Tsarina

If you are a fan of suede and fruits with some powder, like say Daim Blond, then you will likely enjoy Tsarina. Up close, Tsarina is like a luxury suede handbag that permanently smells like the wearer's signature fragrance from months and years of spraying herself and wearing the bag. The bag holds her lipstick & cosmetic compacts, along with her other necessities. There's a bit of something juicy and fresh that keeps it lifted, and faintly floral. Seeing freesia I can see that. There's a little sweetness and woodiness. It's a pleasant suede scent that's uber classy. I imagine an established woman who is more business than pleasure wearing it best. Here's the thing... It smells even better from a distance! It isn't the kind of scent I can't stop myself from inhaling at the wrist... It needs a little space to bloom and give you the whole picture. I find myself thinking, "WOW I smell amazing!!" every time it naturally graces my nose. The suede recedes a bit & the vanilla and Iris is impeccable from a distance. I get traces of Iris Ganache. I'd be all over a full bottle if A) I could justify it, or B) have the occasion to which I'd be inclined to wear it frequently enough. I'm a huge fan of suede Iris combinations, however they're not what I go for regularly. I have Bottega Veneta on deck for those suede moods, and currently it suffices (though Daim Blond would be an even better contender against this beauty).

If you are a fan of suede and fruits with some powder, like say Daim Blond, then you will likely enjoy Tsarina. Up close, Tsarina is like a luxury suede handbag that permanently smells like the wearer's signature fragrance from months and years of spraying herself and wearing the bag. The bag holds her lipstick & cosmetic compacts, along with her other necessities. There's a bit of something juicy and fresh that keeps it lifted, and faintly floral. Seeing freesia I can see that. There's a little sweetness and woodiness. It's a pleasant suede scent that's uber classy. I imagine an established woman who is more business than pleasure wearing it best. Here's the thing... It smells even better from a distance! It isn't the kind of scent I can't stop myself from inhaling at the wrist... It needs a little space to bloom and give you the whole picture. I find myself thinking, "WOW I smell amazing!!" every time it naturally graces my nose. The suede recedes a bit & the vanilla and Iris is impeccable from a distance. I get traces of Iris Ganache. I'd be all over a full bottle if A) I could justify it, or B) have the occasion to which I'd be inclined to wear it frequently enough. I'm a huge fan of suede Iris combinations, however they're not what I go for regularly. I have Bottega Veneta on deck for those suede moods, and currently it suffices (though Daim Blond would be an even better contender against this beauty).

Meh. This is a trick Geza Schoen has pulled of earlier for Escentric Molecules, I believe it's Escentric 02 or 03. These two are very similar, and not my cup of tea. A bit medicinal, plaster/bandage-like. Rubbery, musky, citrus. Very unisex. Not my favourite creation of Geza. 6/10

4/10

The first time I tried this fragrance I found it only mildly unpleasant: the jasmine is incredibly fecal on me, or at least something is, and the suede has this real sweaty hind note. This morning, in the spring air - the second try of it - it actually sickened me, so strong was a note of urine. Now, I am able to take my animalic fragrances so I'm not sure what it is about this one I find so unappealing. Once it dries down it morphs into a rice-like version of Diesel's Loverdose (before you say I'm crazy, note the similar listed accords). The third try of this, now, and it's a bit better. There's more space between the notes (I think my dislike of it is the result of a clash happening in the top/middle, like a discordant refrain). As it dries down into Loverdose-lite-with-a-twist-of-Kenzo-Power I am also able to detect the ghost of Ormonde woman, which interestingly, sticks around despite a good wash. I'm afraid this all comes together in a definite dislike of Tsarina, which by all accounts seems well-mannered in it's presentation to others. Perhaps it's me.