Exotic

First Impressions & Dry Down

Exotic opens with an aggressively sweet fruit cocktail – passionfruit candy mixed with overripe pear. It lacks the nuanced tartness of its inspiration, leaning instead into a syrupy, almost medicinal sweetness. The fleeting whisper of Lily-of-the-Valley is buried beneath the fruity onslaught, offering only a brief floral counterpoint before disappearing completely. The drydown is where the wheels truly come off. Instead of a creamy musk, I get a plasticky sandalwood that borders on offensive. There's a hint of vanilla, but it's more akin to vanilla-scented car freshener than anything natural or refined. It mimics the original's fruitiness, but with a significant drop in overall quality and blending.

Final Thoughts

This is a warm weather, daytime fragrance, but with major caveats. Wear this only if you enjoy intensely sweet, fruity scents and don't mind a somewhat synthetic edge. It’s best suited for casual settings where strong projection is not required. Use with a very light hand to avoid overwhelming yourself and those around you.

How Long Does it Last?

The longevity is troubling. It clings to skin for an impressive 8-10 hours, but becomes a skin scent very quickly. Projection is initially strong, filling a room within the first hour. Then, it retreats to barely an arm's length. I tested this in a variety of scenarios: office, outdoors, and casual evenings. The sweetness was cloying indoors, while the synthetic notes were amplified in warmer weather.