I generally dislike aldehydes so I didn’t rush to sample this one. I do appreciate Quentin Bisch creations hence I decided to give it a try in the end. Valaya starts off citrusy then grows sweeter and settles into a soft musk, orange blossom is noticeable through the mid and the synthetic undertones are tastefully done. The musk-bergamot in this is very similar to Fugazzi’s Angel Dust which I own and like better (as it’s much more unisex). That being said, the composition feels a bit flat and unimpressive, more so at the price this retails for. Soft sillage and decent longevity, feminine scent. Won’t add this to my collection, but I’m glad to have sampled it.
I so wanted to love this, but apparently this does not gel well with my skin chemistry? While I see glowing reviews everywhere about a beautiful citrus / fruity / floral scent, for me this opens with a screechy almost minty note, with no florals or fruits in sight anywhere.
The dry down retains that minty scent, but it also morphs into something vey dry and chalky, with a bitter woody undertone. I think it is the aldehydes in combination with the wood? Not for me at all, alas!