Gourmand Addict

Bottom Line

Wearing Gourmand Addict is a tradeoff. One gains a pronounced sweetness and strong initial projection, useful for immediate impact. One loses the nuanced, sophisticated balance of the original. The synthetic edge and simplified composition are undeniable, rendering it a less complex and ultimately less rewarding experience.

Scent Breakdown

Gourmand Addict opens with an assertive, almost aggressive apple accord. It's not a fresh, crisp apple, but rather a candied apple, bordering on artificial, with a synthetic acetone edge. The ginger is muted, detectable only as a slight peppery tingle beneath the dominant saccharine sweetness. Bergamot is present, offering fleeting citrus zest, but quickly vanishes. The heart reveals a herbaceous sage note, though overshadowed by the lingering apple. Juniper contributes a subtle, piney resinous touch, struggling against the gourmand character. The geranium is nearly imperceptible. As it dries, the base emerges, primarily a hefty dose of amberwood, providing a potent, woody-amber backbone. The tonka contributes a powdery sweetness, melding with the lingering candied apple. The cedar, unfortunately, presents as pencil shavings, lacking depth or realism. It diverges from its inspiration primarily in the top notes, with the original possessing a brighter, cleaner opening, while this leans towards a cloying, dense sweetness.

Longevity & Projection

Longevity is moderate, lasting approximately 5-6 hours on skin. Projection is initially strong, extending about one and a half arm lengths, then gradually diminishing to a skin scent after 3 hours. I tested it in an office environment; its sweetness became somewhat tiresome by midday.