Just (red)

Notes & Nuances

Just (red) blasts open with a candied cherry, reminding me of cherry cough syrup mixed with a hint of medicinal saffron. It lacks the nuanced depth of the original, presenting a flatter, more linear cherry accord. The heart brings in a smoky leather, but it’s more akin to the smell of a worn-out motorcycle jacket than supple Italian leather. There's a subtle vegetal bitterness attempting to peek through with an almost green olive note. As it dries, the smoke intensifies, morphing into a charred wood with an acrid, almost synthetic edge. The drydown loses the cherry almost completely, leaving behind a persistent ashy aroma.

Longevity & Projection

On my skin, Just (red) lasts a solid 6 hours. Projection is decent for the first hour, reaching about an arm's length, before settling closer to the skin. I wore it to a casual bonfire and then to a low-key bar outing. The bonfire setting complemented the smokiness, but the artificial cherry felt somewhat out of place in the bar.

Conclusion

If Just (red) were a character in a movie, it would be a down-on-his-luck mechanic trying to fix a vintage car with cheap parts. Close, but not quite there.