Brainfreeze - Versace's Bright Crystal

Every once in a while, you come across a perfume which has an intriguing set of notes, which excites you and at the same time, you wonder how that will work. I liked the notes list, but I wasn't sure how the thick sweetness of notes such as peony and pomegranate would work out with slightly greener notes, like yuzu and acajou (cashew tree), and the rich creamy-pink smell of magnolia and lotus flower. Fruity-florals are ubiquitous, but this had an interesting enough take that I wanted to try.

On a card, Bright Crystal comes across initially like a lovely fruit sorbet with orchid garnish, settling down into an outright tropical experience with none of the typical heaviness associated with tropical fragrances. On my skin, though, the experience was vastly different. I got frozen grapefruit with turbinado sugar right off the bat, but within 10 minutes that "iced accord" note takes over everything and I was surrounded by citrus-punch-Slurpee. It doesn't take long for the iced accord to really mimic the sensation of brainfreeze. It was quite the overdose, and it's a pity because I enjoy quite a few other Versace compositions (The Dreamer being my favorite).

I do wonder how this scent would work on someone with different chemistry. Aldehydes are notoriously tricky on my skin, amplified to a surprising degree. My skin turns a sparkle in a scent into the equivalent of an uncomfortably bright strobe light. So if you can wear Chanel No. 5 with grace, this scent would probably do marvelously on you. If you, like me, avoid Chanels, this wouldn't suit you at all.