's quite faint indeed and thus this fragrance could actually be worn without anyone noticing it. But really - to me it's not a frangrance I would like to smell on me. As for the price - it's ridiculous!