I have limited Strange Invisible Perfumes exposure. I’ve been too busy dwelling into DSH Perfumes natural blends and the less expensive thrills of LUSH. Finally, I’ve gotten around to sampling the natural perfume line, Strange Invisible. There’s a few that I like, Fire and Cream being one of them.
Like Etat Libre d’Orage Like This, you can tell that Fire & Cream is a “red head” scent, a perfume created by someone with a delicate fire and cream complexion. Alexandra Balahoutis, founder and perfumer for SI Perfumes, created this fragrance for herself, a lady with this fair maiden complexion that I’ve always wanted. Fire and Cream smells like it is made for a dame in a Dante Gabriel Rossetti painting. Fire and Cream is “amber” without being an amber fragrance.
Fire and Cream is an aromatic citrus. It’s herbaceous and has an ancient feel. From the notes listed, I expected something lighter. Nope. Fire and Cream is hazy and dark. This is why I like it. It reminds me of lazy, dry and hot summer evenings. It also reminds me of chilly winter nights by the fireplace. Fire and Cream is a fragrance that really does work with all seasons.
Fire and Cream opens up as very aromatic. I immediately get white lavender, and yes, the nose can detect that it is white lavender. It’s stronger than the regular ole’ English lavender that I grow in my cottage garden. This white lavender is so cool and refreshing. I do pick up headiness. I can’t really distinguish it as orange blossom, tuberose, or jasmine. It’s just an overwhelming summery, white floral headiness (which I love). The white florals mix with the herbaceous, aromatic lavender. It’s a hazy fog of hot and cool notes. Frankincense, ancient resins, and woods are smoldering under the fog. I get a bit of citrus, but it’s that citrus that comes along with citrus blossoms. It isn’t zesty or juicy. Fire and Cream wears this way for a long time; it is a very long-wearing perfume. Eventually, after hours of wear, I get dirty, earthy patchouli and smooth sandalwood with, finally, the sweet orange oil.
Fire & Cream has a ritualistic, ancient vibe from the aromatic, incense notes to the creative name. But, more in an out-of-control, ritualistic orgy-sacrificing of the virgin to bring Dracula back from the grave- late 60’s Hammer film sort of away. At first I imagined Fire and Cream being an “Arthurian legend”/fair lady à la Rossetti perfume, but Fire and Cream is wilder! It’s nude, entranced fair maidens running around in a cloud of smoke in a Medieval village! Fire and Cream isn’t exactly tame.
I really like Fire and Cream. Really good lavender used in a really interesting way is very rare, even in the fragrance world. And this is a citrus that even I can wear because it isn’t all optimistic and energetic. It’s got enough earth keeping it grounded, making it a comfortable scent for me.
A warning about these natural perfume oils. Try them. They really adjust and wear differently on different people. The orange isn’t prominent on me until the dry-down. Others detect it immediately. I think this isn’t “tame” because I detect a haze or smoke over the notes wearing this like a b-film maiden. Others may wear this more like a gentle, Rossetti beauty.
Notes listed include oranges, orange blossom, tuberose, frankincense, white lavender, vetiver, sandalwood, and patchouli.
Give Strange Invisible Fire and Cream a try if you like natural aromatic citrus scents. Or if you like perfumes like LUSH Karma, DSH Three Kings, Intelligent Nutrients Nurture, Bond No. 9 NY New Haarlem, and/or Aftelier Amber. I also want to add that if you like the dry-down of Fire and Cream, then you should try Becca & Mars Sugar & Spice Massage Oil. I’ve been layering Fire & Cream over this oil at night; it’s such an amazing and tranquil mix.
The 1.7 oz EDP retails for $150 and can be purchased at Beautyhabit.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Hammer film aromatic. It’s a natural, you’ll need patience to wear it but it’s nice.
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ha! I was just thinking about this the other day when we last chatted. I have been skeptical about all-natural scents (Chandler Burr says they’re ‘pointless’) but I honestly am a bit taken with Fire & Cream. I wasn’t sure I liked it at first – I just get a huge overdose of very dark, earthy, green vetiver (which I like – but there’s a LOT of it) but I keep going back to it. It’s a well-crafted fragrance. Not necessarily something I want to wear a whole lot, but it’s a really neat composition, and makes me want to test the rest of the line.
I find Fire & Cream interesting and it has spawned an interest in the others. I have also sampled Black Rosette and love it. This one isn’t linear like other naturals, so maybe it isn’t “pointless”? 😉
Funny that it wears vetiver on you too. When I wear this I get more of the aromatic woods than the citrus and florals. I get lavender, frankincense, patchouli, and vetiver. It’s very “ancient” smelling on me. Other reviews I read talk about how citrus it is or floral. I think that is the “trick” to naturals that puts most people off, not consistent. But, that is what I like about it.
I get “dark green” when I put it on. It doesn’t strike me as a citrus/floral scent at all, oddly enough. I’ll have to throw it on a test strip tonight to see what it does.
I haven’t tested it on a strip either! I’m all about wearing scents.
For me this is amber but not because it is “citrus” but because it smells like smoldering ancient resins/incense.
I’ve always been intrigued by the SIP line, both for being natural, and also for being more than a little unusual in their composition. And of all them, Fire and Cream – having more than a slight dose of “redhead” myself – is the one that catches my attention. I really, truly have to try it – and after reading your review, I don’t know what I’m waiting for! 😉
Another one goes on the list, and it’s getting longer every day…
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This scent has made me want to try other SI Perfumes. It’s complex. I imagine it actually smelling the way it was supposed to on a redhead 🙂 On me, it’s more “ancient” but that’s why I love it!
This is for me! I’m a pale redhead (even though the red is not originally mine). 🙂
Besides I love white florals and ambers and pretty much everything you said about it speaks to me.
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I’m usually a box redhead but I haven’t been in almost 2 years. Sniffing a scent like this makes me want to dye my hair!
Great review! It does smell ancient. Made me think, Mary Magdalen, when I smelled it first. Because I always imagined she was a redhead.:)
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Hmmm…Mary Magdalen. I can imagine that!