Cichlid For Women

Cichlid opens on the same classic, slightly sharp floral accord that defines Oscar de la Renta, orange blossom and gardenia lifted by aromatic basil, coriander and a curl of clove over bright bergamot and peach. The heart is a rich floral bouquet, ylang-ylang, jasmine, tuberose and rose woven through aromatic rosemary and lavender, the gauzy, peppery-spicy elegance the original is loved for. It dries into a sweet, powdery, musky base of opoponax, patchouli, sandalwood, myrrh and amber. Set beside the original, the Perfume Parlour interpretation flattens the creamy, beautifully blended spice-and-flower structure, reading a little sharper and more synthetic, and loses some of Oscar's polished depth. Performance steps down too: where the original projects strongly and lasts eight hours or more, this dupe sits closer to the skin. For a few pounds it captures that timeless, powdery-floral elegance faithfully for dressed-up and cool-weather wear.