Psychedelic Love by Initio Parfums Prives
Heya Crew! How am I so late to Psychedelic Love by Initio? Also, I could only find one other dedicated Initio review of ANY of their fragrances here on Perfume Posse so it’s probably time to break the drought. Last year City Perfume (one of Australia’s largest importers/retailers of beauty) had a launch night of Initio’s latest release Oud for Greatness Neo at Sydney’s Four Seasons Hotel: Grain Bar. It was a really big deal. Maybe 150 guests from fashion, magazines, blogs and the TikTok/Insta crowd. A very beautiful demographic. At the end we all got a full set of Initio samples to take home and try. Life has been a bit hectic so I’m only now getting my sniff on them. INTERESTING house.
Mildly amusing, I keep thinking this perfume is called Psychotic Love. Yes, even though I can read and do understand the difference, it keeps popping into my mind. Wikipedia tells meals me that the word “psychedelic was coined by the psychiatrist Humphrey Osmond during written correspondence with author Aldous Huxley”.
Psychedelic Love by Initio Parfums Prives 2017
Initio gives these featured accords:
Bergamot, Rose, Myrrh, Vanilla, Patchouli, Heliotrope, Hedione
Ahhhh! The opening of Psychedelic Love includes a large hit of the cotton candy Angel note and there is also a similar patchouli. Though not the same, at all, there is definitely a reference here. If you like the idea of Angel but find it overwhelming or nauseous then this may very well be the perfect antidote.
There is a lovely popcorn note riding through the heart, it’s, toasted, salty and warm. Also a nutty nougat. These are adjuncts to the main game of rose/patchouli and a dark, resinous vanilla. Psychedelic Love is a very sophisticated gourmand that references a lot of other perfumery in quite a different way. Like a logical progression that will definitely find fans who have grown out of that teeth shivering sweetness that has been so prevalent this century. I am also thinking that the sweet nay sayers could find it a gateway drug to the genre.
As we head towards dry down a nutty marshmallow makes itself known. It’s a little Rocky Road like. Such an interesting and fun trajectory.
Psychedelic Love needs a light touch. It’s big and with a heavy hand could easily become a weapon. Longevity and diffusion are excellent. While definitely being aimed at women I see no reason that a confident man could not smell utterly amazing in Psychedelic Love. It would definitely help you stand out in a crowd and the perfume itself smells very thoughtfully composed to me.
Sound good? Do you have an Initio favourite?
Portia xx
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