Embrace Marigold and Gardenia

Melon, Marigold & Gardenia... Opens with a fruity burst of mango-melon, that deepens into a floral heart of gardenia-marigold with powdery, creamy, honey, hay & floral nuances, all resting on a floral support base of faintly spicy woody-musk. The marigold here leans to tagetes and has a dry & crunchy facet, and smells like honey-hay and vaguely of honeysuckle & mimosa. Overall what I get is a mango opening over a sweet & dry-floral with some creaminess underneath. Overall: Average performance for a light summer wearing experience that can be strengthened by layering over its matching body spray. It's a love for me. Enjoy! Update 05/29/24: Sprayed this on my arm this afternoon in search of melon, and this one delivers. Really shines in the heat with the tropical aquatic melon which gets prolonged by the gardenia. I remember the mango lasting longer, but it was only there in the opening this time. Cardamom takes awhile into the drydown to quietly make its presence know. Still a love for how great the melon is.

An earthy aquatic? Why yes! The marigold, cardamon and sandalwood add a rich, earthy element to the fruity somewhat watery notes of melon and mango. Although the floral notes of gardenia and orange are not as predominant as I had hoped, it is just as well. It would interfere with the somewhat elegiac quality of the scent. This is a great end of the summer fragrance, very reminiscent of the last days of August when the smell of very ripe fruit mingles with the first line of falling leaves. I can imagine myself, lounging by the pool in my backyard, marigolds and asters starting to pop up near the edge of the garden. The silage is pretty decent but like my advice with Vera's Green Tea and Pear, layer up with spray, cologne and lotion-and go to KMART!!! Seriously, the spray is only $10.00! Pretty AND inexpensive.

This scent has that light sweetness of springtime. The top notes (mango and melon) are nicely blended with softer florals. I’m not quite getting the orange blossom, but I do detect the gardenia and marigold. The cardamom and white musk round it out without stealing the show. As I’m not the biggest fan of sandalwood, I was glad there only seems to be traces of it. Everything here is well balanced. It is a very clean, delicate scent. It won’t announce your entry into a room, but gently caresses the skin like your favorite pendant necklace. Nothing too heavy or overbearing. This is a good choice for day wear (work, errands, brunch with your friends). I even find it light enough to wear to bed.

This is the definition of an EDT, which is intimate, subtle, non-penetrating. I own just a sample of this. Doesn't project. It's not AMAZING but has qualities that feel comfortable and familiar. It's slightly creamy and a barely there musky melon citrus with a dewy emphasis. Weirdly took me back to my elementary school years during fall. Has a campy, festive, coziness. The mango, melon, gardenia and orange blossom almost make it tropical, but the marigold, cardamom, cedar keep it casual and for daytime. Totally subdued, fruit market vibe. It just feels so personal, but I know most wouldn't care about it at all and that's why I really adore it.

I found this at Kohl's today! Yay! This is really beautiful! OK I cannot do gardenia usually! So, when I find one that has gardenia and my head is not pounding then it is a winner and when I find one that is actually beautiful and not cloying then double yay! To me this smells firstly of melons, with a little bit of floral, and a freshness that is wonderful! Totally wearable in the summer heat, to work,church... where ever!! I smelled the whole line of Vera Wang "Embrace" and found each and every one so unique and really beautiful and I will be getting them all as they are also very affordable! Perfect!