Proper City

Proper City opens with a juicy mirabelle plum that gives the gourmand a fruity, slightly tart lift, the most intriguing moment of the scent and the one reviewers love about the original. The plum quickly hands over to the heart: a creamy, smooth coffee that reads like a milky espresso. The drydown is soft and powdery cacao, a warm chocolate-mochaccino with a dusting of powder that leans cosy and gently sweet. It is a clear nod to Bond No.9's So New York, the gourmand often described as a creamy mochaccino with a tasty plum opening. Where the original loses some of its intrigue once the plum fades, and is known for melting away quickly, this version follows the same arc, soft and innocuous after the bright start. As a budget oil the comforting chocolate-coffee character is faithful and the wear easy. Cosy, comforting and quietly sensual, it is a cold-weather chocolate-coffee gourmand for evenings, dates and snug days in.