Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Kerosene- Unknown Pleasures


When I first read the note list for Unknown Pleasures by Kerosene (Earl Grey tea, lemon, bergamot, honeycomb, tonka bean, caramel, vanilla and waffle cone), I thought that this was going to be either a Shalimar or an Angel. I was wrong; this perfume from the American indie brand is far more foody than either. Actually, it smells more edible than most perfumes I know.

Kerosene is a one-man house created by perfumer John Pegg who started as a YouTube reviewer and moved on to create his own perfumes. He has a very distinct style: bold and raw, somewhat jagged around the edges. Unknown Pleasures is a kinder and cuddlier type, but still has enough character to make a statement. The fragrance opens as a sweet citrus with an amplified bergamot note. It soon becomes sweeter and very creamy. For a while I'm reminded of the dulce de leche feel of Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille, but Unknown Pleasures soon becomes even more caramelized and adds the unique smell of  a just-baked waffle cone. This dry down-is the perfume's biggest strength and weakness. I like it, but it can get overwhelmingly sweet and sticky as it takes over.

Unknown Pleasures is better in small quantities, kind of like a rich dessert. It's delicious, playful, and cheerful. The fragrance has a massive sillage and a 24 hour longevity, so be prepared to spend a full day feeling like you're on the boardwalk eating one ice cream after another.

Kerosene- Unknown Pleasures ($140, 100ml EDP) is available from MiN NY (minnewyork.com).

Photo: Yellow ice cream swirl by meigemchan on Flickr.



No comments:

Post a Comment

I love comments and appreciate the time you take to connect with me, but please do not insert links to your blog or store. Those will be deleted. The comment feature is not intended to provide an advertising venue for your blog or your commercial site.

 
Related Posts Widget