Domain by Mary Kay

Macintosh Apple, Desert Sage.
Juniper Berry, Ice Mint.
Black Vanilla Bean, Musk.

I've worn Domain by Mary Kay enough times now to confidently state that I really don't like this scent. I will say however that I have warmed up to it "some" since my first wearing.

The opening of Domain is aromatic and spicy. I wouldn't go as far as to say it's a fougere, but it is closer to the fern family than anything else I can think of.

The "Apple" rendition is rather generic and commonplace in today's offerings. It's not a bad version, just uneventful and done to death the last 10 years. It's overshadowed, after a few minutes, by the Sage and Juniper Berry. So, the salutation of Domain is a mundane suggestion of fruit accented by herbs, subtle spices and the insinuation of wood.

I feel compelled to state again that Domain isn't a bad scent. It simply does nothing for me and the overall aroma isn't exactly something I want to smell of for hours on end. It boils down to a matter of taste I suppose.

From the opening of aromatics and spice to the subtle unveiling of Musk in the base and drydown, Domain remains dry and dusty like the desert on my skin. The feel is "sparse" and sans any frills. It also unravels in a linear fashion, so even the term "unravel" is inappropriate. It changes little from initial application and if what you experience in the beginning isn't to your liking, then chances are you aren't going to enjoy the rest of the ride.

Sillage is average and longevity is approximately 4 hours plus on me. A neutral rating from Aromi for Domain by Mary Kay Cosmetics. As always, a sample wear is highly recommended.

Comments

La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme by L'Artisan Parfumeur

I read many reviews before or after I do my own and I seem to be at complete odds with the house of L'Artisan. I have previously said on basenotes that for me, L'Artisan Parfumeur is the most over-rated house I have come across. La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme does nothing to sway that opinion. Yet another linear, floral dominant scent that does nothing to stir me up or inspire me in any way. This house has "pleasant" nailed down to an art form......but damn...can't we go beyond that? The only attempt at polarization so far has been Dzongkha ....and I found it a jumbled mess. At these prices, move me, anger me, hate me.......but please don't bore me. Extreme in a nutshell is a toned down tuberose with assorted "blossom" thrown in the mix. Is it bad? No, it's an acceptable floral scent that's very timid and just lays on my skin smelling like....well....a toned down version of tuberose with blossom this or that added to it. I'm almost a...

Black Suede by Avon

Nutmeg, Clove, Amber, Musk, Moss, Wood Notes. Yes.........I am reviewing one of the Rodney Dangerfield's of fragrance. Black Suede has been gracing medicine cabinets, for better or worse, since 1980 my friends. If you're expecting me to inform you ( like others may have already ) that Black Suede is a nasty scrubber, you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're expecting a glowing review claiming it's a diamond in the rough, you won't hear that from me either. I will say though that Black Suede doesn't deserve the hate it's received and most of that is due to snobbery aimed at Avon products in general. I kid you not when I state that a close relative to this fragrance is Cacharel Pour L'Homme. The array of spice in both ensure comparison, but the "smoother" of the two is Black Suede due to its implementation of Amber. While wearing Black Suede, one can detect a hint of "drugstore". That quality doesn't manife...

Chanel copying Guerlain. Why?

Last month, I had the pleasure of trying Comète by Chanel, the latest addition to their prestigious Les Exclusifs line. This fragrance follows the release of Le Lion in 2020, another standout in the same collection. Like Le Lion , Comète is a beautiful perfume that captures the essence of Chanel’s refined elegance. However, both fragrances bear a striking resemblance to classic creations by Guerlain, leading me to ponder the direction Chanel is taking. Chanel has a great fragrance history. Not as hallowed and old as Guerlain but for past three decades it has far outshone Guerlain. In my view, no other perfume house has come close to Chanel’s excellence in this century. This makes their recent approach of echoing Guerlain classics somewhat perplexing. Have they run out of fresh ideas? Is Roger Dove at the helm of their fragrance division, or have they perhaps shifted towards AI-driven creation ? For those unfamiliar with these recent Chanel releases, Comète is a modern interpretati...

Il Mondo di Odore

Search This Blog