Broken Glass is the newest perfume from Seattle-based indie line, Blackbird. It was described to me as a floral/femme fragrance, an unexpected addition to Blackbird’s lineup. I’ve spent a few months trying it. And it’s an odd fragrance because what I’m perceiving is unlike many of the reviews I’ve since read. And this is why I love perfume. There are so many varied perceptions and experiences¹.

The opening of Broken Glass is loud. It’s a slap in the face of angelica which is green, bitter and like celery leaf. The opening is aggressively cool, green and sharp. When I wear it on a humid day, it’s borderline overwhelming. It’s like wearing the perfume equivalent of a 20 foot glass window being shattered. These aldehydes and green leaves are over a juicy cherry-tinged marzipan. The dry-down is like almond flour and a clean white musk with a balsamic greenness.

On me, despite which season I’ve tested it in, I get no florals. At first I thought the hot, humid weather I tried it in was messing with the progression. I’ve since dried it on mild days, cool days, cool and humid days – I’ve emptied the sample. It’s a really green fragrance on me that’s like celery and violet leaves over marzipan². This isn’t a bad thing. It’s different and it’s different than what I expected. The opening comes on sudden, like a sudden force that shatters glass. But, the rest of the fragrance reminds me of like little marzipan treats hidden on a forest floor after a spring rain. Yes, that doesn’t make any sense as a visual. I’m saying that it reminds me of marzipan and cool, wet spring earth.

Notes listed include jasmine, geranium, rose, opopanax, amyris, angelica root, violet leaf, chamomile, davana, bitter almond, cardamom and pink pepper. Launched in 2015. PERFUMER – Aaron Way

Give Broken Glass a try if you like cool, green scents. Or perfumes like Comme des Garcons Series 1 Leaves, Comme des Garcons 2, Andrea Maack Silk, Malle Geranium Pour Monsieur and/or Diptyque Geranium Odorata. And I think if you like any of Blackbird’s previous releases, you’d like this one too. It’s unisex but I think it leans more masculine because of the classic marketed-to-masculine notes like geranium and violet leaf.

It starts out strong but after that, projection is average. Longevity is average.

The 1 oz spray of Broken Glass retails for $88. The 1/3 oz roll-on retails for $38 at Blackbird. Samples are also available for purchase.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Marzipan and cool, wet greens. That sounds weird, but it’s wearable. It’s oddly sort of classic in that “geranium cologne” sort of way; yet, it has an indie twist that makes it modern.

¹This is why I also include the “More Reviews” section in my reviews. There are so many different impressions and I think it’s necessary to read other people’s perceptions when it comes to fragrance. There will be certain bloggers that have tastes more similar to yours but it’s also important to “sniff” perfumes through different points of view.

²I noticed on warmer days, I get more of the angelica (more balsamic green). And on cooler days, I get more of the geranium (more green and lemon-y). Either way, it’s cool and green on me.

Want more reviews? Try…

Now Smell This

Colognoisseur

Notable Scents

Fragrantica – Member reviews

*Disclaimer – Sample provided by the brand. I am not compensated for my review. My opinions are my own. Product pic from the brand. Virna Lisi from www.fanpix.net