The Angel fandom has led to what can feel like a legion of flankers. Today let us look at Mugler Angel Iced Star, a 2021 release.
Notes of pineapple, coconut water, praline, and patchouli make this a lovely easy reach eau de toilette for the summer months. The patchouli is quite subtle to my nose; this is not the famous Angel jumbo-sized serving of patchouli, and for that reason, Iced Star may disappoint longtime fans. However, for those like me who are “iffy” about heavy doses of patchouli… this fun fruity ambery fragrance might be just right.
Angel Iced Star. Summer fun in a bottle.
A limited run of summer fun, I should add: this is a limited edition release.
I’m not quite ready to store my sultry winter gourmand fragrances, yet as we spring forward into the warmer months, I find myself gravitating towards the “fresh and clean” fragrance category quite a bit!
Here are some of my favorite clean vibe or clean aesthetic perfumes, a nice mix of affordable and luxury, as well as designer and niche:
✨Sparkly warmth and sweet bright goodness: Sparkling Sugar, by Clean Reserve.
✨Starchy laundry sheets, the store brand kind: Cloud Musk, by Mixbar.
✨Berries and expensive resort-exclusive dryer sheets: Meliora, by Parfums de Marly.
✨Softly spiced watery florals: Femme Individuelle, by Mont Blanc.
✨Clean fresh laundry with a green tea note: Pure White, by Banana Republic.
✨Airy florals with soft whisps of musk, all the pretty feminine feels in one bottle: Delizia, by Pearla Nera.
When I first started my fragrance journey, I may have breezed by these in pursuit of more flashy options…now, I can see the intricacies that create beautiful simplicity. And appreciate them.
This fall, Prada releases their first fragrance containing neroli: Prada Paradoxe eau de parfum. Paradoxe for me is right on trend for that perfect soft life, pretty girl or pretty guy aesthetic: I get a gentle neroli (nothing bitter, nothing soapy), light ambery nuances, and white musk. There is a bit of a high-end hairspray thing happening here as well, which normally I would run a mile from, but hey, when it works, it works!
Prada Paradoxe perfume
Much discussion around Paradoxe has focused on a lack of originality, and I’m not going to completely agree or disagree. There is maybe a familiar DNA here. Some have compared it to a less floral Armani My Way; some find it closer to Valentino Born in Roma.
What we may take from those comparisons is that Paradoxe is an easy to like, easy to wear, appealing fragrance you may have smelled something somewhat similar to before.
What Paradoxe could deliver for you is what it does for me: skin chemistry magic. My Way never loved my chemistry, and Born in Roma didn’t completely disavow my chemistry but did not fully commit. I stayed with samples on both of those and never picked up full bottles. Paradoxe scratches the proverbial itch that both of those left: something pretty, versatile, soft, and maybe not doing the most, yet absolutely effective. I also love neroli perfumes, so this was geared to be a winner for a neroli fan.
Prada Paradoxe just checks all the boxes for me and I absolutely love it. My favorite designer perfume release of 2022 (sorry, Burberry Her Elixir)!
Today let’s review the highly anticipated (at least by yours truly) new fall 2022 fragrance release from Burberry: the Her Elixir eau de parfum!
Burberry Her Elixir
Notes: 🍓Strawberry, blackberry, jasmine accord, vanilla, amber, and sandalwood
The original Burberry Her eau de parfum was nosed by the master #franciskurkdjian and this new Elixir is a collaborative effort from Jerôme de Marino and Maïa Lernout.
I experience a more “opaque” version as the bottle implies of the original Her DNA: a creamy strawberry milkshake with a tart juicy tang from the blackberry. The tanginess for me is the most exciting nuance, and adds that “something something” of interest to an otherwise very sweet fragrance. I get almost none of the “airiness” of the original Her, maybe a hint, but overall this is a more milky sort of fragrance, through the creamy sandalwood drydown. The original is akin to a pink translucent stained glass and the Elixir is less ethereal, more milkshake-esque, and sweeter.
The Elixir lasts well on me and is a moderate-to-soft leaning fragrance. Burberry describes this as “bold,” and I am not sure I would agree. It’s lovely, romantic, and for me, an easy reach. Office appropriate, absolutely and also perfect for cuddling. Bold, hm. Groundbreaking, box burning, worthy of endless conversation? Not necessarily and not everything needs to be, for me to be happy. A bit overly sweet, and slightly synthetic? I do not disagree, however, what can I say: for what it is, I enjoy it! The original is still my favorite, however, I am reaching for the Elixir as well.
If you struggle with lactonic scents pulling sour or synthetic on your skin, note that this could be a rocky ride. A safe bet however for something lovely that you will reach for often, if you enjoy the DNA? I think so; certainly one worth a sniff so you can decide for yourself!
TERRIE 