Forbidden Bloom

Forbidden Bloom is the second perfume from Mabelle O'Rama, the London studio led by perfumer and founder Mabelle. The brand describes a seductive floral that combines gardenia and frangipani, two breathtaking blooms entwined in an act of rebellious, forbidden love. It is sold as an extrait de parfum and was a finalist at the Fragrance Foundation UK awards. It opens with a burst of juicy peach and sparkly pear, then the heart turns to creamy frangipani and gardenia, which wearers describe as naturalistic and not overly indolic. The base settles on musk, cedar and cashmeran with a note of coffee that adds a grounding warmth, and the sweetness stays balanced rather than sugary. Reviewers find a solar, summery feel and one calls it perfect for sun-warmed days. Performance is long lasting, with wear that many call extreme and projection that sits at a moderate level. It leads in summer and spring, is mostly worn in the day, and is also popular for evenings and nights out. It reads as unisex on paper though the votes lean feminine. The brand sells a 50 ml bottle at 130 pounds and a 7.5 ml at 35 pounds. It suits anyone who wants a tropical, fruity-floral extrait that is rich and warm without turning sticky, though a few find the sweetness too synthetic for an extrait.