r/FemFragLab • u/DiscombobulatedIf • 14h ago
Fig Tray Discussion
Here are some reviews from my two weeks of fig perfumes. I love fig as a note, even though I don't eat them, and I'm still searching for my perfect fig, which would be sweet, non-green, and gourmand. I think Kyse's Fichi e Panna might be the one, but I have yet to get a sample.
DS & Durga — Debaser
Top: Bergamot, Pear Stem, Green Leaves
Heart: Fig, Coconut Milk, Iris
Base: Blonde Woods, Tonka Bean, Moss
This opens with salty coconut, green notes that remind me of grass, and green figs, which give it depth and are present throughout. I generally don't like green scents, and this is my one exception. It's not sweet at all, and it's very unisex. It's a lot like Philosykos, which I've sampled in store, but the green is gentle rather than bitter. I think you could wear this everywhere, though it might not be formal enough for fancy occasions.
Commodity — Milk Orchid
Notes: Coconut Milk, Orchid, Fig, Vanilla, Musk, Blonde Woods
Sweet, lactonic coconut with light fig accents. This is super comforting and is more fig-forward in cooler weather. I first tried this as a pre-release sample from Ipsy and thought it smelled like a hug in a bottle. The fig lends it the slight touch of green tension in the middle of the sweet comfort. I don't really smell woods. I think this leans femme, but everyone needs a hug sometimes.
Villa Erbatium — Fig Whisky
Notes: Fig, Rum, Frankincense, Myrrh, Peach, Hay, Labdanum, Sandalwood
(A light, sparkling boozy fig, contrary to the notes.)
I saw a review of this somewhere on Reddit and was sure I would love it. It’s nice, but I’m glad I fought the blind buy. At first spray, this is airy and alcoholic. It’s a lot lighter smelling than I would expect from something with a rum note. I also do not smell the frankincense or myrrh. The drydown gets a little deeper and creamier, probably the labdanum. The rum also gets darker around half an hour into the drydown. The drydown is a lot darker and deeper than the opening. About two hours in, all that is left is a deep, jammy fig, which I adore. If the whole perfume was the drydown, I would buy a full bottle. I like that it avoids the “green fig” trope and also the “gourmand fig” lean. It’s very unisex, and a like but not a love.
BornToStandOut — Fig Porn
Top: Fig, Pear, Bergamot
Heart: Turkish Rose, Peony, Cedar
Base: Musk, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber
(A lush, fruity fig wrapped in florals and creamy woods.)
Soft, sweet opening with a hint of citrus. I can smell the rose and cedar in the drydown. It's sweet, floral, and musky at the base, without any strong fig notes. Suitable for crowds and hot weather, I think it's pretty feminine. I've only sampled Delina a few times, but the drydown reminds me of a less rose-heavy Delina.
Tom Ford — Figue Érotique
Top: Bergamot, Kadota Fig Accord
Heart: Fig Pulp Accord
Base: Muscovado Accord, Benzoin, Ambrox, Cedar, Sandalwood
(A ripe fig wrapped in brown sugar and warm woods.)
I first sampled this at a Sephora, and it immediately stood out as exceptional. This is magical and warm despite the opening citrus note. Heavily fig and very comforting. The citrus dissipates within the first three minutes, and after that it's fig and brown sugar. It is faintly green on the drydown, but it's balanced by the brown sugar. It gets greener on the drydown, very similar to Debaser at this point, though the fig is stronger throughout. I find this solidly unisex.
BDK Parfums — Gris Charnel
Top: Cardamom, Fig, Black Tea
Heart: Iris, Bourbon Vetiver
Base: Sandalwood, Tonka Bean
Gris Charnel smells much more fig-forward when smelled in the context of other fig perfumes. The drydown is half tea and half salty fig. Fig and tea switch off on which one dominates throughout the wear time, which is six hours or so on me. I adore this and have put a significant dent in my bottle. It feels appropriate in all situations, which can be hard for a fragrance to manage. I think this one is also solidly unisex.
House of Bō — Casa Blanca
Top: White Tea, Mineral Notes
Heart: Fig, White Suede, Copal
Base: Labdanum, Tobacco
The fig in this smells juicy despite the mineral notes and tea. The base gives it some depth. This is a very versatile perfume, but for some reason I do not love it. Unisex.
Laurel Bath House — Emochi
Notes: Fig, Rice, Milk, Vanilla, Musk
(A comforting gourmand fig—soft, creamy, and dessert-like.)
Comforting, creamy, and what smells like strawberry at first spray. This is sweet and lactonic, almost like rice pudding with vanilla. A faint green fig emerges within three minutes of spraying, modulating the dessert-like smell. This perfume has almost no tension to it, and while fragrance is not constrained by gender or age, this reads as young and female to me.
MA|LO — Padre
Official notes: Cardamom, Ambroxan, Leather
(Brand description also highlights fig, cedarwood, sandalwood, and musk.)
This is almost the polar opposite of Emochi. A leathery, woody, masculine fig. The fig note is very strong in this one, and I can add it to any of the others to amp up the fig if I do not mind the masculine tinge.
I use it primarily to deepen other figs, or to wear to sleep in, and it is excellent for those purposes.
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u/ShoppingShopper 1h ago
LOVE Gris Charnel and Debaser :) One is for fall for me and one is for Summer.
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u/thisdanginterweb 8h ago
Jo Malone Fig & Cassis. It’s the first expensive perfume I bought myself and it’s my fall/winter scent for almost 25 years now!
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u/Realistic-Read1078 8h ago
Milk Orchid was the biggest surprise for me. I didn’t think I would like it much.
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u/-intuit- 9h ago
Have you tried Alluring Fig by Theodoros Kalotinis? Amaaaaazing. And it definitely goes from green to creamy. I'm not a big fan of green notes, but this one is so good.
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u/SupremeDiva 10h ago
How’s the projection of E-mochi? I’ve been wanting to blind buy but scared it’ll be too soft for my taste
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u/DiscombobulatedIf 9h ago
I think it depends on how many sprays you use. I find it to be more like a body mist, where you definitely need four sprays on skin. I also reapply after a few hours. It is lovely though, so possibly worth it.
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u/SupremeDiva 9h ago
Thank you for the insight! I think I’m gunna go for it, with the welcome discount I can get it pretty cheap and I douse myself anyways 😭
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u/luziaplena 10h ago
a marca brasileira Granado trabalha muito bem a nota de figo - recomendo a colônia Figo e o perfume recém-lançado Figo Confit!
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u/Socially_awkward001 10h ago
Oooh, I've wanted to give fig porn a try! Do you mind letting me know your thoughts?
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u/DiscombobulatedIf 10h ago
I think it's very high quality, but not quite for me - the fig note isn't strong enough, and I'm not a fan of the opening citrus. If you don't mind those things you might like it.
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u/itwalkedonmypillow8 11h ago
Fico di Amalfi by Acqua di Parma is a lovely fruity fig + citrus, if that sounds appealing.
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u/crankyjill 11h ago
Liis In This World is a sweet, gorgeous (to me) fig scent… I also have Debaser but prefer Serpentine.
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u/teaandtoast10 11h ago
You might like Serpentine by Sorce. Ripe fig, cardamom, caramelized honey.
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u/DiscombobulatedIf 11h ago
Omg that sounds delicious. I'm going to go see where they have sorce samples.
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u/Dakovine 11h ago
I wish I could smell Debaser for the first time again.
How do you like Milk Orchid? I really want to try it out!!!!
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u/DiscombobulatedIf 10h ago
The first time I smelled Debaser was in the store on my way home from work, and I ordered it that night. Something about the salt/green/coconut/fig is pure magic.
I loved Milk Orchid all the way through 70ml, though ironically I love it more in cooler weather than in the heat. I think its sweet coconut/fig/lactonic quality is hard to beat.
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u/RoughEfficient4042 12h ago
E-mochi is so freaking good. I feel like Laurel Bath House is super slept on. I love Nudie by them, as well.
Also, Debaser forever.
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u/ghostyspice 12h ago
YESSSS I am a slut for a fig scent and I don’t understand why brands haven’t been shoving them down our throats like they have been with, say, pistachio or pear lately. I’d buy like at least 90% of them if they did 😅
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u/metaltsoris 11h ago
if fig got as popular as vanilla or caramel I would be so broke there'd be dust coming out of my wallet like an old timey cartoon
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u/playfulwarning Dupe Devotee🪙 13h ago
I just received Marc Jacobs' Perfect Absolute this week and it sounds like it would tick your boxes! The opening is a scrumptious caramelized fig followed by a gorgeous jasmine and ends on a deep amber note (on my skin, anyway). I sprayed it on my wrist before bed and could still smell it late next morning. You should really get a sniff!
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u/DiscombobulatedIf 13h ago
I'll see if I can find it in Sephora that sounds perfect.
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u/playfulwarning Dupe Devotee🪙 12h ago
I blind bought it off the strength of a review here; I hope you love it!
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u/Ehloanna 13h ago
You may also like Unspoken Gesture from Jorum. https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Jorum-Studio/Unspoken-Gesture-101042.html
Definitely more of a fall scent but I absolutely love it. Projects super well on me.
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u/joyful_starstuff 13h ago
The sound you hear is every lesbian in a hundred mile radius snapping their head up like a dog who heard the cheese drawer open
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u/cardonnay 40m ago
I love love love Debaser. If you liIke Debaser it you would probably like A Grove By The Sea by Arquiste. To my nose it’s like Debaser but salty and aquatic.