*Em’s Note* So, yeah. Didn’t mean to take Tuesday off. As it turns out, the combination of having one of your tonsils blow up alongside a 38.4° fever, physical exhaustion, a desire to sleep for 36 hours, and full body ache doesn’t create the best headspace to write anything! Yeah I was going through it. But I’m mostly better now. In as much as I’m upright and able to speak again. So, onwards and upwards I guess.
2026 so far has been a pretty banger year for fragrance releases. It seems like every 2-3 business days, there is a new fragrance that is making a target out of my wallet. And because I have little to no self control at the best of times, I do pick up the launches that interest me the most. As I am wont to do. Now that I’ve had some of these fragrances in my collection for a hot minute, I figured it was high time to share my thoughts on whether they are actually worth grabbing. So, let’s get into it!
KAYALI EDEN SWEET PEACH 35 – $54.00 for 10ml
NOTES – Top: Peach, Red Apple, Bergamot. Middle: Nectarine, Freesia, Frangipani, Rose, Jasmine. Base: Vanilla, Musk, Praline, Oakmoss, Amber, Patchouli, Tonka
KAYALI EDEN PLUSH PEAR 23 – $54.00 for 10ml
NOTES – Top: Pear, Mandarin, Bergamot. Middle: Freesia, Gardenia, Coconut Water, Lily Of The Valley, Orange Blossom. Base: Vanilla Caviar, Cashmere, Sandalwood
Emily talking about a Kayali launch. Likely thing for her to be doing. In all honesty, when I saw that Mona was at long last expanding on the Eden collection, it hit my cart faster than you could blink. Eden Juicy Apple and Sparkling Lychee are both long standing favourites that I have raved about over the years. So my expectations for Sweet Peach and Plush Pear were through the roof. Now that I have them…. Well…
Ok, we’ll start with Sweet Peach first. This was the one that I anticipated loving out of the two. And upon that opening spritz, I immediately fell in love. That opening burst of peach is so decadent and juicy. But I don’t know, over the last few wears, I’ve noticed that the longer it settles on my skin, it takes on this really sharp quality that just doesn’t jive with my skin chemistry. And the longer it wears, the less I like it. My guess is that it’s the Patchouli in the base. That’s a note I’ve noticed recently that can make or break a fragrance for me.
On the flip side, we have Plush Pear, whose opening notes I HATED upon first spritz. It was like someone took Juicy Apple and dumped the headiest white florals on top of it. I’m normally a white floral girly, but it was a lot. But once it settled on the skin after a few hours, it takes on such a luxurious, silky finish on my skin. The Pear pairing with the Vanilla and Sandalwood pretty much perfectly on me. And the florals, while still present, balance out much more evenly. I was genuinely shocked at how much I ended up enjoying it on my skin.
All in all, a mixed bag. I’m unlikely to repurchase a 50ml of either of them in the future. But I’m enjoying them while I have them.
SOL DE JANERIO CHEIROSA 91 – $45.00 for 90ml
NOTES – Top: Passionfuit, Pink Pepper. Middle: Pink Rose, Magnolia, Cream, Pistachio Base: Honey, Amber, Sugar, Caramel, Sandalwood
Full disclosure, I only bought this because I am a Cheirosa collector at this point. And I fully expected to hate this one for the glaring Pink Rose note right in the middle there. So, colour me utterly gobsmacked to discover that this one is actually pretty awesome. If I were to describe it, I would call it Delina’s fun little sister. The Rose is there, but it’s not cloying and it pairs shockingly well with the Passionfruit. Which I would call the real star of the show here. Passionfruit as a note in fragrance can be hit or miss for me. But this one has a slight acidity that makes it really stand out. The Honey and Amber in the base adds a sweetness that balances out the sharpness of the Passionfruit really well too. It’s a fragrance that sparkles, if that makes sense. Unfortunately the Pink Pepper note means I can’t wear this to work (my boss’s nose is like a basset hound, I swear). But it’s such a fun addition to the range that I would recommend you check out.
GLOSSIER YOU SOIE – $55.00 for 10ml
NOTES – Top: Bergamot. Middle: Jasmine, Rice, Tiare, Milk, Water. Base: Ambrox Super
Fun fact about me, as much as I love Glossier You, I’m never been the biggest fan of any of the You flankers. They aren’t bad, per se. They just don’t do much for me personally. When I saw the notes for You Soie though, it immediately became the first You flanker that I wanted to purchase blind. I just knew I was going to love it. And I was 100% correct, this is incredible. The DNA of You is still there. It’s the skin scent to end all skin scents. But it has such a gorgeous, feather light yet creamy quality from the Rice and Milk notes that pairs with my skin chemistry so incredibly well. It smells earthy, beachy, well rounded, and incredibly sexy, which is something I’ve never said to describe Glossier You before. In all honesty, this should not work. And yet it does. And that’s why I’ve been almost unable to put it down since I got it.
And those are some quick-fire thoughts on some of the fragrances that have come across my deskk. Let me know which ones have your eye in the comments!
Cheers and love
Emily xo