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*