Vicious Cacao

I am addicted to this fragrance! It's like powdered chocolate donuts with a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

I quote lingdeer: I also smell the BR540 dna (horror!), but faint and not so loud, and ZERO cacao. It’s not so bad, but it fades in 15 mins. Edit: the drydown is only faint caramel.

I managed to get my hands on a little sample and instantly fell in love. I don’t gravitate towards fragrances that can be described as ‘edible’ but Vicious Cacao went straight to my heart. To me, it smells exactly like a cherry liqueur bonbon (the ones with the red wrapping paper). There’s no cherry note in this so I think it’s the rum note that makes it smell like that particular bonbon to me. I would wear this in colder months or during the evening. It’s warm, cozy.. sweet, but not overly sweet like Maison Tahite’s Vanilla2 for example. The notes in Vicious Cacao that stand out to my nose are rum, cacao and caramel. I don’t pick up on any of the raspberry or oakmoss. I also read in the comments that some people get that BR540 dna from this, but I didn’t get that. I have a decent sized BR540 sample and I absolutely hate that scent. Nothing about Vicious Cacao reminds me of BR540. Overall, I like this fragrances and would definitely get a full bottle. I’m from Western Europe and to me, the ml to price ratio is also very decent. I could get a 100ml bottle from €80-€100 in my region, so I’d consider it a bang for your buck.

This smells identical to the most recent release of Hot Coca and Cream from Bath and Bodyworks, but with a warm, rummy cloud over it. I believe it’s around $120 for 100 ML, which isn’t bad in the fragrance world, but the longevity and projection can be challenging to the pricepoint. This is beautiful for seasons like fall and winter, something I would drink in the smell of on a cozy Christmas Eve night. I personally like scents that are intimate, but can briefly waft in someone’s direction for a long-ish whiff, which isn’t most peoples preference— But even for someone whose projection taste is on the more minimal side, this was very weak. A sample on Twistedlily is about $4, and with a discount, it definitely wouldn't hurt to try.

It is an absolute love of a fragrance for me. Delicious gourmand, yet with a sophisticated, grown-up edge to it. Doesn't get overly cloying, just the right amount of sweetness. Also, great prices for a niche house. I cannot keep my hands off it!