The season is oscillating between sticky sunny days and gloomy rainy ones where I live. This fragrance is perfect for either of those days.
THE BACKSTORY: PHLUR was one of those brands I couldn’t escape while scrolling Instagram or YouTube. I finally bit the bullet this year. They have so many interesting scents for you to choose from that I took a while to zero in on one.
I want to reiterate that, like skincare, fragrances are very personal.
THE PACKAGING: I do like the packaging of this perfume. I like the orange glass bottle. I like the atomizer too, it’s not too fine but it’s not something that sputters the potion onto you. While I like the shape of the 50 ml bottle, I like this sleek, cylindrical shape of the 9.5 ml bottle better. The cardboard box it comes in is quite chic, and I like how it has a little flap for you to lift the perfume instead of trying to dig your fingers into it. It just makes things a little bit easier. It’s also travel-friendly, you can keep it in your hang-bag and whip it out as per your needs.
NOTES:
Top Notes: Lemon, Ginger, Black Pepper
Heart Notes: Apple, Tangerine, Jasmine Petals
Base Notes: Amber, Moss
THE PRODUCT: I do like a lot of citrus notes in my perfumes, especially during the spring and summer seasons. I just want something bright, fresh and uplifting to make me want to take the day on.
“Tangerine Boy” is a very photorealistic citrus scent.
It opens with a very punchy, juicy, sour, sharp tangerine and lemon note. I immediately note the spiciness from the ginger and black pepper that follows the tangerine as well. There’s also a bite to it, which I attribute to the apple note. The dry down is very amber-heavy. The note I do not get at all is the jasmine.
I think this is a very casual fragrance, not meant for more serious occasions. It’s more of an everyday scent that you wear to work or to hang out with your pals while grabbing dumplings. I also think the spicy notes in it make it more unisex.
I must also note that this has the potential to be very, very heady. A couple of spritzes right out of the shower does the job for me. Over-spraying this makes me want to vomit. It can be very overwhelming. I like it in smaller bouts and in moderation. Too much of it makes me sick. It also helps that the juice is strong enough to envelope your being in just a couple of sprays. You really don’t need to go overboard.
The longevity is also great, while its sillage is mid at best. I can smell it on myself even after 4 hours and for much longer on clothes.
The vibe of the perfume is such that I picture myself surrounded by pulpy, juicy oranges and spices to bake the most perfect upside-down orange cake. I see myself pouring a glass of orange juice, wearing cotton/linen clothes with my hair tied up. It just perfectly encapsulates the stickiness of summer and how you eat different fruits and drink fresh juice to cool yourself off . To me, summers are simultaneously lively and painfully difficult. But I always miss the season when it flits us by, leaving behind only scents, tastes and memories.
PRICE: $99 USD for 50 ml/$32 USD for 9.5 ml
QUANTITY: Comes in either 50 ml or 9.5 ml bottles
AVAILABILITY: PHLUR, Sephora etc.
♥ OVERALL: I like this enough to try other scents from the house. But I don’t like it enough to repurchase it.
The perfect song for this perfume, haha.
“Tangerine Boy” by PHLUR.
$32
Pros
- Bright, youthful, photorealistic citrus scent.
- Long-lasting.
- Unisex.
Cons
- Availability is an issue.
- Can be overwhelming.
