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berkyt_c45 – :
How I missed Padparadscha. I had a bottle of this many years ago; it was my first foray into niche perfumery, along with LADDM. It nailed down my personality with its unique take on warm, spiced woods- the juniper makes this a standout. I located an eBay seller with decants this week and today received in the mail an instantaneous flashback to what made me “me” back then (famously short-lived lasting power and all). I miss the flamboyant, “exotic” bottle design but the atomizer I now have will be treasured just the same.
vika60619972009 – :
What some view as nice contrast I view as a nasty note clash. So, this is clearly a “sample before you buy” situation. If you prefer smooth scents (as I do), even if they are animalic, spicy, incense-oriented, etc., then this may be too much for you.
reper1504 – :
(A review originally posted on MakeupAlley in 2006, I wanted to re-post it here now because I do not use MakeupAlley anymore [but have many fond memories of using it] and I am trying to get back into writing reviews, using old ‘work’ as inspiration…): The first sandalwood I actually ADORE. Padparadscha is the sexiest perfume I have smelled in a long time, perhaps what Frederic Malle’s Musc Ravageur had wanted to be (read orange-y sexy musk/skin scent). I would call it more than anything “biting”, a fragrance you can really sink your teeth into, undoubtedbly suited equally for a woman or a man, sexy on anyone I can think of and not overly stylish or exhibiting pretense…genuine. The notes have been described beautifully below, I can only add that this perfume (and it is edp, 100 ml at a Great price) is worth it, no hype, a true gem, and indeed rather a skin scent. The notes (amber, musk, cedar, sandalwood, juniper, pepper) balance each other beautifully, making this also especially an accessible scent, very pleasing, not difficult imo. It is a scent that says “yes” to me, it’s encouraging somehow and despite an oriental quality works for me in hot weather too. Indeed, the amber is not very present to my nose but acts as a soft counterpart to the orange-y spiciness which to me comes from the cedar, juniper (fresh and bracing) and pepper overlaying the musk and sandalwood which keep me sniffing my body where sprayed. I haven’t been this intrigued by a pepper scent since Caron’s Coup de Fouet (pepper leading into carnation). A keeper. I like the accessibility, the oomph from the spices, and especially that musk/sandalwood combination which makes for a perfume that enhances my skin, does not feel artificial and is “pleasant” in the best possible way without being boring. An happy Smile! full of promise…
alexSTfba1 – :
Padparadscha’s the first fragrance that comes to mind when I think of “fresh spicy.” There’s a very nice contrast between the hot chili pepper accord and cold juniper berry. The black pepper provides some extra punch and along side it is something that smells a little bit like cinnamon, spicy with a touch of sweetness. Everything rests on a solid, but mild base of cedar and sandalwood. Overall, it’s a very easy and comfortable wear that kind of reminds me of some Comme des Garcons releases. Comparing it to some mainstream fragrances, it sort of reminds me Gucci Pour Homme II and Tous in Heaven, as it’s warm and reserved, but also conveys some freshness through the use and contrast of hot and cold notes. It’s a shame this was recently discontinued, as for a long time it was something of an under-the-radar gem and sold at a great price. Although I’ve found a few bottles floating around the European market, I haven’t been able to find Padparadscha anywhere in the United States.
Here’s to hoping they bring this back…
Яночка – :
I just got s small sample a a gift and absolutely love it! Incense, smoke, a tad bit of floral but not much. The first thing I was reminded of is CdG Avignon!
FrellaQuoroax – :
I got this sample because I had heard it was a good sandalwood, and it is, in its way.
But first it begins with pepper! Both kinds, black and hot. Also a lot of cinnamon and/or eugenol, which actually ramps up into the heart and remains noticeable through most of the dry down.
This interesting thing happens with all those references to ground up spices — literal powders — that can burn your nose: I get the dryness of real sandalwood oil. I tend to find most synthetic approximations of sandalwood to be too creamy, too sweet, and hence too fake to merit the name. But this one really works for me, from the late top to the middle of the heart, at least, by sharpening and drying out those sandalwood aroma molecules with the zingy/spicy powder. I would not have predicted that result from that combination. Interesting!
As a whole fragrance, unfortunately, Padparadscha falls apart for me pretty quickly. One problem is the cinnamon/eugenol overload. I just find that tiresome. The other problem is that the good sandalwood part is brief, and the dull clean musk dry down is long.
baho15629 – :
Paper sniffed this shows up a lot of pepper and vetiver. I said to myself: wow this is a spicy gourmand! On the skin instead, the peppery notes calm down and set on to skin behind the glorious vetiver. A rather dry vetiver playing with smoky notes this is. As it dries down, it set calmly on to a bashful amber that goes excited from now and then by cheeky peppery accords.
Padparadscha is a sparkly yet shy child, playing for the first time in the spice store.
70880 – :
This one walks a fine line between hot and spicy (pepper overload), but it has a nice amber base to support it. Juniper is a note that I despise, and despite the notes above, I don’t really any from it at all. Instead, I get quite a bit of clove. There’s some cedar and sandalwood, but both ride pretty low in the mix. Picture Ambre Sultan with a slightly more powdery amber base, then switch out the spicy opening with some serious peppers, and you’ll get an idea of what this is. I think it’d be great for colder weather, but not exclusively so.
mozgoklu – :
Padparadscha is an attractive, very dry spice/woody perfume. I can’t deny it smells great. The cedar and sandalwood are beautiful and present from the beginning, although they’re quite dry and just a little thin, especially the cedar note. About five minutes after applying, a dry spice combo appears, but not the chili and juniper I thought I’d get–instead it was a beautiful clove, exactly as ground clove smells in my spice jar. I think I got a touch of ground cinnamon in there too, but definitely clove dust with the faintest touch of sweetness.
I get no florals at all, but the beauty of the wood/spice mix makes up for that. However, two hours in and it has settled down to a very quiet scent for me…. quiet but really enjoyable.
bouhanehame – :
I must admit that I got a bit too excited upon reading that this is somehow similar to Aqaba classic which is one of my favorites.
Unfortunately this was not true for my skin. Padparadscha on me is purely sandalwood and clove/spice combo, very dry and somehow reminded me of a spice cupboard. I got no flowers, so I am also surprised that this is not listed as unisex as I feel that this would work very good on a male.
Kuponabi – :
104) coup de foudre Indien
c’est un achat à l’aveugle basé sur les critiques et quelle belle découverte! C’est exactement pour moi la même odeur en tête que White de Comme des Garçons avec une accentuations vers le santal laiteux, le piment sur l’encens(ils n’indiquent pourtant aucun encens) lui donne aussi la même vibration que dans Jaisalmer (CdG) avec la cannelle sur l’encens.
De nouveau c’est le santal qui fait la différence, il s’accentue pour devenir dominant dans le fond sur toutes les autres notes.
C’est chaud, réconfortant avec une très belle tenue.
Il est à moitié prix (en Europe) des parfums similaires référencés donc c’est vraiment une superbe aubaine!!!
puxus – :
This reminds me of the new age essential oils I wore for various reasons in the 80’s.
Vertiver is supposed to attract wealth and strength so I was always burning it and wearing it. Along with sandalwood for the balance of spirituality. I also detect as a third initial note yang yang the secent of sex. Good combination wouldn’t you say, sex power wealth and spirituality. However this perfume lacks something on me when worn, and that is a femmine touch. It is jst to essential , too pure to the exact ingredients with no nuances.
I would like to try this on a man as I think it would work well. But I do like it as a scent bt not as an actual perfume to wear and feel good in.
mhw146speagoessenda – :
I love this scent. I find the juniper, chilli and pepper to be very spicy and strong for the first 10-30 minutes, as they fade, they blend seamlessly into a beautiful, creamy, warm sandalwood note. They fade so seamlessly that by the time the sandalwood has fully emerged, it is hard to believe it hadn’t been there from the start and it is also difficult to remember the spicy, pungent odour from the top notes. Fantastic, uplifting and comforting all at once.
falcoder – :
I almost did a blind buy on this I wanted it so much. But then sense prevailed and I ordered a sample first. While I appreciate all the fine ingredients used in this elixir, it ends up smelling like clove oil on my skin. It reminds me a lot of the clove chewing gum smell from a long time ago, too. I’m really glad I got to try this though and I think for lovers of heavy spicy incensy perfumes, you should definitely try this one!
BRABUS AS – :
This actually smells warm, if such a thing is possible. The hot pepper notes really adds something unique to the main note of Sandlewood. Jasmine isn’t really noticeable as such but does soften this so it doesn’t smell like incense.It’s just a beautiful perfume all around.
nastradamus1 – :
On my skin, this is pepper, juniper and sandalwood. A strangely mystical aroma that makes me think of far off places. I would call this step up from the modern formulas of Tam Dao (both EDP and EDT). The sandalwood note is nice and avoids the two pitfalls typical of sandalwood fragrances: figgy/coconutty and particle board. This is neither, thankfully. It is rather linear though and no other notes are discernible throughout the wear time. Ultimately I prefer a bit more plushness and femininity in my sandalwood fragrances so this one doesn’t work for me but would be pretty great on a guy.
ViktorGolubev – :
Padparadscha is the most incense-like fragrance I have tried thus far, but in a good-incense/not cat-pee way. I can see where some liken this to a Southwest/Santa Fe vibe, but this perfume puts me in mind of a souk as well, with exotic spices and incense perfuming the air. There’s a marvelous breadth of amber, musk and pepper to delight your nose. The longevity was a little disappointing, and I don’t know how big (or obnoxious) the effect of the fragrance might be if you keep reapplying to winnow out the scent, but it may be worthwhile, because it starts off so very beautifully. If you like amber, musk and peppery scents that are not buried by huge florals, this one may be a good one for you to try, and I think I would find this enticing on a man, as well. Definitely sexy and earthy.
liberyad – :
Wow, I wanted to wear this fragrance. My first inhalation transported me to a sensual serpentine drive from Santa Fe to Taos in late November. This is one hell of a pinto bean perfume. I sprayed my chest and felt like a hot tamale with chile relleno and a Hornito’s Reposado chaser. This was Elvis Crespo singing Suavemente. Ten minutes later I emerged as myself-an older dude with most of the spice way behind him. What happened to the fragrance, to the moment? It was gone, locked away in my vault of fantasy. This stuff just doesn’t last on me. Ten minutes and the scent vanishes. These days my fantasies need staying power. Just wait until you get older.
anri13 – :
Several years ago I saw a jewelry collection at the Hotel del Coronado that showcased pieces with Padparadscha sapphires. The jewels were a deep, red-orange that glowed like parts of the sun. I have seen “created” orange sapphires, but they don’t hold a candle to the radiance of the natural stone. Each piece cost around the price of a new house, so the perfume is a much better option for me. Padparadscha perfume captures the heat of that color. Do you ever get in the mood where you just crave the smell of spices and warmth? These days it’s hard to find a fragrance that fits the bill unless you turn to Opium or Cinnabar, but this is much better. It’s soft and melting, slightly boozy, with a kick. Padparadscha satisfies my love for the fragrance of hot desert winds.
master582 – :
Itl s not fragrance for women. Satellite says that it’ s unisex. I like fragrance, but longevity is very weak for eau de parfume… 7/10.
LeV – :
Padparadscha emotes Junipers and Pinion evergreens on a nippy winter day in Santa Fe. I feel like I’m toasting my hands in front of a kiva fireplace as fragrant woods sizzle in the fire. When the parfum is only a trace on my skin, what’s left is a dusty ashy smell likened to smoked wood. As a man, I find this fragrance masculine, so ladies, sample this one first on your skin. Speaking of skin, I smell the juniper accord the strongest, but others in my vicinity have reported a spicy “Indian food” smell.
• Masculine biased but unisex nontheless
• Not very long lasting, projection is only acceptable
• Mitigate longevity issues by spraying on your clothes
• Perfect for evenings, cooler weather, or “Indian Restaurants” 🙂
• Sprayer is excellent
• Price/Value ratio is excellent, a fabulous “gem” of a buy—Ha!
volodS – :
Spicy opening for me, very peppery with a strong accord of juniper. Later it comes a note of amber and perfume gets softer. And a scent has some kind of style of S. Lutens fragrances at least on my skin. Fille en Aiguilles mixed with Jeux de Peau maybe?
P.S. Longevity is average, 4 hours on my skin.
fff666hgp – :
My dear friend Scorpiosheep gifted me a FB of this gorgeous perfume. It had been sitting on my wish list for some time as the notes sounded like something I would like.
Well, I wasnt disappointed! Padparadsca is a spicy oriental in a velvet glove. The chilli pepper sits prominently on my skin, mixing delightfully with the cedar and sandalwood. Although this sounds like it would pack a punch, it is really quite delicate.
It is in the same genre as YSL Nu, although much easier to wear. This could easily be worn by guys and girls so long as you like spice. Luckily for me, I love it!
Thanks so much Scorpiosheep xxx
friend2010 – :
Great perfume! I think it has a foody spirit due to its chili pepper and spices. The juniper is so noticeable, I was astonished. In the beginning it is strong and one thinks it may be a bit intimidating… but in some minutes it becomes smoother and a great mix of spices with a clear cedar note that reminded me immediately of Lacroix’s Tumulte pour homme (these fragrances are relatives, can’t guess yet whether cousins or father and daughter lol).
I’ve found this listed as a unisex frag in certain pages and as a woman scent (here for example). I believe this is perfectly wearable for men and I can bet people will ask you 100 times what amazing stuff you’re wearing because that happens to Tumulte too. I find this foodier, creamier and easier to wear; not better though (and this is less harsh in its dryness so women shouldn’t lose this opportunity to add a strong woody and spicy fragrance cause it is definitely for both sexes).
Guys, I highly recommend this! I will wait until my Tumulte’s finished to add this to my wishlist.
3946 – :
This is my favourite fragrance, period. On my skin it is pepper/amber/cedar goodness. Every time I wear this, which is quite frequently when the weather is cooler, I get tons of compliments about how good I smell. It is spicy and snuggly.
ReerlyTrity – :
Bought this fragrance today and I can’t stop smelling my wrist, Elusivek described it perfectly it is absolutely stunning. I feel gorgeous wearing this earthy fragrance. It’s much lighter than my usual perfume…Amber sultan so I think I might start wearing this during the day and my sultan at night.
kainkhv – :
Uno dei miei profumi favoriti. È boscoso, piccante
palinka – :
This is powerful – I swear it makes my heart beat just a little faster 🙂
It starts with a rush of spice and brisk freshness (pepper/juniper mix) then comes the gorgeous sandalwood and amber.
That settles when a hint of sweetness and the airy jasmine come in.
It rests on a sandalwood/cedar base interlaced with a pefect balance of pepper and jasmine.
It’s spicy and woody without being too spicy or a one dimensional wood scent. The pepper jazzes things up and keeps it vibrant, while the jasmine gives it just the right amount of lift without standing out as a distinct floral note (for those of us not crazy about florals) and the amber sweetens it a touch so that the pepper never gets bitter or overwhelming.
eta:If you like Eau des Mervilles but are saddened that the spice fades out (does on me) then give this one a try. The spice stays all the way through.
aleksandrajane – :
As soon as I unwrapped my latest package of samples from Lucky Scent I could smell the sandalwood. Nothing had leaked, it’s just strong. It didn’t take long to trace the smell to the Paparadscha vial. This perfume starts out as a blast of sandalwood along with what seems to me like cinnamon. Maybe there’s a little pepper in there, too, but nothing really obvious. Soon, however, it’s sandalwood pure and simple, the same sandalwood that I remember being in Bee and Flower soap, or any of the Indian sandalwood soaps. Eventually it dries down into a sandalwood-cedar combination. It’s a nice, woody scent that I could wear from time to time, but the sandalwood soap association is a little too close for this to be a novel and interesting scent.
МаЛыШ 21 – :
A guy’s review…
I like this a lot, very fiery and smoldering. In the beginning there is a lot of sandalwood and amber, almost to the point of being powdery, but not quite powdery. After about an hour, the powder backs off completely. This is a red, fiery scent, still woody, warm and very spicy.
I am a bpal fan and I can’t help making comparisons…..the drydown of this scent reminds me strongly of Djinn….”The scent of black smoke, of crackling flames, and smoldering ashes”. This one is not so fiery or harsh, but definitely shares the character of Djinn.
In short, I really like it!
sashok77 – :
I’ve read “Padparadscha” described as arid, and I think that’s correct. It’s as rough as a cat’s tongue, and to breathe it in deeply dries out the back of my sinuses. Named after a pink sapphire, there is nothing crystalline, cold, or static in this fragrance. When I smelled it, the hot pepper slap, the fresh cedar sap and sandalwood fireworks going off, I said to myself, Oh, Sweet Shakti.
olegremyga – :
This is definitely a spicy one. No cinnamon or saffron, but raw spices: black pepper and hot chili pepper. It has a hint of woody note. Great for fall season.
ART7812 – :
Very nice and strong, and lasting. First moment for some reason smells a bit leathery to me quite masculine but later changes to very gentle, tender, rich, flowery…so that stopped my husband snatching it! Definitely unique and FAVOURITE for me!
fffffffffffff – :
One of my favourite scents. It’s woody, spicy, ambery and just a bit musky. It isn’t overly peppery or dry, like some scents of the same genre, and it’s just sweet enough to be really cosy. Just perfect! Great for all seasons except maybe summer. Probably suits the autumn mood best.
bodnarkk – :
Very nice. Soft and warm. Spicy like Chilly Peppers. Sexy and intriguing. I pick up a little berry but Sandalwood is the main drydown. I’m really liking this. This could be unisex b/c it’s so woody. This is Great for the cold winter months. This is not your typical floral, fruity, soapy, sweet, it’s none of those things. It’s Woody and Spice and all but Nice..