Perfume Reviews
I've been on the hunt for a signature fragrence for a while now and have tried hundreds of samples. I figured I would log my thoughts to keep better track of everything I've tried. I don't have a very good sense of smell, which I think is holding me back lmao. I'm looking for something special, I don't want to smell like everyone else. I like floral scents (particularly jasmine), and anything with a strange name and description I will impulse pick up. I've sorted this haul from best first impression, to worst, and have indicated in the review if I feel like a wear test is going to happen.
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Perfumery: Kerosene
Made in Michigan
Retail Price: 100ml $164
Star rating: 4.25/5☆
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Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: coffee beans, vanilla, benzoin, tonka, sap, amber
I really enjoy this scent! On first sniff it gives maple syrup, which would probably make you think that it could be too sweet or young feeling, but it dissapates into a really mature warm scent. I almost get some tobacco notes (probably from the tonka), which gives the olfactory experience of walking past someone smoking outside of a diner. I think this is a really interesting alternative to vanilla scents. It is a strong scent, so I'm curious to see if it wears aggresively. My husband did say he thought it was more of a candle scent, which I think is a valid critique.
Dirty Flower Factory
Perfumery: Kerosene
Made in Michigan
Retail Price: 100ml $164
Star rating: 4/5☆
Dirty Flower Factory
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: jasmine, rose, orange blossom, pepper corns, chili pepper, sandalwood, ambergris (a waxy substance from sperm whale intestines), musk
This is closer to the jasmine scent I am searching for (see review of Jasmine Freak for more detail). I don't think I really pick up on any of the deeper notes of pepper or musk. It's very floral, and I'm kind of hunting for "floral with a twist," because I'm looking for something unique. It was my husband's immediate favorite, and I am currently wear testing it. It's been about 2 hours as I'm writing this and it's faint but still perceptible to me, which is good because I have a weak sense of smell. I normally can't smell a perfume on myself almost immediately, so it does seem to have some staying power.
Rhizome 07
Perfumery: Rhizome
Made in Italy
Retail Price: 100ml $125
Star rating: 4/5☆
Rhizome 07
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: bergamot, red mandarin, rhubarb, saffron, tuberose, ylang ylang, patchouli, iris, cocoa beans, suede accord, precious woods, amber, musk
This one was intriguing on first sniff! It's definitely giving "floral scent with a twist," which makes it immediately more unisex to my nose. It has some complex fruity undertones, without being overwhelmingly sweet. I plan to circle back and wear this one for a day to see how it wears. If it wears well, I would consider purchasing the full size.
Walk the Sea
Perfumery: Kerosene
Made in Michigan
Retail Price: 100ml $164
Star rating: 4/5☆
Walk the Sea
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: sea salt, white florals, cedar, ambergris (a waxy substance from sperm whale intestines), musk
This perfume inspired this entire haul! I frequent the subreddit r/perfumesthatfeellike which gives perfume recommendations based on pictures, different medias, etc. Someone (this post) asked for a recommendation for freaky perfumes and this one was in the top comment hehe. Anyways, I had to sniff the cum perfume so here we are. Anyways, it does not smell like cum (fortunately? unfortunately?). It is a really nice salty floral. I would describe it as complex and pretty, but in a subtle way. I think its a really interesting light and nuanced scent. I do think that since it's so subtle it might be something you would need to top off throughout the day. I wore it for a couple hours last night and I did stop smelling it pretty quickly, which would be my only complaint.
Sirenide
Perfumery: Beaufort London
Made in Great Britain
Retail Price: 50ml $175
Star rating: 4/5☆
Sirenide
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: blue flag iris, water hawthorn, bitter almond, aniseed, water lily, pink lotus, ambergris (a waxy substance from sperm whale intestines), cedar atlas, woodruff, pinseal
Overwhelmingly clean scent. Almost has a spicy end note. I think it's unique, on first sniff it didn't really remind me of anything I've smelled before (which to me is a plus), clean floral and I will be wear testing.
Blood Spider Orchids
Perfumery: Regime Des Fleurs
Made in ???
Retail Price: 75ml $275
Star rating: 3.75/5☆
Blood Spider Orchids
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: cinnamon, smoked clove, nutmeg, frankincense, Egyptian jasmine, patchouli, tonka, benzoin Siam, blood cedar
I had an interesting journey with this perfume. On initial sniff, I can only describe it as it smelled like perfume. To me, I don't want to smell like perfume, I want to smell like the notes of the perfume, if that makes sense. However, once it started to dissapate, I started picking up on the cinnamon, clove, nutmeg spice notes, which to me are not "traditional" perfume top notes. So, as it matured, it got more interesting and warm. I think it would be a nice winter scent, because of the scent profile. I'm not super interested in having seasonal signature scents, but if you are, this could be a good fall/winter option. I am interested in wear testing this.
Morel map
Perfumery: Clue
Made in Chicago
Retail Price: 30ml $140
Star rating: 3.5/5☆
Morel Map
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: birch leaf, balsam fir needle, red currant, Wisconsin wood violet, violet leaf, galbanum, morel mushrooms, oakmoss, dead elm tree, forest floor
Very much a green scent. It is a more subtle fir scent than I've experienced with other similar scents (I'm thinking of Imaginary Author's Capre Heartache). It is green but with a kind of atmospheric and fresh impression. Almost like a more feminine twist on traditional masculine scents somehow. For some reason, my husband took a sniff of this and announced it was very peppery. I don't get any pepper notes. I also am not afraid of pepper, so I don't think it's a negative. I intend to wear test this. I don't anticipate it wearing particularly amazing enough for me to buy the full version, but I will update.
Jasmine Freak
Perfumery: Room 1015
Vegan, Made in France
Retail Price: 100ml $155
Star rating: 3.25/5☆
Jasmine Freak
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: mango, black pepper, black currant, sweet orange, bourbon ylang ylang, jasmine Egypt, tuberose India, musk, cashmere wood
This almost smells the way I want it to! I had a jasmine plant in law school that when it would flower it would fill my room with such a delicious scent and it would legitimately make me feel so happy and safe in my tiny little dorm room. On first impression, this perfume is reading too sweet for me, probably because of the mango top note. Also, this scent is supposedly unisex, and without furthering gender norms, I wouldn’t say this has any traditionally masculine notes. Sweet and floral just aren't what I would expect from a unisex fragrence, but that's my bias. Additionally, any time I smell a perfume that's overwhelmingly sweet, it makes me think it'd be better suited for the youths.
Fig Me Up
Perfumery: Mancera
Made in France
Retail Price: 120ml $200
Star rating: 3/5☆
Fig Me Up
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: Mediterranean fig leaves, green rhubarb, violet, creamy fig milk, oud, sandalwood, plum, geranium, toffee, tonka beans, tobacco, white musk
This is another perfume that I think I liked the concept of without evaluating if I actually like fruit-forward scents lol. Unfortunately, I think I associate fruity scents with Bath and Body Works body sprays, not expensive perfumes. It is a clean and fresh take on a fruity scent, like it wouldn't be an offensive choice. I will say I'm not picking up any of the deeper notes (tobacco, toffee, musk), its all fruit to me, but maybe on an extended wear it would mature a little into a scent I'd like more.
Pretty Machine
Perfumery: Kerosene
Made in Michigan
Retail Price: 100ml $164
Star rating: 2.5/5☆
Pretty Machine
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: bergamot, lemon, lime, neroli, linden blossom, orange blossom, jasmine, rose, vetiver, musk
This is another clean floral. However, the citrus notes really don't do it for me. I think I have too strong of an association with lemon and cleaning products, that again this makes me think it could be a better hand sanitizer scent than perfume. I don't dislike it, I just don't see it as something I would spray all over my body.
Pear Pavlova
Perfumery: French Cowboy
Vegan, Made in France
Retail Price: 100ml $140
Star rating: 2.5/5☆
Pear Pavlova
Sniffed by Danny Debito, December 10, 2025
Notes: pear, meringue, whipped cream, pink peppercorn, bitter almond, jasmine, ambrette seed, musk
My initial impression is that it's giving green jolly rancher. And for whatever reason that makes me have the feel like this would make a good hand sanitizer scent, but not a great perfume scent. It does mellow as it dissapates and you get some of the "milkier" "creamier" notes, which gets rid of the initial strong sour impression. Ultimately, I think it's reading a little young for me.