With so many desserts based oround the orange/chocolate theme, one would expect to see more gourmand perfumes centered around this duo. It seems like a “natural” pairing. Olympic Orchids California Chocolate is an orange and chocolate perfume, but it’s not like some chocolate bar flavored with orange. California Chocolate is like being outside on a sunny, mild day hiding under the shade of a blossoming orange tree, sharing a bar of chocolate with someone that you really like.
California Chocolate smells like citrus chocolate. It opens with a sulfuric grapefruit and neroli over a dark chocolate liquor. The top is bright, citrusy and effervescent and reminds me a little of a grapefruit soda like Squirt. The star of the top is the grapefruit and sunny citrus. And it wears as like orange blossoms and bitter, dark chocolate. The dry-down of California Chocolate is amazing. It’s like this creamy milk chocolate with dry, warm woods. It’s one of the best “chocolates” that I’ve ever smelled in perfume. It smells like chocolate but not like you covered yourself in chocolate syrup. The woods and patchouli make this smell like perfume instead of an ice cream parlor.
Notes include wild orange, grapefruit, yuzu, white cognac, neroli, dark chocolate, patchouli, musk and Bourbon vanilla. Launched in 2013. PERFUMER – Ellen Covey
Give California Chocolate a try if you like the idea of a citrus chocolate perfume. Or if you like perfumes like Arquiste Anima Dulcis, Scent by Alexis Body Made Luminous, Payard Bergamot Truffle, Jo Malone London Bitter Orange & Chocolate and/or Missoni Missoni. California Chocolate is unisex and I think it would work well in any season/climate.
Projection is average. Longevity is above average in the parfum concentration.
California Chocolate comes in a few sizes. The 1 oz parfum retails for $65 at Olympic Orchids and Blackbird. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Dark chocolate with citrus and citrus blossoms. If you are looking for a sophisticated chocolate perfume, this is one to sample.
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*Disclaimer – Sample provided by the brand. I am not financially compensated for my reviews. My opinions are my own. Product pic from Blackbird Ballard. Lana Turner pic from LIFE.
I think I’m unfairly prejudiced against what I perceive as gourmand perfumes, but this line has a one-up on that because I love Cafe V. It wears as more chocolatey than coffee-y on me, too, so I will definitely have to give California Chocolate a try! Also orange blossom is a favorite, so there’s that.
Basically I’m totally sold.
I really think you should try this one based on knowing what you like. It’s a really, really good chocolate perfume. The orange blossom and grapefruit is great in this. PLUS that base. The base is so awesome.
I agree with your comments. I liked this more than I thought I would and got the 5 mL spray at the Seattle chocolate and perfume show last year. To me it’s definitely not too chocolatey (or cloying) and IS a perfume. I’m not sure that non-perfumistas would be able to recognize the chocolate note if you didn’t tell them about it beforehand. That bright citrus opening is really fun. Overall, a unique one in my collection that I like to wear on weekends. Now that I live in CA, even more fitting. 🙂
It’s no cloying at all and honestly I expected that from reading the notes. I thought orange blossoms and chocolate would wear me but this doesn’t.
It is a really surprising yet wearable fragrance. And I bet it does pair nicely with Californian sunshine!
Victoria, what a great review! Thank you. I think you really managed to capture everything that I was aiming for in California Chocolate.
It’s a great perfume. I want all the people out there that think they dislike gourmands to give it a wearing!