Dark Ride

As strange and esoteric as it sounds, I have been searching for this exact scent for as long as I've been into perfumery. Many of my positive childhood memories took place at Disney World and other orlando tourist hell pits, and the most memorable aspects from these early trips are the smells (for some strange reason, the power of olfactive memory i guess). Specifically the sort of strange, old, musty, watery, stagnant aroma that certainly does not make sense out of the context of a ride like Pirates of the Caribbean. It makes me think of rubber, chlorine, strange musty chemicals and darkness. Totally not what one typically searches for in a personal fragrance. When I heard about this I almost couldn't believe it. Sort of the definition of Niche, there must be a remarkably small demographic for this. But if they are interested, and just so happen to stumble into this release, I can't imagine them being let down. This smells exactly like how I remember the interior of a dark ride smells. Chloriney, watery, stagnant, definitely mildewy, a little rubbery like a pool toy, and musty as all hell. If that sounds unappealing to you, stay far, far, far away from this. I don't think the intent here was to win over those doubtful of the lure of chlorine based perfumery...but If you are one of the few who have the olfactory associations, dive right in. It pretty much nails the smell... well, maybe its a little cleaner and more pleasant without the souring aroma of wet tourist, but you will not be let down. I purchased the spray but I will be purchasing the Extrait soon and I will wear it when I feel like wallowing in my nostalgia and giving every one around me a "f*ck-you-I-Like-It" migraine. Now if only they could bottle the aroma of the ET ride at Universal Studios...

+1 * Sweaty Aquatic -> [100/100] This is supposed to capture, photorealistically, a water park experience, at the start you can clearly make out the plasticky accords, mostly accompanied with an aquatic note, but not a clean one, a chlorine-bias one you’d exactly find in a water park, but urinous in only the sense that it was mostly neutralized with the chlorine. There’s a particular section that is mildewy, dank—it’s exactly something I was expecting from Mildew by Demeter, but never got, but it’s in its early stages, so it doesn’t smell terrible. I would even say it’s a unique kind of sweaty dirty, but again not off-putting. Even as the adventure is over, frankly, your slides caught a smell of that same mildew (it’s a camphor bias, but without overthinking it, I get that association, with a chlorine bias)—really, you smell like this. You kind of dig the smell, so you forego the obligatory shower. It vaguely reminds me of In The Belly of the Beast. In any case, it’s another banger by Killian Wells. FB worthy. P.S. The notes list is pretty incomplete--my take on this reflects the description on the website and decisions should be based on that instead. EDIT: If you want to intensify the dirtiness aspect of this, try layering it with Shutter by Xyrena (sounds weird, but it dries down to a purely camphor fragrance).

HOW I regret not buying this in the exhibition shop after I smelt it at the Somerset House Scent exhibit last year... at the time I was impressed by how evocative the scent was but not sure what I thought of it as a fragrance that one would actually wear, but in the weeks afterward I couldn't stop thinking about it and was desperate for another sniff. It's so special it almost doesn't feel gimmicky, just truly original and a real niche perfumer's imagination. Alas, I visited towards the end of the exhibit's run and Xyrena is really pricey with international shipping and the risk of duty charges factored in. They have a few scents I'm interested to try, though, so I might pay for the membership to try samples - as much as Dark Ride won me over I can't envisage getting through a bottle that quickly... unless I'm completely seduced and wind up wearing it as a signature, which I could honestly imagine happening.

Wow, this is a bleak fragrance. It really smells like the dark, slightly mildewy caverns of a theme park water ride. There is a harsh smell that people have called rubbery or chemical, which to me smells very mechanical, like the motor on a blender when its contents get stuck, and I think it suits the theme well. It also mellowed out a little bit over time on my skin and brought out the murky background. It's a strange one for sure, but honestly I think it's bizarrely wearable. It's not a "nice" smell like flowers or vanilla, but there's something distinctive and oddly comforting about it for me and I can totally see myself buying a full bottle and wearing it like anything else in my collection. It's definitely a masculine scent to my nose, but I don't think that means it has to be exclusively for men.

Very interesting, almost liminal. Reminds me of the backrooms/poolrooms a bit. Smells like a dark metallic room. Definitely has a sweet hint to it. definitely ozonic and I can smell a hint of water; even a background note of atmospheric mildew which I for sure don’t hate. Weirdly nostalgic, liminal, and all-in-all a cool experience.

I attended the Cirque du Soleil water show "O" several months ago. The scent of the water could be smelled from the balcony seats. *taps bottle* This. If you like that smell, that pool water smell like I do. *taps bottle again* It bears repeating, this is as beast as they get. Spray your ankle outside. lol

This fragrance is much more wearable than I expected. Totally nostalgic and also a bit sexy. Definitely worth a try for anyone looking for a dark and niche interpretation of an aquatic fragrance.

I had high hopes for this fragrance since the smell of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is my absolute favorite smell (along with any musty water smell rich with negative ions, though Pirates is in a league of its own), but didn't want to take a chance on a full bottle since I'm generally not a big fan of aquatic scents in perfumes. So I ordered a sample through Surrender To Chance. Upon opening the sample vial, I did in fact catch a brief, elusive whiff of the Pirates ride; however, once on my skin this scent settled down to a sweeter, more "perfumey" scent (which is by no means 'bad,' just not quite like the ride). The chlorine note remained, as did a metallic note that was much more apparent on my clothing than my skin (I had worn a lot of it on my arms the first time so as to really get a sense of it, and some was transferred to my shirt, leaving a strong metal and chlorine scent that was not appealing; on my skin, though, this scent was much more subdued and pleasant). I'm wearing less on my skin today, and I really like how the scent dries down, though it doesn't evoke the ride smell as much as it does fresh from the vial. The after-effects are elusive, dark, and surprisingly 'clean,' considering the mustiness that remains (probably due to the ozone notes). I'm still on the fence as to whether I want to order the full size, so I'll wait until the sample runs out before deciding. It is a nice scent, just not sure if it's 'my' scent. Also: I haven't really been able to smell the Pirates ride since that first pass -- now every time I open the vial I can smell the individual notes rather than that brief, first impression which closely approximated the ride smell.

Yes, it smells like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney Land. It really took me back to the anticipation I felt as a child while I waited to get on that ride. The chlorinated water... the mildew... the pyrotechnics and theatrical fog. It's all there. I can't see myself ever wearing this in public... unless I dressed as a pirate for Halloween. Honestly it's a novelty item and you should expect no less and no more. I was curious about the scent, but ultimately bought it for the packaging. It comes in one of those old, plastic VHS packages I remember so well from my childhood. Great presentation. Pro Tip: If you get this, be careful. It tends to linger for a while. And while it's not wholly unpleasant, it's certainly not a "fresh" or "clean" scent you want hanging around your house for too long. :)

This does not smell like POTC water. It is close, and the overall ambience of the fragrance definitely tracks with the attraction (hah!), but it is mostly the abstract idea. Apparently Disney uses some sorta-secret mix that includes bromide, and that's why most of the Disney water smells like POTC water; there's just way more of it inside of POTC, which is why you smell it more there than, say, it's a small world. The thing that POTC has that no perfume, candle, etc can truly match is the smoke from the middle of the ride that mixes with the bromide-water scent and the wet wood. Xyrena got damn close, and I do appreciate them because this stuff smells AMAZING on my husband, but it is still not the real deal. Close, no cigar. Back to the drawing board, mateys.

Very interesting fragrance. I get the pirates of the Caribbean as well but to me it leans also to an old hotel ozone vibe. This doesn't sound appealing, but I find myself liking this weird creation on my skin. It's strange but also comforting. Super unique and artistic. I don't know how Kilian Wells did it, but this really does smell just like a water ride at a theme park. I don't know where someone would wear this stuff (maybe Disneyland?) but but to me it's a cool concept. I can guarantee there isn't anything else composed like this fragrance. If you appreciate fragrance as art, this is something you should definitely try. Very nostalgic of both the ride and staying in hotels in the 80's and 90's 😄👍

Wearing this today for the first time. One thing I noticed is that it smells a lot like Pool Boy. That's not a bad thing, because I like Pool Boy. It definitely smells like a water ride at an amusement park. It kind smells like an over chlorinated swimming pool. I would call it a dirty aquatic. It lasts a long time and has some really cool packaging Also, it not over priced like a lot of designer scents.

Indoor pool at a gym, huge California Family Fitness nostalgia. Whether it’s there or not, I imagine rubber alongside the dampness and a chlorine ghost. To me it’s not Pirates at all, but it still evokes summer. I kinda want a bottle?

This smells like a swimsuit after an all day, outdoor competitive swim meet. Weirdly nostalgic, and I don't hate it in concept, but I'm not sure what occasion I would ever have to wear it.

On my skin, this smells like the coat section of a real deal, pre-gentrification vintage store-- the funky old ones owned by hippie hoarders who load everything they can find in there. They're usually full of an overwhelming amount of mostly mediocre stuff, but they're also not going to be overpriced, so you might come away with a much sweeter deal than if you'd shopped at the trendier spots. I don't think it's for me, but I can see the appeal. I'm a little disappointed because I was hoping this would smell like the kitschy indoor malls in Las Vegas hotels, but alas. (If anyone does know a perfume that smells like that, DM me!)

Got a sample of this in the hopes that it would smell like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland and was sorely let down. While the ride smells like heavily chlorinated water and has a very dank and wet quality, this smells like straight up oil, leather, and rubber. I get basically zero aquatic notes. It feels very dry and gritty. I had such high hopes but this really doesn’t smell like the ride at all. Sample before you buy.

Wow this is genuinely a terror. I'm afraid of this fragrance. Yes to the comment below about nuclear longevity and sillage, be very careful with this. Spray this outdoors with no witnesses. To me I genuinely just smell burning rubber and chemicals. It smells like plastic burning in a fire pit. I do get the aquatic but as a way backseat to the chemical burning smell. I was ready for this to be nasty, mildewy, damp, experiential etc but I was not ready for this to just smell scary. The only practical use of this would be to give to somebody you hate or maybe ruin a party or something of that nature.

Inflatable pools, Lycra swimsuits and chlorine in the most unwearable way possible. It does smell liminal and creepy. The water note is there, the pool is there, swimsuits are there but something feels wrong. Also this one smells like urinal cake aromachemicals just like pool boy but less harsh.

I didn't really give this a fair shot, but I can't. I sprayed this on a piece of paper and had to tap out there. I love chlorine/bromine smells in theme parks, the smell of fog machines, the gunpowder smell of pirates, etc, and was really hoping I'd get something like that from this. This is one of the first fragrances that popped up when I was trying to find something along those lines, and out of morbid curiousity I thought I'd try it. The paper I sprayed smelled like a waterlogged old book, stale and sour notes. The mildew smell completely overpowers whatever else is supposed to be there, it does NOT smell fresh or give me any "clean" chemical smells I'd expect from a water ride. I can vaguely pick out some aquatic and fog machine scents, but only because I knew to look for them. I set the paper aside several feet away from me, and found that one spray flooded the entire room. I threw it out, the smell still lingered. I started worrying that some got on the floor and I'd have to scrub it. I stuck the air purifier in there and put everything in a ziploc bag and a day later it was gone. First fragrance where I've just wanted it to be over.

Wow, I actually found this nauseating. I tried to keep it on long enough to get the whole experience, but I just couldn't deal with the scent beyond about 2 minutes. I love the idea - there's something nostalgic about the scent of waiting in line for a dark ride. The E.T. ride that used to be at Universal Studios Hollywood was my personal favorite. This fragrance is not that. I don't find it at all reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean, like other reviewers have mentioned. Maybe if you fell out of the boat into the water and then inhaled a lungful. It's permeating rather than atmospheric. Definitely not a blind buy.

"Ahoy, matey! The franchise is long dead, but the high seas are still ours for the sailing! This attraction features flashing lights, splashing water, and sudden, moderate-intensity drops. Please have a seat, two per row, and fasten the belt. For your safety, keep arms and legs inside the barge at all times. Should you see Johnny Depp, kindly ask him to return to his peak early-'90s work. Have a magical day, and enjoy the ride!"

POTC ride smell is one of my favorite all time smells. Brings me right back to childhood in the 90's going on these indoor Disney rides - POTC, Universe of Energy dinosaur ride, Spaceship Earth, etc. I've been trying to find something that matches it for years. I just got a small 2ml tester of this and for me, think it's enough. At first spray I get some cloying pine/ mint/ bubblegum? And then if I sniff closely I get a medicinal-like alcohol prep pad I might get in the doctor's office. Also get an electrical type smell; like if an electric motor/ appliance short circuits and has that puff of electric smoke; or I just run my cordless drill too hard screwing in lag bolts. Gave a bit of a headache if too close. Once it dries a bit I can start to get the ozone/ dank/ chlorinated water smell and see where the perfumer was going with it. It's really weird to me; like I shouldn't like it - but then I just keep sniffing it. Like sniffing glue or gasoline. In a strange way, it's satisfying. I was reading about the perfumer Killian and it seems that's essentially his goal in creating these scents; to create nostalgic fragrances for things you'd want to smell as a child but your mother told you'd not to otherwise it'd give you cancer. He also said he did it in part to help with his anxiety. Imo both of these things are achieved; while odd and not sure how I'd use them, smelling this and Neon Sunset immediately makes me relax. I think the main difference between this and what's at Disney (besides the bromide of course) is the environment it's sprayed in. Missing element is humidity. With what this is trying to emulate, you're sitting on a boat, on water, usually in an enclosed space where humidity can accumulate and mix with the smells. Maybe something to try could be to spray this on yourself after a hot shower right after turning the water off? As neat as this is, not sure when or how I would actually wear this other than for the sake of nostalgia. Maybe use as a room spray every now and then? Spray it in the air, close my eyes and think back to better times. Wish these scents were available as candles, I would burn them nonstop!

Dark Ride was a finalist at this years’ IAO Awards and, for me, it was the standout of the night. I grabbed a bottle soon after and, while waiting for it to arrive, I wondered if I’d made a hideous mistake. The perfume claims to smell like a theme park water ride centered upon (among other industrial horrors) chlorine, but to me it splits the difference between a disinfected motel room and a urinal puck. While I’m sure this sounds horrifying, there’s something totally compelling about it. I’ve been wearing it for the past couple of weeks and I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying it. Although I can’t quite figure out how it ticks, it doesn’t seem overly complicated; there’s not a ton of development. However, there’s enough nuance to elevate it beyond schlock experimentation. It conjures up highly synthetic imagery: astroturf, air vents, and a dental spittoon with an electrical charge running through it. My guess is that there’s moss, a slice of maltol, and most likely a fistful of dimethyl hydroquinone — a crystalline material that, when diluted, smells like a mix of grass and the afore-mentioned (clean) urinal. The scent wears like a robotic version of Lush’s Dirty; there’s an antiseptic, metallic quality to it but it’s the touch of sweetness that balances it and makes it so amiable. Although the initial blast is unnerving, it dies down to what I’d describe as carbonated disinfectant. It’s brisk and chilly and absolutely weird, but it’s also cheery, fun, and surprisingly well done. Nobody should approach this scent expecting a technical masterpiece, and both the scent and over-the-top packaging underscore the irreverent nature of the brand, but Dark Ride’s a great aura-style perfume that’s priced fairly and makes palatable a disgusting concept. Weird but weirdly wearable, and totally enjoyable. It’s one of the most unique scents I’ve smelled in some time.

I love a concept piece—or a piece with a story—and Dark Ride fulfills that role by trying to mimic water rides from theme parks. Sadly, it's been a long time since I've stepped foot on the Pirates of the Caribbean, so there's no scent memory for me to match this up against. Methinks that's supposed to be the case, and you're supposed to let your imagination connect the scent to the story. I will say I picked up samples of Dark Ride alongside Pool Boy and Sneakerhead, and *all* of them have some synthetic leather scent on my skin that completely dominates—a feat which stole some of the magic away from whatever sleight-of-hand Xyrena is trying to pull. On first blast, Dark Ride feels a little more wet and almost... minty (?) in its chemical top notes. It's brazen and complex. As it dries down, a type of leather note with some wet moss hiding behind it begins to take shape. Don't get me wrong, it's a very handsome, masculine type of leather. I just don't find it as outré as what this perfume was sold to me as. I'm not getting pyrotechnics or theatrical fog or chlorinated water at all. Just leather and maybe something damp + mildew-y. I think the person who said it smells like an old vintage clothing store nailed it. Or maybe a used book store (carrying actual leather-bound books) that has some incense burning at the check-out counter. It ultimately is a very nice scent, and the sticker price isn't too bad either, but I don't think this is captivating enough or vanguard enough to warrant a full bottle purchase. I'll definitely be finishing my sample though.

his is a scent that transported me to the Arcade with the Cotton Candy, Buttered Popcorn and the Whispers of Urinals. When I mentioned Urinals to the perfumer, he raised his eyebrows and seemed to be unsure, however I am the customer and he was polite enough to refrain from the "Whatever" and continued to explain his vision. It indeed had a cleansing spray of Sea Salt Air that had me impressed with it's thought and execution. Like deadidol I found the scent compelling and it carries a "Campy" artistry. Yes it is surprisingly wearable. A brief sniff of the lineup showed an unexpected competence. Another of the highlights for me was that of Jessica Hannah. A winner of the show last year with "Skive". She presented a lineup of four. "Sunset Blvd" "Upton" "Orchard" and a beautiful smokey "Sloloo" particularily interesting. A competency that had me buying the set on the spot. Xyrena's Dark Ride, I wouldn't buy blind, however encourage anyone looking for an innovative new way to scent, grab a sample. Great fun and artistically sound.

I've been dying to try this one, as I adore dark rides and Pirates is one of my favorites, but this is very disappointing. The Chlorine notes are there, but very mild, almost perfumed, and overall is a powerful tanned leather scent. In fact, this dominates. I have a fragrance oil for soap and candle making called Russian Leather that smells exactly like this; dry leather, slight mildew, strong tanning chemical elements, but mostly old leather, like you find in a military surplus store. That being said, it's actually a fairly pleasant scent for all the strange notes, and the mildew is so faint as to be almost floral, so it's not offensive. The main impression I come away with is that of powdered copy machine toner, the kind that smells like chemicals and ozone. Sadly, there's just not enough stale water in this to smell like a dark ride to me. I still find it wearable, if Avant Garde, but my dreams of instant Disney Vacation are blown. Disappointed.

his is a scent that transported me to the Arcade with the Cotton Candy, Buttered Popcorn and the Whispers of Urinals. When I mentioned Urinals to the perfumer, he raised his eyebrows and seemed to be unsure, however I am the customer and he was polite enough to refrain from the "Whatever" and continued to explain his vision. It indeed had a cleansing spray of Sea Salt Air that had me impressed with it's thought and execution. Like deadidol I found the scent compelling and it carries a "Campy" artistry. Yes it is surprisingly wearable. A brief sniff of the lineup showed an unexpected competence. Xyrena's Dark Ride, I wouldn't buy blind, however encourage anyone looking for an innovative new way to scent, grab a sample. Great fun and artistically sound.

Bizarre. Just plain difficult scent to describe... Its kind of lovely and kind of awful. Like, 50/50. lol I just don't really know how to verbalize anything I detect as notes in it without sending you all running in the opposite direction as quickly as you can. But honestly, it isn't "bad." Just completely different than anything else out there and I'm not sure why anyone would want to smell like this. Definitely TRY before you buy. Get a sample and give it a go. I did and my first thought was like, "UCK! This is freaking horrible!" But then again, I kept smelling my wrists almost compulsively! It's odd because my brain said "No way" but yet somehow my nose wanted more. Very strange indeed. Definitely a interesting scent that leaves you thinking.

Absolutely nuclear. Even one spray on a blotter that was thrown outside in the trash 10 mins later, still impregnates our room after 14 hours. Fertiliser, Chlorine, damp air, mold. Smells like a UK Garden Centre

Ummm . . . I'll take illusion over wearing chlorine, thank you very much.