C4SHMER4N 2019

This is one of my white whales , finally found one. Zara stuff when discontinued becomes so hard to find because it’s affordable so people just use them up. Thankfully when they do pop up they’re usually cheap too. Anyways, I love this. This is like a synthetic (but in a very cool, unique and almost retro futuristic way) take on a classic , dry and woody fragrance. This is definitely in that Tom Ford Black Orchid kind of range , without being a clone. But it’s that kind of earthy dry scent. Think Black Orchid but more synthetic (again, on purpose , this line was meant to highlight synthetic molecules not to smell natural , hence the naming) , much sweeter and less complex. It also kind of has a clean fuzzy wool sweater vibe to it , kind of when you get a thick wool sweater cleaned - the fibers have a distinct faint smell. This is STRONG. I suspect this can easily choke a room out if there is any heat. So in that sense it’s similar to Black Orchid too. Again, not a clone though but if you like one you might like the other.

So after checking the notes, and deciding to go for the Cashmere&Tonka aroma over the Ambroxide Fragance by Zara. It can be said that this is less generic & less risky. While this is listed as Oriental, the Cashmeran Wood is dominant like a Woody Aromatic. So dominant it might resemble the burning wood smell of burning incense. B/c of the Bergamot & Tonka this is definitely smooth, and can dry down to something alluring. But too close, too soon, it smells like wood for Incense.

Big fan of the S4nd4lwood Zara one so picked this one up as a bargain, didn't know what to expect. Wow, awesome scent, my wife liked it too. Very sensual style & yes, sweet but then it tones down woody. Very slight Black Orchid w/ sweetness, Black Orchid is supremely bitter. I like it...more for chilled weather, not necessarily winter, but cold, like when @ a movie theater where they like to blast the a/c! Sweater appropriate for sure, cozy scent, sensual.

Smells good, but very deodorant like for me. Still a sweet, rough smell that people will find very pleasant. It sits somewhere between gourmand and chemical, if that makes any sense. I "like it for the price". And you know what that means: I don't love it, but I do not regret its purchase. Definitely unique though, and a good release nonetheless. Demi Rawlings hyped it up too much in my opinion, when she released that cheapies video. Very unisex, and very long-lasting, so that's great if you're into that kind of smell. It still has that weird thing that keeps me from truly liking it. 6.75/10.

I haven’t tried the older version of this one, that people say remind of Black Orchid. This one doesn’t, it reminds me more of Womanity with that salty note, but C4SHMER4N is much more pleasant, with the tonka being key here. Def unisex. Not so great staying power, but a good buy for the price (12€).