Femme

To Buy or Not to Buy?

This is a bright, youthful fragrance best suited for the early spring days when the air still holds a chill. It has an inherent casualness, making it fitting for running errands or grabbing a quick coffee. However, its fleeting nature and synthetic finish make it unsuitable for formal occasions or extended wear. The wearer of Femme is someone who values instant gratification and doesn't mind a brief, fleeting encounter.

How it Smells

Femme opens with a candied apple blast – not the crisp orchard kind, but more akin to a hard, green Jolly Rancher left in the sun. The ginger attempts to cut through the initial sweetness but is quickly subdued, leaving only a faint, spicy tickle. As it settles, the sage and juniper offer a brief respite from the initial saccharine jolt, adding a herbal, almost medicinal quality reminiscent of menthol cough drops. However, the amberwood takes center stage far too quickly, resulting in a plasticky, synthetic dry down that clashes with the naturalistic aspirations of the top notes. The original Y offers a smoother transition; this clone struggles with a disorienting, jarring shift.

The Performance Stats

On my skin, Femme lasts a meager three hours, becoming a skin scent within the first hour. Projection extends to about an arm's length initially, then quickly retracts. I wore it during a casual outing to the farmer's market and found it completely faded by the time I was browsing the vegetable stalls.