Hotphoria Happy by Plaisance

Here it is described as a floral fruity perfume in which citrus and woods predominate, but I perceive it more as a floral fruity with a musky base, the kind that conveys a sense of fresh and clean that screams spring, summer and, above all, daytime. It has that clean shampoo vibe, but not the supermarket kind. At the top, after a few seconds of alcohol, a very nice citrus blend appears: the acidity of lemon juice, the fizz of orange peel, the fragrant mandarin and a raspberry that adds extra acidity, almost as if it were being burst on the palate. It is an energetic push of fruit that, as the intensity drops, allows white flowers to appear, further accentuating the clean, fresh feeling. And that combination of tart citrus fruits with white flowers, where the raspberry is still present, is a formula that rarely fails and tends to please the majority. Even more so if it’s accompanied by a musk that gives that soapy, clean touch, but without falling into detergent or aldehydes that invade a little. That’s why it feels very youthful and modern, although not necessarily adolescent. I imagine it more on someone with a joyful attitude towards life, fresh and relaxed, regardless of age. It has a small sweet share, but not gourmand or edible. There is no caramel, heavy vanilla or desserts. It is a light sweetness of fruit and flowers that is more reminiscent of nectar. It is a very versatile perfume. I imagine it on someone who enjoys the day, the sun, going out, sharing with friends and taking life calmly. I see it working just as well on a girl entering adolescence, a young woman, an adult woman or an older lady with a modern, cheerful attitude. It’s for people who enjoy light, pleasant fragrances, not those that impose themselves rudely or invade space. The brand sells this Hotphoria line under the concept of “Mood Therapy” and the marketing phrase “neuroscience applied to scent”, saying that they are designed to influence mood and generate emotional well-being. Beyond the commercial hook, I believe that all of us in the perfume world, whether by hobby, profession or addiction, know that fragrances do produce something in our senses, mind and mood. Aromatherapy exists for a reason, and for a reason many of us collect/enjoy perfumes: because the well-being and pleasure they generate is high. In the case of Happy, it gives very pleasant feelings of comfort, energy and well-being. That is why I emphasise so much that it feels coherent with someone cheerful, youthful, relaxed and sociable, beyond age or gender. I find it perfect for daily use: beach walks at midday, gym, shopping, casual lunches, office, enclosed spaces or even summer nights out if you like lighter scents. I insist, it is extremely versatile. The opening is a little alcoholic for around 3 to 5 seconds, but after that it smells like a perfume of much higher quality than its price suggests (around 13 dollars, and sometimes it even drops to 10). It also has pretty good longevity. And yes, it is around 90% similar to 212 Heroes Forever Young by Carolina Herrera; it is very well done. I have nothing against Arabic perfumes, dupes or inexpensive fragrances. In fact, I like that they have democratised access to smelling good, because for many people wearing perfume is a small pleasure that influences self-esteem, identity and mood. But I also acknowledge that sometimes I perceive in some of them a base, fixative or ingredient that feels heavier, somewhat rough or slightly generic, and makes them smell alike, although I speak from total technical ignorance. In the case of Plaisance’s inspirations, I don’t perceive that. They feel much closer to designer perfumes. The “problem”, if it can be called that, is that they usually take inspiration from extremely well-known perfumes, as is the case with this Hotphoria line. Is there anything bad about it? Not really. But if you are looking for a very unique perfume identity, like niche fragrances, this may not be the best option, because it is a known, identifiable scent and an easy-to-accept blend of notes, repeated several times with variations. Happy does not seek to reinvent anything. 212 Heroes has been on the market for a while, Carolina Herrera is a massive brand and many of its fragrances have marked entire generations. So Happy mixes already proven and widely accepted notes. If what you like are more experimental and distinctive proposals, it probably won’t move you too much. Personally, I have still smelled 212 Heroes fewer times than La Vie Est Belle, Good Girl or Baccarat dupes. Longevity ranges between 4 and 6 hours on skin and much longer on clothes, sometimes even until the next day depending on the sprays. Honestly, that is not normal for this price. There are designer perfumes sold as EDP that last less than this, or an EDT. And if it doesn’t last that long for someone, just reapply and that’s it. At that price, you can spray yourself without guilt: no one will die suffocated and the budget won’t suffer too much. You just have to enjoy it. Sometimes, depending on my mood, I enjoy it after a shower to be at home; other times I feel it is very simple and use it for layering with something equally soft and delicate, but that adds sweetness, like Thank U Next for the day or something denser, like Zara’s Inmortal Vanilla, at night. It’s just that I feel vanilla and coconut make it rounded and add sweetness without becoming fully sweet to the point of boredom.