Being in Seattle, I often take for granted our coffee culture. I thought by now that “coffee culture” would be nationwide, but it’s not. When I travel, finding a good cup of coffee is almost impossible (even in some metropolitan areas). In some areas, even finding coffee is difficult unless you’re willing to drink Dunkin’ Donuts (which I admit, when you have a caffeine headache and haven’t slept, is some damn fine coffee). The amount of coffee in Seattle is excessive but that’s fine with me. I have an addiction to feed. Olympic Orchids Café V is a fragrance inspired by Seattle coffee shops and for those in the know, a coffee shop on Capitol Hill (that’s our hippest gayborhood). Café V really is a romanticized version of your favorite local coffee shop.
Café V opens with green cardamom and leather harness boots. And there is a hint of popcorn. You can call this espresso but it reminds me of unsalted, no butter popcorn which totally works in this composition. There’s a richness, a darkness to Café V that reminds me of dried cherries covered in the blackest, darkest chocolate. The heart of this fragrance is Turkish coffee with cream with a side of a dark, bitter chocolate bar. It dries down to dry vanilla. It’s a cozy fragrance for a rainy day. And rainy days…that’s sooo Seattle.
Notes listed include espresso, dark cacao, vanilla, cardamom and leather. Launch date 2013. PERFUMER – Ellen Covey
Give Café V a try if you like coffee fragrances. Or if you like perfumes like Bond No. 9 New Haarlem, Ava Luxe Cafe Noir, Montale Intense Cafe, Mugler A*Men, Penhaligon’s Endymion and/or Nez a Nez Atelier d’Artiste. Cafe V is unisex but it does lean more masculine. It’s for anyone wanting a “dark gourmand”.
Projection and longevity are average.
The 1 oz bottle retails for $65 at Olympic Orchids. Other sizes are also available.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Turkish coffee and the darkest chocolate. Gourmand fans should pay attention to this one.
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Fragrantica – Member reviews
I thought the smokiness was a little overwhelming the first time I tried Cafe V, but have liked it more on subsequent tries. Proof you don’t have to be a coffee drinker to appreciate it (although it helps if you enjoy the smell of coffee).
I really think this would be a great one for someone that wears something like Mugler A*Men…it’s strong but not obnoxious. Like you, I was a little overwhelmed my first few times but mainly because I didn’t expect such a “realistic” coffee note. After a few wears, it really grew on me.
Oh, I love the smell of coffee but I almost feel like I would “blend in” too much if I wore it around here!
I don’t get it. It smells like coffee with a hint of popcorn? I’m sorry, I am having a hard time imagining that.
It’s all subjective 🙂 That’s why samples are so amazing!
Victoria, Thank you for the lovely review! I totally understand the perception of a “popcorn” note in Cafe V. If Lynda were to think of “biscotti” instead of “popcorn”, it makes sense. It’s the starchy stuff in the bakery case, so popcorn would fall in that category. As you point out, everyone has their own unique associations.
Yeah, biscotti would have sounded much better! It’s just warm and starchy.
It’s funny because I keep hearing perfumistas complaining about the lack of popcorn in the newest Etat Libre d’Orange release! I guess popcorn is something that some people actually want in perfume 🙂
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