Sintra

If you're a fan of LDBS and are hoping for a similar scent, you should definitely test first. It's beautiful, goes through many evolutions but it never comes close to the marshmallow/caramel overdose. It starts with a lovely sharp green petitgrain/neroli note, somewhat earthy at first (fresh green hay-like to me, not straw-like). That green note persists throughout, that needs to be said and that's why you need to test. For some it's sharp, for others it's just present - but it is present. The marshmallow gives more airiness than sweet, milk is the main gourmand note and it subdues both the orange blossom and neroli but still allows for that gorgeous green note; that's what makes Sintra stand out among a field of sweet, creamy perfumes. The gourmand aspects of it are very wearable and don't get boring after a while bc it's not linear. I'm always happy to catch the scent throughout my day, it evolves - making it enjoyable to smell a different facet. If this has ambroxan, as other reviews state, it's a very judicious use of it bc it doesn't bother me like it usually does with a scratchy, bothersome odor. If you want a gourmand-ish scent that wouldn't embarrass you to wear in public, try this.

I adore Sintra. It's definitely an interesting fragrance, which is partly why I like it, and I can see why the strong pettigrain in the open can be a turn off. I personally enjoy pettigrain, but it's quite strong on first spray. The beauty of Sintra is in the dry down. The marshmallow and caramel combo sounds like it would be overwhelmingly cloying, but it dries to a much softer, creamy sweetness. The pettigrain is still there to ground it, the cinnamon adds a savory aspect, and of course the neroli and orange blossom share the stage with the sweet notes. These are some of my fave notes and I think this blend is wonderful, somehow alluring in its uniqueness until it quiets into a sweeter softness. I'm a sucker for orange blossom, so it's no surprise I like Sintra! It's a gorgeous spring bouquet, and brings back memories of my own visit to this charming Portuguese town a few years ago.

Sintra opens with an oddly unsettling burst that immediately set off the Scrubber Alarm in my head: a sticky, overripe fruit jam clashing with the faintest hints of marshmallow, all muddled into a spicy, grassy mess. Imagine stumbling upon a discarded treat in the grass, half-melted and confused in its sweetness. But stay with it. As the scent unfolds, something much more elegant annd blended emerges. The sweetness gives way to a warmer, woody embrace, the syrupy fruitiness backing off to make space for a creamy cinnamon swirl that feels almost edible. Beneath it all, there’s a soft, powdered sugar and a strong, comforting vanillic musk. Like a spiced cinnamon croissant cooling by the fire. A little bit of a rollercoaster, but once it lands, Sintra is a cozy, vanilla-forward warmth that’s not hard to enjoy.

I didn’t realize when I sprayed this I was choosing to forever smell like Sintra. This girl clings in the most beautiful way. I am an avid Love Don’t Be Shy wearer and I own Oriana. This perfume I find is more niche with its heavy Petit Grain note. I enjoy the note. It reminds me of the men’s department in the Hudson’s department store. The dry down is the best part it is heavily sweet like the ice cream shop that was adjacent to the men’s department. I also am able to pick up the floral aspect which attempts to balance the heavy sweetness but for me it doesn’t it just adds to its depth.

I got this as a sample and initially 30 seconds in I thought this perfume was okay. The initial smell I got was orange blossom which is weird because it’s not in the perfume notes. A couple of minutes later I kept smelling my wrist because it smelled so good! As the perfume sits, the caramel, floral and sweet notes blend together so harmoniously it’s was hard to distinguish them. The floral to me was the most dominant though. I just bought the full size! I think this perfume would be amazing for summer and spring. It kind of reminds me of Lira Xerjoff in terms of its sweetness.