Derby Club House Santa Anita

Bottom Line

If this scent were a character in a movie, it would be an understudy who aggressively overacts the part, missing the subtle nuances of the lead role and ultimately reminding you of the original's absence.

The Scent Profile

Derby Club House Santa Anita opens with a pronounced, almost jarring lime. It lacks the nuanced citrus zest found in more refined compositions, instead presenting a single-faceted, candied lime akin to the filling of a key lime pie, but stripped of the buttery crust. The heart attempts to capture the floral sweetness of tiare and freesia, but the result is a generic white floral accord, slightly powdery and possessing a noticeable synthetic musk that veers uncomfortably close to dryer sheet territory. The base is where the fragrance truly falters. The Virginia cedar is present but rendered flat and linear, devoid of any woody depth or warmth. The tonka bean adds a fleeting, vanilla-like sweetness, but ultimately succumbs to the synthetic musk, creating a plasticky drydown. Compared to its inspiration, Santa Anita presents a simplified, less refined interpretation. The missing elements are the oceanic nuance and powdery elegance of Vanitas.

Wear time & Sillage

Longevity is moderate, clocking in at around 5 hours on skin. Projection is initially strong, extending about one arm's length, but quickly diminishes to a skin scent within 2 hours. Testing occurred indoors in a climate-controlled environment.