To make a long story short, I had a bad experience with gin that left me avoiding it for years. Unlike peppermint schnapps¹, I was never angry with gin. Gin is like a perfume. It’s often flavored with stuff that most Americans aren’t ever going to know the flavor of – like orris root, juniper and cubeb. For something so popular, gin is rather “exotic”. It has a flavor and that flavor is liking drinking perfume. For years I’ve been searching for a perfume that smells like gin. And not just gin by itself, a gin and tonic. These perfumes left me disappointed. They were a good idea but seemed to lack in the “feel” of a gin and tonic. I wanted something that smelled like warm summer evenings on rooftop patios. I’ve found that with Art de Parfum Gin and Tonic.
Gin and Tonic really does remind me of a gin and tonic. It opens with gin on ice. It has a metallic bitterness that reminds me of quinine water. The fragrance cool, bitter and citrus-y. Unlike other perfumes I’ve sampled claiming to be inspired by this drink, Art de Parfum’s actually delivers. This opening smells just like the drink. It’s like you can smell the ice, lime wedge and a cucumber slice. The rest of the wear is a modern citrus, heavy on the lemon and modern amber (think ambroxan). The dry-down adds some green vetiver into the lemon-amber mix.
Like the drink, Gin and Tonic can be enjoyed year-round but I really see this one working the best in summer. It’s cool, refreshing and is a nice alternative to traditional citrus eau de colognes.
Notes listed include juniper berries, grapefruit, lemon zest, cucumber, gin, ambergris, cedar, vetiver, white musk and incense. Launched in 2016.
Give Gin & Tonic a try if you are looking for a perfume that smells like a gin and tonic! Or perfumes like Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Femme, Yves Rocher Naturelle, Calvin Klein CK2 and/or Escentric Molecules Escentric 01.
Projection and longevity are average.
The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $135 at Indigo Perfumery. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – It’s true to its name: a gin and tonic. It’s cool, bitter and refreshing. It costs more than a gin and tonic but won’t leave you with a hangover.
¹Peppermint schnapps can go to hell…where it belongs.
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Perfume do Dia (Review in both Portuguese and English)
G&T is one of my favorite drinks! Especially with great quality ingredients. And yes, gin is extremely perfume-y. I haven’t really sought out a perfume counterpart, but I do happen to have a bottle of Demeter Gin & Tonic, which lasts about 30 seconds, but it’s fun for those 30 seconds once a year. 🙂 Have you tried it? Was it one of the ones that you didn’t like?
Oh, I have that! I like it. It reminds me more of a martini-y like gin. That’s probably the wrong description because it’s still really citrus/fresh, but it’s less “bright” than this Art de Parfum one. But, geez, it doesn’t last. So, what I do is use my 4 oz bottle as a fancy linen spray. On fabric, it lingers for like 60 seconds 😉
I’m glad to see someone else hates peppermint schnapps with a fiery passion. What an awful drink.
I may have to give this perfume a shot–it seems like a perfect gift for one of my friends who is both a craft bartende and an inveterate gin-drinker, and her birthday is fast approaching. Thanks for the review!
It is the absolute worst. I’m sure we could say that about any shchnapps but I have a special hatred for peppermint schnapps. Truly awful.
Oh, I’d actually love to hear the take of something like this from a craft bartender! That’d be such a cool perspective to have.
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[…] – Now I can indulge in all the gin and tonics that I want without any hangover! Art de Parfum has a perfume that smells like a refreshing G&T: cucumbers, lemons and […]
[…] – Now I can indulge in all the gin and tonics that I want without any hangover! Art de Parfum has a perfume that smells like a refreshing G&T: cucumbers, lemons and […]
[…] – Now I can indulge in all the gin and tonics that I want without any hangover! Art de Parfum has a perfume that smells like a refreshing G&T: cucumbers, lemons and […]
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