Forbidden Love

Final Thoughts

If Forbidden Love were a character, it would be a femme fatale in a noir film. Beautiful and alluring on the surface, but with a hidden darkness lurking beneath. She wears red lipstick and velvet dresses, hiding a past filled with secrets and regret. Her charm is intoxicating, but her intentions are always questionable.

Notes & Nuances

Forbidden Love opens with a syrupy rush of candied cherry, like maraschino cherries soaking in amaretto liqueur. There's a distinct almond bitterness that cuts through the initial sweetness, preventing it from becoming cloying. The heart introduces a boozy plum note, darker and more brooding than the opening cherry. A whisper of Turkish rose emerges, adding a powdery, almost vintage facet. As it dries down, the tonka bean lends a creamy vanilla facet, while the sandalwood provides a grounding woody base. The vetiver is subtle, adding just a touch of earthy grit, almost like damp soil, contrasting the initial sweetness. It diverges from its inspiration in the drydown, lacking the refined woodiness; instead, it has a slight plasticky edge.

Performance Reality Check

On my skin, Forbidden Love lasts approximately six hours. Projection is moderate for the first two hours, extending to about an arm's length, then it sits closer to the skin. I wore it on a chilly autumn evening and found it performed well in that environment. It felt too dense for a hot day and might become overwhelming.