Lilac and Cinnamon

The Scent Profile

Lilac and Cinnamon initiates with a startlingly artificial apple accord, recalling cheap shampoo more than crisp fruit. The ginger attempts to rescue the opening, introducing a fleeting warmth, but it's ultimately subsumed by an acrid bergamot note. The heart struggles to emerge, the advertised sage and geranium muddled beyond recognition. The juniper provides a slight resinous undercurrent, but lacks definition. As it transitions to the base, the amberwood asserts its dominance. This is where it deviates most sharply from its inspiration. The Amberwood is an aggressive, synthetic wood aroma, smelling more like sawdust and chemical cleaner. The tonka bean surfaces eventually, lending a powdery, sweet counterpoint to the cedar, but is ultimately overwhelmed by the persisting amberwood.

Bottom Line

Wearing Lilac and Cinnamon compared to Y is a study in contrasts. The Zara offering captures a few fleeting echoes of the original's DNA. The bright opening is replaced by a crude caricature and the refined drydown is substituted with an overly synthetic woody base. One gains brief moderate wear, and sacrifices the nuance and smoothness of the fragrance it emulates.

Longevity & Projection

Longevity is moderate, lasting approximately five hours on skin. Projection is initially strong, extending about an arm's length, before quickly receding to a skin scent within the first hour. I tested this fragrance in both controlled indoor environments and during light outdoor activity. The performance remained consistent, with a rapid decline in sillage regardless of conditions.