Wild Neroli

How it Smells

Wild Neroli opens with a bright, albeit somewhat shrill, citrus accord. The bergamot and mandarin present a photorealistic zestiness, but the lemon veers sharply towards a cleaning-product tang reminiscent of lemon-scented disinfectant wipes. The heart attempts to soften this citric blast with orange blossom and neroli, yet the indolic jasmine struggles to cut through, creating a slight soapy dissonance. Where the composition truly departs is in the base; the amber presents with an unctuous, almost sickly sweetness, while the angelica offers a vegetal bitterness that clashes with the ambrette's musky profile. The drydown evokes the scent of candied orange peels left too long in a musty cupboard.

Wear time & Sillage

Longevity is moderate, clocking in at approximately 5 hours on skin. Projection is initially strong, filling a small room, before quickly settling to a personal space after the first hour. Tested in high-humidity conditions, the sweetness of the amber amplified, becoming somewhat cloying and dense.

The Verdict

If this scent were a character in a movie, it would be a supporting character in a rom-com who tries way too hard to be charming and ends up just being awkward.