Ralph Lauren

Amazingly charismatic and complex perfume if you like deep bitter green notes sitting on florals and honeyed amber. I don't believe in gender divisions in perfume but this is suitable for all sexes even with regard to the usual "for men" "for women" thing. My vintage bottle proudly sits next to more expensive greens such as Nasomatto Absinth and Boadicea the Victorious Delicate, and I will really miss my Safari if I cannot find it again. The opening is a big hit of bitter galbanum, bringing it close to imaginary witch potions an tinctures in my mind. Still, this is a Ralph Lauren and the feeling of pungency is nicely overridden by the choice of wearability. So, I get the darkness, lushness, bitterness and everything mysterious and charismatic but Safari does not offer the niche notes of mold, wet soil, or other experimental stuff. Soon this is accompanied with velvety tagetes that add a lovely dryness. I'm not a fan of tagetes but they work here. The opening also has that shine from slightly sweet aldehydes, but this is not a hissy perfume with a vintage feel on me. The floral heart is not very prominent on my skin, and I'm happy this way. It is also quite blended, so I don't smell jasmins, roses, and hyacinth separately. The most prominent is a slightly powdery iris, perhaps a tad sweetened by the rose. The second half of Safari is considerably sweeter - I wish it weren't. There is a honeyed amber note that I fear will be flat from time to time - and in really hot and humid weather, it does. This is tempered by the iris, orris, cassis and woods. This part of the perfume says 90s to me in a good way. It is not like the domineering ambers of the 90s, is more sheer but still gives that comfort feel. I would love it more if the bitter greenness was more dominant. The earthiness and ever so slightly animalic notes are also designer level. They are there without dominating the perfume, adding just a bit of adult sensuality to it all. I sometimes get slight leather undertones as well. All within the boundaries of skin sensuality, without much risk. Medium sillage but can be quite domineering if over sprayed. OK. lasting power of around 4-5 hours, after which a powder feel remains on skin. The deep drydown is like that smell on silk scars when different perfumes are naturally blended on them. 4.5

I love this perfume. I've been wearing it since it came out onto the market years ago. I wouldn't wear another, it's become my signature and all other perfumes disappoint. Perfumes react differently on skins. I think this perfume must have been made for me. I've literally had strangers running after me in the street asking me the name of the scent. Every time I enter a room, someone comments on the lovely scent. It's such a confident booster. It makes you feel special. I wouldn't change it for any other. I really hope it never discontinues.

This scent is comprised of rose, centifolia, black vanilla. I am pretty open to a variety of fragrances and I would say I at least enjoy the vast majority of all perfumes and colognes I sample. Did not care for this at all. I think it just smelled way too sweet like cotton candy.