Parfums Camelia K

Wow, this is gorgeous. It was a love at first sniff recently in my local Harvey Nichols. The AMAZING sales assistant very kindly gave me a sample, and on first wearing I knew I'd purchase it. I tried to resist, given it's not a million miles away from My Way Intense (which I adore, and is in my top 5 frags), but I really do enjoy this that much that I knew I'd wear both. This one is similar in that is has a bubblegum sweetness, a vanillic base that gives it warmth and depth, and obviously the white florals. I originally got tuberose from this, but I think this is actually more orange blossom and it's just the similarity of the other components that almost convinced my nose it's tuberose when drawing that initial comparison. The opening has a freshness, juiciness and brightness that stays for quite a lot of the wear, and for me it's that that sets it apart from MWI. I just find it so uplifting and feminine, playful yet quite refined. A total love!

While I understand the comparison to L'Interdit Rouge, Camelia K is generally more beautiful and has a much different texture to me. It's airy and lifts off the skin, whereas L'Interdit Rouge is sweeter and sticky, as if it's sinking into the skin. When I first sampled Camelia K, it stayed on my coat for weeks afterward. I wasn't mad about it because I find it really pretty and uplifting. It's a lovely and bright bouquet that I'd love to wear as a pick-me-up when I'm feeling depressed, but, given the price, I fear it may not be special enough to justify a full bottle.

I absolutely understand comparing this to L'Interdit, but I would argue that this fragrance is a lot lighter, more complex, deep, and multi-faceted, whereas L'Interdit (as lovely as it is) doesn't really develop on my skin. It's clean, sweet but not sickeningly so, playfully floral, and so-so-so sultry in the drydown. I may be biased since I love white florals, and tuberose in general, but I am definitely adding this one to my collection. I feel it's fairly ageless, appropriate for any season and occasion, and I would love to smell it on a man!

This opens with a blast of sweet bubblegum tuberose, with a spicy and zesty ginger. It then starts to transform into a mix of florals… I pick out rose, tuberose, and orange blossom. There is a juicy quality coming from the blood orange and dragon fruit, I pick up on a pear note that isn’t listed. You get some patchouli in the dry down which is green and dense. The opening smells like L’Inderdit Rouge but then it starts to evolve and come into its own. Great spring summer perfume, lovely quality with about 6-7 hours wear on my skin.

I've been looking for a bubblegum tuberose but every L'Interdit so far has something in it that bugs me: the original edp has too much pear, edt is mainly orange blossom, Rouge it too rootbeer-y and reminds me of La Belle, Intense is too vanillic and nutty... Now by paying the extra 200 € all these "problems" have disappeared :D I love how airy and natural this smells yet still has that strawberry-bubblegum character that I love. It also lasts and projects without being suffocating. Lovely!