Vra Vra Vroom, from Penhaligon's was released in 2023. The perfumer behind this creation is unknown. It has the top notes of Apricot, Bergamot, Clary Sage, and Mandarin Orange, middle notes of Magnolia, Osmanthus, and Rose, and base notes of Ambrofix™, Georgywood, and Leather.
Slightly troubled by the execution of this perfume. There's definitely a good kernel of an idea here, like I said I think the execution is lacking in subtlety and nuance to say the least. A fruity musk with I can smell Osmanthus, something I'm increasingly more attracted to these days. I can smell fruity accords which are potent and somewhat appealing from a grapefruit/melon (that fruit that is basically a mix of the two, name escapes me...ahhhh Pomelo!!!! that's it!) top to a more enduring 'tropical' fruit accord which is pleasant for about ten seconds then starts to get on your tits, thereafter. There's much less 'air' and that dry, geraniol effect you get in more faithful interpretations of Osmanthus, this is a bit of a syrup, concentrate, sledgehammer which does not do the kinda peach inflected scent any good whatsoever. What's interesting is that I do get a very small hint of a woody accord right from the opening then throughout I was getting phantom wafts of an oud rose perfume accord and sure enough it's listed here in the notes, (well rose and leather) I can't work out whether that's very restrained and clever of the perfumer/development brief, or just a little bit wishy washy and flimsy? It's a fine line not even my arbitration skills can decipher. As far as the ambroxan is concerned, I think Vra Vra Vroom a pretty good use of the material, goes well with osmanthus and any fruity musk stuff if you ask me. I've used Ambrofix quite a bit and although I migrated towards Ambrox super, I still think it's decent. I'm wearing this today and can't help the way I feel, I don't really like it, I don't want to ever wear it again but I'm being prevented from slagging it off because there's enough to think and type about that I can't hate the perfume, it's weirdly appealing in some sense. I did initially note when I wore it on my arm that it was extremely fleeting to the point I'd be pissed off if I paid top dollar for it, well that's not been the case today, it really does cling to clothes and hair, which give it reasonable staying power, but not many fragrances DON'T last on clothes so it's hardly a ringing endorsement, and my skin ate it all up in rapid quick time, something to be aware of.