Still Life by Olfactive Studio

Still Life is a deceptive and ill-intentioned citrus fragrance. I adore natural yuzu for its exquisite nuances between mandarin and bitter orange, with acidity, sweetness, and freshness, but here there is not a trace; I only smell orange juice powder from those cheap supermarket containers that promise nectar of the gods but fail to deliver. It bothers me that a niche house at this price point, which is not cheap, offers something so synthetic and almost ordinary. It does not smell bad, but you could get much more, especially yuzu or Japanese mandarin essence. A resounding ‘no’. Rating: 3

It starts strong with citrus, almost annoying, but fades in seconds. It is almost a single-note perfume: the yuzu, which dominates the entire life of the fragrance, very linear. If I analyse it better, I notice a touch of Sichuan pepper, but very timid, almost hidden at the bottom. It stayed this way for nearly 12 hours. It looks a lot like Mandragore by Annick Goutal; the A.G. version feels more refined and elegant. If it were food, they would be similar recipes, but in A.G.’s they use bergamot and normal pepper, whereas here it is yuzu and Sichuan pepper. The yuzu here smells very natural but gives it a rustic touch, unlike the bergamot in Mandragore which makes it sweeter and more pleasant. For me, Mandragore was the better result. In terms of price, Mandragore costs a third of this: $165 for 100ml versus $60 for the other. This reminds me of complaints about bad reformulations and high prices; they say it is us who accept paying for it. It is true, but unity is strength. This niche house, Olfactive Studio, lowered prices because sales were low: from $190 and $145, now $165 and $115. With the internet, it is easier to communicate; they should use email to complain about reformulations and prices, stop buying them, and perhaps improve. Although they cannot use old ingredients, they could adjust projection and longevity with other methods. We must be demanding. I do not see it for sport, but for casual and relaxed use: a walk in the park, an informal date, or seeing friends and family, but not for the gym. Ideal for summer or intermediate seasons. It lasted about 12 hours: 7 hours with medium sillage and 5 more with low but perceptible sillage. In summary, it is a good natural and non-generic perfume, but at $165 it seems expensive; there are better citrus niche options like Mandragore.