Ghost Flower

Ghost Flower, now styled GHST FLWR by the brand, is the smoky white floral from Altra, a UK house that makes its Eau de Parfum entirely from natural materials, produced by hand in small batches. The brand calls it a maximalist gathering of smoky woods, rich resins and a singular white lily, inspired by childhood memories of old books, burning resins and a sun-drenched 1970s bohemian hideaway. It opens with a fleeting neon brightness of unripe tropical fruit, though many wearers say they never smell it. The heart is a creamy, full-bodied white lily with fresh Bulgarian rose and leathery saffron, and the base is an incense accord of frankincense and myrrh over a deep smoke built on guaiac wood. Wearers describe dense smoke that takes a long time to clear, then the lily coming through, with comparisons that run from a smoldering campfire in a field of flowers to a funeral wake in a log cabin. Performance is moderate on both wear and projection. It leads in autumn, holds well in winter and spring, and is a poor fit for summer heat. It suits leisure time and evenings better than the office. It reads as unisex on the votes. The brand sells a 25 ml bottle at 112 pounds with a 50 ml refill flask at 142 pounds, and most price votes call it overpriced. It suits anyone who wants an unusual, resinous smoke and lily rather than a pretty floral, and who accepts that it divides opinion.