Velvet Orchid

The brand classifies Velvet Orchid among the oriental florals and highlights a citrus freshness, petals, honey and rum. The Candy Perfume Boy lays out three tiers: citrus, rum and honey in the top, orchids and white flowers at the heart, balsams, woods and suede in the base.

The honeyed opening

Italian bergamot and mandarin open the fragrance with honey and a rum absolute. ÇaFleureBon finds this opening intense and sharp, with a magnolia that is off-putting at first; Elisa Gabbert, on Bois de Jasmin, smells above all a big candy note.

The orchid bouquet

The heart assembles jasmine, Turkish and Moroccan rose, Cattleya leopoldii orchid, orange blossom, heliotrope, magnolia, jonquil and hyacinth. Gaia, on The Non-Blonde, finds in it an earthy, fruity fantasy orchid accord that softens into a fuzzy texture.

A base of balsams

The base brings together labdanum, sandalwood, Peru balsam, myrrh, suede and Comoros vanilla. Gaia sees it as the best part of the fragrance, richer, with myrrh, suede and more honey; ÇaFleureBon compares it to Opium and Raffinée.

What the label declares

The label opens with denatured alcohol, fragrance and water, ahead of tocopherol, an antioxidant form of vitamin E. It names linalool, alpha-isomethyl ionone, benzyl salicylate, limonene, citronellol, hydroxycitronellal, hexyl cinnamal and geraniol.

The list also declares farnesol, coumarin, benzyl benzoate, benzyl alcohol, citral, amyl cinnamal, eugenol, benzyl cinnamate and isoeugenol, along with BHT, another antioxidant.