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Sonoma Scent Studio Fig Tree EDP Perfume Review

November 1, 2011

Sonoma Scent Studio Fig Tree Perfume

I love fig fragrances. I own more than enough and I’m still searching for new ones. Last month, Sonoma Scent Studio launched Fig Tree and I was eager to try it. Fig is such a “happy memory” scent for me. It reminds me of my childhood, late summers and sunshine. Fig Tree is a fig fragrance inspired by the “entire” fig tree. It doesn’t accentuate the fruitiness or the “coconut” sweetness of figs. Fig Tree is an environment scent that uses some “headspace” to make you feel like you’re sitting beneath a mature fig tree, rays of sunshine penetrate the leaves and you’re eating ripe fruit. Fig Tree is a time and a place fragrance.

Fig tree opens with crushed green leaves. The fragrance is very green and fresh. An astringent cedar intensifies the “crispness” of Fig Tree. You know how some cedars are dirty and warm? This one isn’t. This cedar is crisp, sharp and very astringent. When you smell Fig Tree, you feel like you are outside. With time I get white florals, like lily of the valley, these border on “soapy” but I don’t mean that in a bad way. It adds a freshness with the greens. There’s a bit of milkiness peeking through…the fig fruit. Every fig fragrance needs “milkiness” in my opinion. Fig Tree uses a sparse amount of milkiness. The dry-down is the tree bark. It’s woody, warm and soft.

Marilyn Maxwell in tree

I layered Fig Tree EDP over the matching Shea Body Butter. I highly recommend this emollient body butter. It’s thick and moisturizing and not greasy at all. It’s very fragrant and feels luxurious.

Fig Tree wears closely to the skin but I think it is long-lasting (most figs love my skin). My husband hugged me about 10 hours after I applied the body butter and perfume. I forgot I was wearing this scent. He says, “You smell wonderful.” And I ask like what and he says, “Like summer.” He rarely gives me scent compliments, so I’ll take that as a compliment.

Notes listed include green fig, vanilla, cedar, patchouli, tonka and musk. PERFUMER – Laurie Erickson

Give Fig Tree a try if you like fig fragrances or green-woody fragrances or fragrances like Demeter Fig Leaf, Laura Mercier Fresh Fig (SSS is not as fruity), Diptyque Philosykos (the Diptyque is “brighter”), Hermès Un Jardin En Méditteranée, Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio (AG is even greener), L’Artisan Parfumeur Premier Figuier and/or Lucy B. Royal Green Fig & Vanilla Woods (both the L’Artisan & Lucy B. are sweeter with more “coconut” than SSS). Something about the heart of Fig Tree makes me think of it as a feminine. It seems less unisex than some of the other fig fragrances that I listed.

Fig Tree comes in a few sizes. The 17 ml EDP retails for $34. The 4 oz. Shea Body Cream retails for $18. Fig Tree is available at Sonoma Scent Studio. 

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Astringent, crushed green leaves, milky fig and warm woods. Do I need another fig perfume? No. Do I like Fig Tree? Yes. But, Dipytque Philosykos remains my all-time favorite. Philosykos may be considered too green and fresh for cooler weather. I think of Fig Tree as a better “year round” fig scent.

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* Disclaimer – Samples were provided by SSS. I am not financially compensated for this review or any others. My opinions are my own. Marilyn Maxwell pic from fanpix.net. Product pic from SSS.

18 thoughts on “Sonoma Scent Studio Fig Tree EDP Perfume Review”

  1. Just last week I mentioned I wasn’t familiar with Sonoma Scent. The closest I get to Fig is Jo Malone’s Fig & Casis. It’s very green. It’s leafiness really jumps out. This sounds like a great summer scent, especially the hot, humid and hazy days of summer here in New York.
    Barney A Bishop recently posted..Le Labo City Exclusives

    1. There are so many lines that I’m not familiar with. There are those that I haven’t heard of and those that I keep meaning to try.
      I love fig fragrances because they are so summery without being citrus or aquatic. They are usually fresh and green but have some woods to ground them. The Jo Malone Fig is “brighter” than this one in my opinion.

  2. I’m glad to read you smelled cedar in this strongly as well. I didn’t get the impression from other reviewers that it was as strong a note for them, and I was hoping I wasn’t having some sort of phantom cedar experience that would mislead people. 🙂 Thanks for the link, too!

    1. The cedar was the strongest for me as well and it seemed to be the longest lasting “phase/note”. Honestly, this threw me off at first because I don’t like tart or astringent in fragrance. After a few more wears, it grew on me.
      And remember, this is all subjective! Read and review at your own risk 😉

    1. This is my first Sonoma. I’ve been meaning to try this line for years, but you know how it goes.
      What makes this one different from all the figs we know is the astringent cedar. I really should have a disclaimer on this blog that I have never wrote a negative review of a fig fragrance. So, maybe this isn’t that great. I just think fig is great.

  7. I know fig is your thing, but I still haven’t found a fig perfume that I like for myself. The cedar in this may make fig work for me.

  12. […] Sonoma Scent Studio Fig Tree EDP – This smells just like the name implies! It smells like a fig tree. For me, it’s a reminder of late summer days but the woodiness also works well into fall. It has it all – fruit, greens and bark. Retails for $65 at Sonoma Scent Studio. Review here. […]

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