Lost Cherry

"Sweet sixteen, and we had arrived Baby's table dancin' at the local dive Cheerin' our names in the pink spotlight Drinkin' cherry schnapps in the velvet night.." ~ 'This Is What Makes Us Girls', Lana Del Rey One of the things I really love about both music and fragrance is the way in which both can create a time capsule in our minds, meaning that at any point in the future, should you hear or smell either kind of 'blast from the past', you will be mentally transported back to the time and place you forever associate it with. Both the song 'This Is What Makes Us Girls' and the fragrance 'Lost Cherry', take me back to that point in time when I was on the cusp of adulthood. When everything seemed possible and nothing was off limits. There comes a time in every girl's life when she realises that she has become visible to the opposite sex...and whilst we seem to live in a different time now (in regards to interactions between guys & girls) back in 1996 I was 16 years old and VERY much aware of the affect I could have on a guy. Push-up bras, make-up, low-cut-tighter-fitting tops, a knowing smile and the "accidental" brushing up against a dude, could have them eating out of the palm of my hand. And of course, I wasn't on my own. I moved in a group of other girls the same age as me. We were like a tribe of blossoming vixens, ready to wield our newly burgeoning sexuality like the weapon we were learning it could become. But we were still at the point of exiting adolescence, so like newborn foals that haven't quite mastered the art of walking, so too we tottered on our ridiculously high heels; all of us taking care not to appear gauche as we learned to navigate this new world of seduction. But naturally, we didn't always get it right. There were heartbreaks, stupid decisions, ridiculous behaviour and the inevitable nights that ended with at least one of us collapsed, drunk, in a heap, on a pavement or a bench, in tears: "There she was, my new best friend High heels in her hand, swayin' in the wind While she starts to cry Mascara runnin' down her little Bambi eyes "Lana, how I hate those guys" ~ 'This Is What Makes Us Girls', Lana Del Rey Lost Cherry, to me, isn't just a fragrance that one wears to smell a certain singular way. The scent evolves from the moment you spray it onto your wrist, dipping and rising and changing from moment to moment. The opening is a rich, almost medicinally alcoholic, boozy cherry liqueur. That's the drinks we'd have at home, pre-loading before going out to hit the pubs. Then, it's a sweeter, almond note with a touch of floral - reminiscent of pan-stick, drugstore face-powder and the perfumes we'd drench ourselves in before heading out, in an attempt to appear super sophisticated, lol. Then, the whole thing starts to smell intoxicating. That heady mixture of booze, maraschino cherries, lipstick, perfume and a little tobacco smoke...because back then everyone smoked and you could do so in pubs without fear of recrimination. (Both me and my BFF then both loved the smell of cigarette and cigar smoke on a man - especially when paired with the scent of brandy, rum or whisky, lol). At this point though, some muskiness kicks in. Not too much, but just enough to evoke the sensation of bodies pressed close together, snogging in the back bar. Get your coat love, you've pulled! As the smell starts to calm down and settle a little, the last note I get from 'Lost Cherry' is rubber...and I can't help but think that this is Tom Ford's eyebrow-raised, knowing sense of humour. Because as every sensible young girl out on the pull should know...the losing of one's cherry, should indeed result in the use of a "rubber", lol! I genuinely believe that TF created this fragrance around the notion of sexual maturation - and not that he just wanted to create a cherry perfume with the name being a suggestive afterthought. The entire performance of 'Lost Cherry' is like a distinct reminder of what it meant to be young, fierce, sweetly-seductive and venturing across the Rubicon, leaving the territory of virginity to dwell in a more adult realm. When you're young and you think you know it all, you put yourself out there and you have to learn about the world, by experiencing everything for yourself. 'Lost Cherry' really evokes strong feelings of that time for me. That time when me and a group of my friends suddenly found ourselves to be the latest upcoming 'hot commodity' in the dating market and were determined to do it all our way. A year later and we'd look back on that first foray into the adult world, with some embarrassment and a wistfulness that - even after only 12 months - had us knowing we could never go back there. Those friendships petered out over time. Some moved away, some went to university, some got married, some had kids. But I'll never forget those first intoxicating days of feeling like a 'grown-up', discovering the world of adult relationships for the first time. Tom Ford has created a time machine in 'Lost Cherry' (for me at least) and I thank him for making a truly gorgeous, enjoyable fragrance that does more than just sit on my wrist smelling good. It does what all great fragrances does. It evokes emotions. And for that Mr Ford, I am truly grateful. "The prettiest in-crowd that you had ever seen Ribbons in our hair, and our eyes gleamed mean A freshmen generation of degenerate beauty queens And you know somethin'? They were the only friends I ever had We got into trouble and when stuff got bad I got sent away, I was wavin' on the train platform Cryin' 'cause I know I'm never comin' back THIS is what makes us girls" ~ Lana Del Rey 🍒

Tom Ford Lost Cherry quickly became an icon of modern perfumery, a perfume that was able to ride (and create) the gourmet cherry trend. A Journey into the "Forbidden". Lost Cherry is a fragrance that plays on contrasts: the innocent sweetness of the fruit and the sinful darkness of the liqueur. The Opening: The Cherry "Punch". As soon as you spray it, the perfume explodes with a juicy and lifelike black cherry. The bitter almond note is fundamental here: it gives that typical smell of cherry stone or amaretto, making the fragrance immediately sophisticated and not "childish". The liqueur adds a thick, syrupy texture. The Heart: Floral Depth. After about 15-30 minutes, the initial freshness fades to give way to a velvety plum and a very discreet floral bouquet. The Turkish rose and jasmine do not make the perfume "flowery" in the classic sense, but serve to give body and mature elegance to the heart of the perfume. The Fund: Heat and Resins The true magic of Louise Turner emerges in the background. While the cherry remains like an echo, the skin is enveloped in a warm and spicy base. Tonka bean and vanilla create a creamy trail, while Peruvian balsam and benzoin give a resinous and almost smoky touch. Sandalwood and patchouli prevent the fragrance from becoming overly cloying. Gender: Perfectly unisex. On a woman it is seductive and mysterious; on a man the woody and alcoholic part emerges more, making it very intriguing. Seasonality: It gives its best in autumn and winter. The cold allows the spicy and sweet notes to release without being overwhelming. Occasion: It is an evening, date or special event perfume. It has a "noir" and lustful character. One of the best cherry yields ever created. Price: Very high (Private Blend line). Versatility: Elegant but with a "rebel" touch. Persistence: On many skins it tends to fade after 4-5 hours. Compliment Getter: Attracts a lot of attention. Sillage: It projects a lot at first, then it becomes a "skin" scent. Lost Cherry is a masterpiece of balance between the gourmand (sweet) and the oriental (spicy). It is a fragrance that does not want to go unnoticed, ideal for those looking for an invisible accessory that conveys security and sensuality. If you love almond and liqueur notes, it is an almost obligatory purchase, despite the duration not always being excellent compared to the cost.

You slip out the door as you're already late. Your tights are new, a fancier brand than the ones you usually get from the department store, recommended by the new partner at your job. You blast jumpy, moody music the whole drive to get your energy up and try to convince yourself this is a good idea. He's older, handsome enough, but as the dinner wears on you struggle to get past his defenses. You smell like one of those cordial cherries they serve at Christmas, which he would find out if he got close enough. You get along better with the perky blonde waitress whose cigarette-fissured cleavage sits at your eye level. You take a smoke break with her outside while he takes a call. He picked his phone up frantically the second it rang, hoping you wouldn't see the photo of a smiling woman and two children on his home screen, but you already knew from the tan line on his left hand that you won't be going back to his. The drive home smells like a sex-drenched waste of a disguise. //I really, really love this scent. It's the genre-definer for cherry perfumes for a reason. I put this on when I'm trying to step into a more sophisticated, maybe slightly dangerous version of myself that doesn't fully exist yet. The proportions are perfect, it lasts longer than many other cherry scents, and nothing smells better.// Theme song: Slackerbitch by Placebo Pair with: a sheer top, a pleather skirt, and a lychee martini you pretend isn't bitter (you sniff your wrist surreptitiously as a chaser)

Love at first sniff. This gem is so well formulated I can smell each individual scent profile as it dries on the skin. It is far from linear. My initial sniff is the most beautiful ripe bing cherry. Not a synthetic cherry, nor is it that sweet nauseating maraschino cherry. The amaretto comes forward right after buoying the cherry by a warm liqueur. At the heart is still a sumptuous cherry that leans more in the tart, unripe side. The rose works so well with it that instead of turning it into a freshie, it fully embraces the warm of the liqueur and melds seamlessly. Oddly enough I get more of the plum on the dry down. Between the warming spices and the wood scents, the dry down on my skin is very reminiscent of a spiced mulled wine, better known as Glühwein. The cherry follows throughout and I’m here for it. I could definitely see a gentleman wearing the scent. I would like to see how it smells on my husband, but I don’t want him stealing it. 😂 Btw, you can find this beauty pretty cheap if you know where to look, for all those that wouldn’t drop full price on it. As far as longevity, one spray on my wrists lasts as a skin scent for 6-8 hours. Spraying a few sprays on skin and clothing lasts for 12+ hours. Silage leaves about a 6 ft scent trail for several hours after initial spray, after I’d say about a 3 ft scent trail for the filling 8 hrs.

I activated my account just to review this perfume, mind it I don't have still. This perfume smells like you are very rich and you are strolling through the billionaires row or fifth avenue in Manhattan and you just stumble into a liquor store. Expensive, rich, tasty cherry liquor, but all of a sudden the store caught on fire and everything is flammable and you smell the smoke. But, to top it, you just run off the store and someone opens a can of amarena cherry from Trader Joe's and you smell this hint of cherry with smoke still in your nose. This masterpiece is a perfect blend between English and French perfumery styles: English perfumes tend to smell like the thing you read, in this case Cherry. It really does smell like cherry, amarena cherry specifically. But then it comes the lost, because it gets lost in this smokey balsamic smell. The French part comes from the potent and unexpected blend of smells that create this very specific atmosphere. I love this creation, wish I had money to buy it, but it is indeed too expensive. For now, I'll keep smelling it at my local Sephora every time I'm near. This perfume smells like rich, expensive, NYC nepobaby, but it is very strong, you need to have confidence to wear this, it is not shy at all and will make people look at you, either from lust or disgust.