Good Or Bad

This is Perfume Parlour's budget interpretation of Givenchy Ange ou Demon, an oriental floral built on a striking saffron-lily contrast. It opens with that spectacular, smooth saffron - warm and spiced without bitterness - lifted by a green hint of thyme. The heart is a succulent, crystalline lily framed by orchid and creamy ylang-ylang, the angelic-yet-sensual core the original is famous for. The drydown turns soft and powdery: tonka bean, vanilla and rosewood over a touch of oakmoss and patchouli, that baby-powder-and-woods finish. The original is a strong performer, lasting 8-plus hours and clinging to clothing; the dupe keeps the saffron-lily-vanilla arc but renders it thinner and more linear, with the woods simplified and wear pulled in close. For an inexpensive nod to a modern oriental classic, it captures the mysterious, sensual mood for the money.