Olivia Blossom

Is it Worth It?

Wearing Olivia Blossom instead of the original is like opting for the generic brand of your favorite candy. You get the general idea, but the nuances are missing. It’s sweeter, less complex, and lacks the salty oceanic depth of the inspiration. You gain a potent dose of vanilla sweetness, which might appeal to some. You lose the sophistication and the captivating marine-ambergris accord.

Scent Breakdown

Olivia Blossom opens with a blast of sugary jasmine. It’s less photorealistic jasmine and more like jasmine-scented bubble bath; sweet, almost cloying. The promised green mandarin is MIA, replaced by a general citrusy sweetness. As it settles, a noticeable vanilla emerges, not a deep, boozy vanilla, but a fluffy, almost marshmallow-like vanilla. The salt accord peeks through, adding a pleasant, slightly savory counterpoint to the sweetness, but it smells more like salted caramel popcorn than a day at the beach. The drydown is a powdery blend of ambergris and woody notes. The ambergris lacks the characteristic marine quality, instead leaning towards a generic, musky amber. The cashmere wood and sandalwood provide a soft, if somewhat synthetic, base. It deviates from its inspiration by amplifying the vanilla and dialing back the salty marine aspects.

Wear time & Sillage

Olivia Blossom lasts a solid 6 hours on my skin. Projection is moderate for the first hour, extending to about an arm’s length, before settling closer to the skin. I wore it on a moderately warm spring day while running errands. It performed reasonably well, though the sweetness became a bit overwhelming in the heat.