A Perfume by Zara

Delicious is so sophisticated that I never looked for anything like it again. It smells sexy and unconventional, lasting hours on skin and clothes until it becomes your very essence. I don’t detect coconut or caramel, more sandalwood. I adore it and look after it carefully because Zara no longer sells it 😨. It has a strong similarity with Zara’s Amber Linen, though it’s not identical.

You can get it at Massimo Dutti; it’s called White Tulip & Barley.

To me, it smells of real, sweet coconut. It’s a linear scent with good performance; the trail reaches about two metres. On skin, it lasted around eight hours and faded slowly, but on clothes it endured for much longer. I love it; it’s the longest-lasting one from Zara. Highly recommended 10/10.

I went to Peru and in the centre of Cuzco, I smelled a very spiced and woody aroma that I adored. I found that fragrance at ‘A Perfume’ and the first whiff transported me straight to that mountain. I’m a fan of sweet scents, but this is not one; it smells quite unisex and I love it. I’ll buy it on my next visit. Edit: I bought it. The opening is fresh, woody and citrusy (dry citrus, not juicy). I wore it on a jumper and the next day, when I put it on again, I felt an incredible luxury, like a warm and enigmatic embrace. I detected a sweet, woody coconut. The more I use it, the more I like it. It makes me feel empowered, lifts my spirits and has personality. People never tire of teasing me about it; both men and women. It has become my favourite from Zara, essential for autumn and winter. I consider it the longest-lasting one. I’ll keep buying it until I get tired of it (if I ever do);)

In Cuzco, I smelled a spiced and woody aroma that I adored. I found it at ‘A Perfume’; the first whiff transported me to that mountain. It’s not sweet; it smells unisex and I love it. I bought it: the opening is fresh, woody and citrusy (dry, not juicy). On a jumper, it’s a warm and enigmatic embrace. It smells of sweet, woody coconut. The more I use it, the more I like it. It makes me feel empowered, lifts my spirits and has personality. People never stop teasing me about it. It’s my favourite from Zara, essential in autumn and winter. The longest-lasting one. I’ll keep buying it until I get tired of it (;).

I read the reviews and had expectations that weren’t met. I love woody scents and thought I’d adore it, my own fault. On me, it doesn’t last, mind you; almost nothing does on my very dry skin. It’s not my perfume. Let no one be guided by my opinion; everyone is a different world. Zara lets us buy the 10ml version which is super affordable, which is very good, and we should be grateful for that.

Yesterday, before paying, I tested the full bottle of ‘A Perfume’ at the counter. Without hesitation, I knew it was a dupe of Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique. It opens with honeyed amber and citrus that vanish in five minutes, revealing a green, dry vetiver. Then, the sweetness gives way to a masculine vetiver, which, in the end, with a caramelised edge, is all that remains. As I own the original and know it well, I’d say this smells a bit more aggressive at the start, sweeter and less natural, with a slightly rougher vetiver. Otherwise, they’re almost identical. I find it curious that Inditex would focus on a Swedish niche brand, though it doesn’t sit well with me: Bal d’Afrique costs between €150 and €180, while this is only €18.