Cloud Sorbet by Zara

EDIT: Five days later, I’m editing this post. The perfume has changed completely and has become much more rounded. The citrus opening isn’t even half as sharp: it’s still somewhat bitter—the bergamot is bitter—but it combines with the tea and gives it a slightly different character. The opening smells like Earl Grey tea. But the interesting bit comes right after. When the citrus starts to subside, the lactonic side comes out. During this first week I’ve had the perfume, the lactonic notes weren’t showing up anywhere, but now they’re starting to take shape and I’d say they’re going to grow stronger. The perfume is no longer as sharp; it’s becoming softer and reminds me of lemon cream or lemon meringue. The smell, if you’ve tried it, is about 90% similar to Bake by Akro. I tried the original, and I loved the acidic part in contrast with the little cream sponge cake, and that’s exactly what I find in this perfume. Lemon, vanilla, cream and something creamy. You know those lemon-and-cream ice cream cones you used to eat in the summer? Well, that’s what it reminds me of. Honestly, for the price, it’s very good. I’d like a bit more tea smell (and it certainly has absolutely nothing of “taro bubble tea”), but if you imagine it as an Earl Grey tea with the bergamot, it does do it justice. Original: When sprayed, the opening is very citrusy and acidic. Zero sugar: it smells like lemon or bergamot, very fresh. It smells light, very summery, for days of strong heat. Then the tea note comes out, but it isn’t “taro tea” as it appears among the notes on Zara’s website; it’s a light green tea that’s also a bit citrusy. I expected a more vanilla-like tea, and that’s not the case—it smells like tea with lemon. Later, however, a slightly creamier and somewhat sweeter body does start to come out, but it remains very citrusy and absolutely not a “latte.” It may be the inspiration, but it has nothing of a latte, at least freshly bought and without having macerated. I don’t consider it a sweet fragrance, let alone a gourmand. It’s citrusy and fresh, more rounded. It smells like tea with a little milk and a touch of lemon. It’s perfect for summer; it reminds me a bit of the typical eau de cologne but somewhat deeper and more changeable. I think it’s perfect for anyone who wants a citrusy fragrance that doesn’t smell like “lemon cologne”; it has a different something. It doesn’t resemble it, but it reminds me a bit of the twist of “Bake” by Akro. It’s not as vanilla-like as I expected (mainly because they describe it as a creamy perfume; I don’t see it as creamy or milky either), but it does have a touch that makes it different from a purely citrus perfume. In that respect, it’s fine. The intensity is considerably stronger than I expected, especially considering they sell it as a “skin scent.” I sprayed it on my clothes, three sprays, and it smells from two metres away. It’s very intense. I’d define it as citrusy, fresh, green, spicy, a little creamy (a little), a little powdery (a little), and vanilla-like in the drydown, but less than expected. Overall, it’s not a jarring fragrance; it has personality and is purely summery. Nothing gourmand, barely sweet. Pure citrus and greenness. I don’t see the vanilla anywhere, at most a little sugar. I also can’t find the tonka bean and musk; if it’s there, it’s much less obvious than in other Zara perfumes. I’ll use it this summer and then put it aside to macerate. Next year we’ll see how much it has changed and how those sweet notes have settled. But in general, to get an idea, you can imagine a lemon tea sorbet. As I said, it projects well, and on clothes it lasts perfectly. Two or three sprays are enough for several hours; I’d say at least 3/4. I don’t know how or why, but there’s something in this fragrance that reminds me of the white floral notes of Alien. But they’re not listed… It’s not my favourite, but for summer it’s great.

EDIT: Five days later, I’m editing this post. The perfume has changed completely and has become much more rounded. The citrus opening isn’t even half as sharp: it’s still somewhat bitter—the bergamot is bitter—but it combines with the tea and gives it a slightly different character. The opening smells like Earl Grey tea. But the interesting bit comes right after. When the citrus starts to subside, the lactonic side comes out. During this first week I’ve had the perfume, the lactonic notes weren’t showing up anywhere, but now they’re starting to take shape and I’d say they’re going to grow stronger. The perfume is no longer as sharp; it’s becoming softer and reminds me of lemon cream or lemon meringue. The smell, if you’ve tried it, is about 90% similar to Bake by Akro. I tried the original, and I loved the acidic part in contrast with the little cream sponge cake, and that’s exactly what I find in this perfume. Lemon, vanilla, cream and something creamy. You know those lemon-and-cream ice cream cones you used to eat in the summer? Well, that’s what it reminds me of. Honestly, for the price, it’s very good. I’d like a bit more tea smell (and it certainly has absolutely nothing of “taro bubble tea”), but if you imagine it as an Earl Grey tea with the bergamot, it does do it justice. Original: When sprayed, the opening is very citrusy and acidic. Zero sugar: it smells like lemon or bergamot, very fresh. It smells light, very summery, for days of strong heat. Then the tea note comes out, but it isn’t “taro tea” as it appears among the notes on Zara’s website; it’s a light green tea that’s also a bit citrusy. I expected a more vanilla-like tea, and that’s not the case—it smells like tea with lemon. Later, however, a slightly creamier and somewhat sweeter body does start to come out, but it remains very citrusy and absolutely not a “latte.” It may be the inspiration, but it has nothing of a latte, at least freshly bought and without having macerated. I don’t consider it a sweet fragrance, let alone a gourmand. It’s citrusy and fresh, more rounded. It smells like tea with a little milk and a touch of lemon. It’s perfect for summer; it reminds me a bit of the typical eau de cologne but somewhat deeper and more changeable. I think it’s perfect for anyone who wants a citrusy fragrance that doesn’t smell like “lemon cologne”; it has a different something. It doesn’t resemble it, but it reminds me a bit of the twist of “Bake” by Akro. It’s not as vanilla-like as I expected (mainly because they describe it as a creamy perfume; I don’t see it as creamy or milky either), but it does have a touch that makes it different from a purely citrus perfume. In that respect, it’s fine. The intensity is considerably stronger than I expected, especially considering they sell it as a “skin scent.” I sprayed it on my clothes, three sprays, and it smells from two metres away. It’s very intense. I’d define it as citrusy, fresh, green, spicy, a little creamy (a little), a little powdery (a little), and vanilla-like in the drydown, but less than expected. Overall, it’s not a jarring fragrance; it has personality and is purely summery. Nothing gourmand, barely sweet. Pure citrus and greenness. I don’t see the vanilla anywhere, at most a little sugar. I also can’t find the tonka bean and musk; if it’s there, it’s much less obvious than in other Zara perfumes. I’ll use it this summer and then put it aside to macerate. Next year we’ll see how much it has changed and how those sweet notes have settled. But in general, to get an idea, you can imagine a lemon tea sorbet. As I said, it projects well, and on clothes it lasts perfectly. Two or three sprays are enough for several hours; I’d say at least 3/4. I don’t know how or why, but there’s something in this fragrance that reminds me of the white floral notes of Alien. But they’re not listed… It’s not my favourite, but for summer it’s great.