Living in a place where some days the air is too difficult to breathe and in the summer the streets smell like rotting garbage, it’s hard not to view an island in the Caribbean covered in rain forests and sandy beaches as anything but paradise. Because if we measure paradise by fruits and fauna, Puerto Rico could be paradise¹. The Exotic Island Perfumer is an indie perfume brand based in Puerto Rico. This delights me because I want more perfumes in my life with a Puerto Rican perspective. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when it comes to florals, Juan (the perfumer) is some sort of floral genius. The brand has just launched two new floral-centric perfumes, Orquídea Absoluta and Gardenia Absoluta. I couldn’t wait to try them since I can’t really think of a brand that does “HUGE florals” better than Exotic Island Perfumer and these have been the first new releases from this brand in years.
Orquídea Absoluta opens as this bouquet of the headiest lilies with a cherry cough syrup. There’s also a faint spicy, smokiness that almost smells like cinnamon incense (like Egyptian kyphi) smoke trailing into the room. The lilies smell like indolic white florals with a cool, camphorous stem. The heart is like a spicy lily, a heady floral with nutmeg and sour lemon zest. Hours after wearing this, I smelled a dry, woodsy and musky fragrance that I couldn’t place. It occurred to me that I was wearing Orquídea Absoluta. This huge, hothouse of lilies turned into a fragrance that reminded me of being lost in the depths of a deep, dark forest. If I had to describe this fragrance in one word, I’d say it’s “sultry”.
Orquídea Absoluta has not disappointed me. It’s a spicy lily with a narcotic quality that keeps me wanting more. On a daily basis, I don’t wear huge florals like this because frankly, they feel too “special” for my mundane, daily life. This is a ridiculous thought process because if I feel like smelling like acres and acres of orchids growing in paradise, then I should just go for it. What I love about this brand is that it goes there. They’re huge, realistic florals that aren’t for the floral-shy. Wearing these really does make any mundane situation feel more special!
Notes listed include four types of Cattleya lilies, lichen, moss and Tonquin musk. Launched in 2016. PERFUMER – Juan Perez
Give Orquidea Absoluta a try if you like heady florals or Asiatic lily perfumes. Or perfumes like Serge Lutens Un Lys, Donna Karan Gold, Yosh Stargazer, Tom Ford Shanghai Lily and/or Dolce & Gabbana Anthology La Lune.
Projection and longevity are above average.
The 1/4 oz travel size retails for $40 at Exotic Island Perfumer. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Spicy, indolic lilies. It’s another great floral from this brand!
¹Listen, I’m not totally naive, I’m aware of the problems but let’s just say so many of our world’s problems are man-made, right? The Caribbean is a gorgeous place.
Want more reviews? Try…
Fragrantica – Ida’s review
Ooh, I’m going to have to try this! You are right, he does wonderful florals. Juan’s flor de Azteca is one of my favorite perfumes!
I LURVE Flor de Azteca! As far as a lily fragrance, this one is exceptional. I like lily perfumes but they can vary like some are fruitier, some are spicier and some are more like a white floral. Really, this is what I was hoping Tom Ford Shanghai Lily would be like.
But, anyway, I haven’t tried the other new one but I can’t wait. He does such beautiful things with florals.
Initially, this didn’t sound very appealing, but I am an owner/fan of Yosh Stargazer, so this may be worth looking into….I’ll be sure to seek out this line of fragrances. Unfortunately, most lily perfumes turn vinegary on me, but I’m always on the lookout for “the one” that works with my chemistry.
The name makes me chuckle. It would be a great Drag name.
Seriously, this would be a great drag name.
Sooo…a lot of lilies go ham-y on me. Which oddly makes me think of pickled vegetables as well. Lilies are tricky which is why I’m always like “try in store or get a sample!”. Not that I advocate blind-buying but for real, lilies are the worst to blind-buy. Anyway, this one has other stuff going on so it doesn’t come across like that. I also like that “dark” dry-down which, I think, makes it a lot easier for most of us to wear.
Big white florals can be problematic for me. Yet I really like Iris Nobile by Acqua di Parma which is not so much an Iris as a honkin’ big white floral. It was one of those when I first smelled I only thought “ohhhhh…..YES” Am looking to get my second bottle. Would love to try this line. The gardenia would be fabulous I bet. And I think wearing perfume is part attitude. You are special. So wear those florals!
Same for me. I must try them…and try them again before deciding if I like them or not. When they work, they WORK. But, there are many that I’ve sampled that did not agree with me at all.
Slightly off topic but I bought a little gardenia plant that is now blooming and smells like the most majestic thing in the world. If Juan’s is even 75% close to this real plant, he’s 100% a genius according to me!
Gardenia plants are so gorgeous — those beautiful white flowers, glossy green leaves and that most wonderful smell. Enjoy, enjoy.
I wore a gardenia corsage for my oh-so-many-years-ago grad(uation) dance. (I believe you call them proms in the US). Sadly they turn brown very quickly if they are touched. Probably better as a wrist corsage. Or pinned in the hair.
As for any of the Exotic Island scents, I’m going to have to borrow a US shipping address from my brother-in-law and try the sample pack — 6 2ml samples plus a bonus sample of the Orquidea.
They are gorgeous. And those blossoms are very sensitive. They have a short “shelf-life” (I’ve learned that). They go brown but still have a fragrance.
I wish international shipping was cheaper and easier for everyone, but I also understand to some extend why it’s as a difficult as it is. Enjoy!
[…] scents. On my trip, I traveled with a few samples of orange blossoms and white florals. I wore Exotic Island Perfumer Orquidea Absoluta, the perfect dramatic lily for Mexico. I needed a big orange blossom like Houbigant Orangers en […]