FLORAIKU
MY SHADOW ON THE WALL

2017

PERFUMER
Alienor Massenet

black pepper
bourbon vanilla
ginger
bergamot
Violet absolute
Mimosa absolute
Sandalwood

‘My Shadow on the Wall includes notes of Violet absolute, Mimosa absolute and Sandalwood oil. This woody fragrance welcomes a lively sandalwood with a sweet and steamy feeling. Inspiration: In a violet night lit by a discreet moon, a crane on its way, the bird of immortality. Or is it my arms in the air drawing a strange shape? Anything is possible with a shadow in the dark, the imagination climbs like branches on the wall.’- Floraiku

The three official listed notes for this one are Violet, mimosa and sandal wood. Whereas violets can create a sharp, leathery or even plastic and gasoline scent, the leafs are much softer and greener. There’s a very soft grassy scent in this, but I think the mimosa is much more present here.

It comes out as a semi-sweet, almondy floral scent here (like a easy-going heliotrope). With the sandalwood base it’s a soft and creamy ordeal, that smells really fresh and clean, creating a bit of a body lotion vibe. It’s a variation on the baby powder and white floral fragrances that are more common, but whereas those are often powdery, My Shadow On The Wall remains creamy.

It’s really pleasant. It smells like a women’s version of Amouage Reflection Man to my nose (not the actual Reflection Woman, but a feminine leaning version of the Reflection Man scent profile). Which is exactly what I said about Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Aqua Universalis Forte, but the Floraiku leans further feminine.

Performance-wise this is average at best, which seems to be a Floraiku trademark. Then again, performance isn’t everything, so give this one a shot.