Pearl

I bought a 2-ml sample vial of Pearl because I had read that it had a good fig, and Fig Extasy was not available in sample form. I just sprayed it a few minutes ago, and I'm enjoying it so far. It reminded me of going to some of the enclosed gardens at the Missouri Botanical Garden, particularly the humid, green, fertile scent of the Climatron. The musks are very typically Montale, which means that this will project like a beast long after you, the delivery system, have gone anosmic. I think this wouuld be a beautiful fragrance on a man or woman alike. I definitely pick up on the fig, a clean and milky sweetness, but there's a lot more going on besides fig and musk. I also pick up on the green apple (possibly white peach, too, but it's a very crisp and bright fruit scent, not the syrupy Trésor peach) and possibly a bit of jasmine, but I can't say I smell the rose. I do, rather confusingly, smell cedar or another wood, but it's not listed, so I suppose it must be the ambergris and violet somehow. Or maybe the fig has a slightly cedarish scent that I never noticed before.

I agree this share resemblance to other mancera fragrances, musky garden, very toned down roses vanille + green fig leaves. But I don't mind at all. Green, fresh soapy rosey musk with green fig. At first I wasn't impressed, but after wearing it twice, I like it very much. I don't have many fresh clean fragrances for cold weather and this fits the bill perfectly. Pearl performs, projects and lasts. Very versatile from bed to office or just hanging out at home. Doesn't scream for attention, but it's there and smells expensive soapy. The green notes last a lot longer on clothes compared to skin, so if you like greenness, spray your clothes lightly as well.

I'm in love with this. This is what the word "niche" means to me. It's quite odd but so soooo beautiful. It manages to be sharp, green, natural smelling and juicy sweet at the same time. It's basically spring in a bottle. It opens with strong and scratchy green apple and bergamot and then the fig comes out to play and it gives it the most believable fruity sweetness I've ever smelled in a perfume. But the last bits of the magic come out a bit later: the rose literally slowly blooms. Wonderful composition. Sillage and longevity are pretty decent.

The first time I wore this I was kind of confused of how strong it smelled. I live in the Caribbean so I have not been able to experience the "shift" some people have mentioned when they use it on Winter. At first, to me, it smelled like the most oppressive grapefruit and rose smell ever...and I had to go out and did not want to get out of the house smelling like that but in the time it took for me to actually leave, it turned out into this lovely powdery musky fragrance that lasted for what seems a lifetime.

I got a Discovery Mancera Sample kit yesterday and thought to try it out today with Pearl. This fragrance was absolutely beautiful. I don't believe I ever had a fig note in a fragrance. It was definitely distinct and gorgeous. Excellent sillage, a few squirts is all you need. It lasted well into 12 hours and I could still detect it on my wrist. I felt like Wonder Woman. I am definitely sold on the first try. I can't wait to explore the rest. When I get through, I am sure I will be splurging for a full bottle.