Sonntag, 2. Oktober 2011

Illamasqua "Freak" Eau de Parfum review

The British brand Illamasqua is about to release their first fragrance, called "Freak".




TOP NOTES
Black Davana, Opium Flower and Belladonna bewitch the senses into uncontrollable  lust and passion.

HEART NOTES
Poison Hemlock, Datura and Queen of the Night blossom, caress and kiss.

BASE NOTES
Aromas of Frankincense, Oud and Myrrh, addictively mesmerises and captures the senses.

Yesterday I had a lovely black package in the mail which contained a small bottle of "Freak":


This is how the press release describes the fragrance:

The rich and daringly provocative opening notes of Black Davana cast a magical spell of desire across the senses to celebrate the night. This compelling burnt orange bloom base is highly prized the world over for its ability to enhance the wearer's natural perfume. The subtle mustiness of Posion Hemlock haunts the background tone of Freak, adding alluring depths of mystery.

Datura, the Moonflower, an intoxicating scent that has long been used as a heady aphrodisiac.

The exquisitely rare Queen of the Night blooms fleetingly for a single night each year, and completes this daringly provocative concoction with its warm, soft floral scent touched with sweetness.

With the help of Master Perfumer, Azzi Glasser, Illamasqua has created a powerfully addictive potion.


I've been wearing "Freak" since I received the package & I've to say that I'm really smitten with this fragrance.
It starts out fairly strong & it stays that way. It's a heady fragrance, so if you prefer light fresh scents, you should look elsewhere. 
The top notes are slightly sweet & floral, but you'll already notice that there's something darker laying just under the surface. The Davana is quite prominent with it sweet balsamic smell. Davana is known for its soothing, strengthening qualities.
Then the spicy notes kick in & they stay until the drydown. The spices & floral notes mix perfectly creating a scent unlike anything else I've smelt before. It's dark, but also soothing & I'd say it's absolutely unisex. I spritzed some on my BF & it smelled great on him, too. His skin emphasizes the spicy notes, making the whole compostion smell even darker.
"Freak" slightly reminds me of the Ormonde Jayne perfumes, mainly "Ormonde Woman", in case you're familiar with them.
Mind you, they smell nothing alike, but maybe it's the use of Hemlock that made me draw this comparison. The resinous note of Hemlock has a really unique smell, it's spicy, a bit musty (but in a very compelling way) & sultry - all in all simply stunning. Hemlock is a type of spruce, also known as Mountain Hemlock.




If you like dark, heady fragrances, you should really try this one. It's perfectly suited for fall & winter. But I could also imagine that it'll be polarizing love or hate fragrance. IMO it goes very well with the brand's image.


"Freak" will be available in one size - 75 ml EdP - that will retail for 59 GBP.
You can pre-order it from tomorrow, Octobrer 3rd, at illamasqua.com.


With the release of "Freak", Illamasqua will also bring out a nail varnish in "Hemlock" (pale opal green iridescent), a pure pigment in "Queen of the Night" (blackened plum) & a sheer lipgloss in "Datura" (neutral mauve).

Please also take a look at the great "Freak" video:



*Sample sent for review*

8 Kommentare:

  1. ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass es nicht ganz mein geschmack ist, aber der flakon sieht sehr edel aus!

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  2. shadowlight, der Duft ist schon etwas schwerer & ich könnte mir auch gut vorstellen, daß er nicht jedermanns bzw. - fraus Sache ist. Man muß schon etwas ungewöhnlichere Düfte mögen *find* ;-)

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  3. Karrie, da sag ich mal ohne zu zögern: NEIN! *lol*

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  4. Ormonde Woman mag ich sehr gerne und Dein Review klingt so vielversprechend, dass ich jetzt gespannt bin wie ein Flitzebogen. Das scheint genau in mein Beuteschema zu passen und der schwarze Flakon sieht traumhaft schön aus mit dieser kleinen Schnecke obendrauf. :-o Ich fürchte, das wird für mich ein Habenmuss. (Und auch der Nagellack "Hemlock" hört sich interessant an...)

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  5. Lila, *freu* Du kennst Ormonde Woman :-) Freak ist etwas süßer & nicht ganz so komplex, aber hat auch diese "tiefgründige" Seite *find*
    Auf Hemlock bin ich auch total gespannt, leider hab ich noch nirgends Swatche finden können.

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  6. Stell dir vor er gefällt mir! Hab jetzt auch das Paket bekommen. Bin überrascht - positiv.

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  7. Karrie, *wow* da bin ich jetzt sprachlos *lol* Aber ist doch super :-)

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