Skip to main content

Sweet Redemption by Kilian

Orange Blossom, Vanilla, Benzoin, Opoponax, Myrrh, Incense.

My first thought after wearing Sweet Redemption is that it leans slightly feminine, but definitely not enough to dissuade me. That's simply the result of Blossom and the oriental theme being the bedrock of this fragrance. After just a few minutes, I am convinced that either gender can successfully pull this off.

Mrs. Aromi gave me her usual truncated and comical review of what it smelled like on my skin. Her response was immediate and through pursed lips and furrowed brow, she exclaimed that it smelled like extremely pungent cotton candy that was at least a week old. I cannot say I share her sentiment, but I always get a kick out of her opinions.


Sweet Redemption is a very substantial scent. There's contrasts here as the blossom seems to grate ever so slightly against the myrrh. The spicy quality that lives in Sweet Redemption is supple due to the balsam that is prominent. The smokiness here is of a different sort and ( to me ) is more hazy than anything. This implementation isn't like the more obvious renditions. It never permeates and is tuned more for accent.

After numerous wearings, I'm impressed with the blossom. It doesn't go over the top, but is ever-present through all stages of Sweet Redemption. It stop short of rendering this too sweet and the myrrh seems to keep it in balance. More linear than I expected, the volume dictates the variations and not until the drydown do I notice any real shift in prominent notes. I have to state that the myrrh really comes to life on my skin and perhaps others will have a different result. The top and heart accords aren't exactly what I'd call my cup of tea, but as it stands, I find I like Sweet Redemption more with each wearing.

The sillage is deceiving. Apply too much of Sweet Redemption and you truly have the potential to clear a room. The aspect I respect most is the sweet, bitter and balsamic nature of this fragrance. It's a controlled struggle tuned to near perfection.

As always with me and by Kilian's, the prices are killers. I haven't yet found one I enjoy so much as to throw my cares to the wind and make a purchase. A few are extremely good, but unless I get a bargain somewhere, I'll choose to do without.

That carries over to Sweet Redemption as well. This is a substantial scent. The longevity is as impressive as the presence. Some will love this and others will have a reaction akin to Mrs. Aromi. I fall in between those categories and can say without hesitation that I am in like with this fragrance. Thumbs up from Aromi with the recommendation to sample first.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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...

Teatro Alla Scala - Krizia

I tried Comete by Chanel today and wanted to write about how Chanel is going by the way of Roger Dove - copying old masterpieces. I did not know where to post that and then I realized I have been neglecting this blog. When I logged in I saw an unfinished post I wrote a year ago about Teatro Alla Scala by Krizia. Teatro is the best full bodied floral - better than any Chanel or Patou. Even better than Gucci L'Arte.  A brief background: Teatro Alla Scala is an Opera theatre in Milan. The bottle's design is an homage to the theatre and the perfume an homage to its sophisticated patrons. I wanted to write a symphony for it. Maybe some day. For now here are few notes I wrote comparing EDT vs EDP.  And if you don't have Teatro, your wardrobe is incomplete Rose, Jasmine, Tuberose. Jammy berries (more in EDP) . Honey note listed is probably the jammy part Vetiver & moss - more in EDT Rose and carnation is more than jasmine and that is what separates it from other florals like J...