Radice

Ok. I got a small sample and I’m very glad I did. This smells like candied wood. The kind of smell they might give to furniture in a Primary (‘elementary’ for those in the colonies) school year one (1st grade?). It’s not bad, it’s not good. It smells like the kind of thing you’d have bought from H&M in the late 90s. If you smelt this in a waiting room you’d be pleased. This is what Fred Jones or Warner Huntington III smells like. Bland. I don’t know what more to say other than; whatever hype this has garnered from either, here, Frgacom, Fragantica, Basenotes or YouTube is wildly overrated. Bored.

I became aware of this fragrance through a YouTube channel (the Simple Chic life) and ordered it blind (? even though I had promised myself not to do that anymore). It was said there that while it has BR 540 vibes, it is also a beautiful standalone fragrance. That's exactly why I wanted it. Personally, I never quite understand the dupe hype, because in the end, the dupe always smells a bit different anyway, and it feels like "cheating" to me, like "I didn't make it." So I'd rather have one original than 10 dupes! I love BR540; if I had to choose one fragrance forever (wouldn't that be an absolute nightmare!?), it would be BR 540! And no dupe can compare to it! Even if some smell similar (e.g., Zara red temptation), the "magic" is missing, the airy, molecular quality that BR has for me. But now to Sunset riot: it absolutely has a right to exist, even without being relegated to just a dupe. At first, it resembles BR, yes, but it is much softer, quieter, less "in your face," with the "medicinal note" coming through the most, so if you don't like that in BR, Sunset riot is not for you. But even this note is softer, less intrusive. The scent is less sweet, no "burnt sugar" or cotton candy note, just a subtle sweetness, and above all, the fragrance is super creamy and cozy. Very versatile, wearable for any occasion and any season, it has signature scent potential. H/S is moderate. Definitely unisex, but if one had to choose, it leans more feminine. So, all in all, a great, unusual, unique fragrance, very niche, and the price-performance ratio is superb! And the bottle is very decorative, minimalist-shabby/chic - elegant with a concrete-look cap. This would be a candidate for positioning on a nice mirrored tray. It always looks so great when people present their collection on pretty trays or in elegant glass display cases. I never dare to do that. I always want to store the fragrances in the best possible environment - after all, you only keep ice in the freezer, not in the fridge. That's why my fragrances have to stay in OV in the closed cabinet, in the dark hallway. It's actually a shame. Like the pretty princess locked in a dark tower. And I feel especially sorry for Sunset riot!

First of all: I own and love Baccarat Rouge 540 EdP, so I was all the more excited about Sunset Riot. It was a blind purchase that I do not regret. The parallels to Baccarat are undeniable, but SR is much more suitable for everyday wear and overall simply fresher, more robust, and thus great for spring and summer. The "medicinal" note - for me rather a "mineral" note - is also dominant in BR, but thankfully it lacks the sweetness, which makes it lighter and more approachable. Because as much as I love BR, it is a statement that I don't want to make during the day.

Regardless of whether one wants to attribute a similarity to BR540 for this scent or not, it remains clear that this fragrance represents one of the more individual examples in the perfume firmament. Especially in times when certain perfumes are very similar, this must be seen as a positive trait - regardless of whether one appreciates this particular perfume or not! This scent is certainly not easy to grasp, not immediately clear in which direction it is headed, whether one will be happy with it or will not use it a second time. Sunset Riot is not an aquatic, it is not sweetly fruity, it is not classically spicy, it is not typically Western and not typically Arabic - just individual. In the opening, I perceive orange, but not a fruity, sweet orange, rather a bitter-herb orange aroma - one might even say strict. From the very beginning, a medicinal note accompanies it, reminiscent of a dentist's office and disinfectant. Anyone who is bothered by this has already decided not to like the fragrance, as this accompanies the scent journey into the dry down - just individual. As the scent develops, woody notes come into play, and I find the fragrance consistently floral with floral and blossom aromas, almost a bit ethereal or equipped with slightly esoteric vibes. I seem to remember having once owned a sauna infusion that bore certain similarities. With the scents from Giardino Benessere, for example, I find similar associations with ethereal notes. Sunset Riot feels calming to me, like an aromatherapy one might think - yet very individual. Also, longevity and sillage are hard for me to grasp here: I have worn this perfume four times now, during which I had the impression twice that the scent held very well and projected, and I could still perceive it in the evening after a long day at the office. The other two times, the magic had faded after just a few hours. Can this scent be recommended: Yes, for individualists indeed - but even those should decide to test it before purchasing!

Less in-your-face than BR540, though they clearly share similar DNA. Sunset Riot is a woman wearing a cool leather jacket over a sleek satin gown w/ platform Doc Marten boots. I believe I detect ambroxan in this though it isn’t mentioned here. It adds a bit of refinement to a very sweet fragrance, makes it a bit more grown up but still kind of punk. I consider this BR540's rebellious sister who’s a drummer in three different bands. Sunset Riot definitely stands on its own merit. Updated on 05/26/2023