We just got back to the States after visiting Merida, Mexico this past week. Merida is one of the spots that we are visiting in our search for the ideal place to retire in a few years. We’re ready for an adventure and are both drawn to Mexico. So after hearing wonderful things about the city, we decided to take a visit. Merida didn’t disappoint. Without getting too much into details, Merida is the capital city in the state of Yucatan. It was founded over 472 years ago and is city full of culture, good restaurants and wonderful people. We met with a real estate agent and looked at various options in the central city which is comprised of colonial homes which sit flush to the sidewalk, only to reveal high ceiling grandeur with gardens in the back. They were stunning. We also managed to get out of the city for a bit visiting a hacienda that was unrestored but in which you could see the magnificence that once existed as well as the Mayan ruins at Uxmal which after in the past visiting other ruins rated the best as the details on the building were very well-preserved. Both of decided that we need to go back in the fall and do some more investigation into this Yucatan jewel. It really felt like home.
So what does this have to do with DSH’s Pandora? Well, let’s just say that it became my Merida Mexico perfume of choice. A few days prior to leaving for Mexico I received my order from DSH with my order of Pandora. After reading some wonderful reviews by Kafkaesque, I wondered why I hadn’t sought DSH out before so I gave their website a spin and for some reason, was drawn towards Pandora. Have you ever been drawn into a perfume because of its name? I don’t believe I have in the past, but this time the name was the key! I must do this more often, because like Merida, Pandora is a jewel.
WHAT I SMELL: Opens with this beautiful lightly sugared suede along with this rounded deep floral mix that’s deeply soothing and strangely intoxicating and exotic. After some time, Pandora starts to reveal its oakmoss, but without drying the fragrance too much, and as such, the otherworldly quality that gives the Pandora its mystery remains intact. The fragrance doesn’t much morph beyond this, but what it does is radiate off your skin like a living force field that mixed with your body heat, will grow and pulse to match your warmth.
Pandora’s Notes:
Top notes: Aldehyde/Aldehydic, Bergamot, Cassis Bud, Davana, Green Peppercorn, Ozone, Pink Peppercorn, Ruby Red Fruits (botanical accord), Spice Notes, Violet Leaf Absolute.
Middle notes: Cabreuva Wood, Centifolia Rose Absolute, Green Tea Absolute, Juhi Jasmine Absolute, Linden Blossom Absolute, Orris Root, Yerba Mate Absolute.
Base notes: Ambergris Tincture, Australian Sandalwood, Cyperus, Fossilized Amber, Green Oakmoss, Mousse de Saxe no.1 (botanical accord), Muhuhu, Patchouli co2, Tonka Bean Absolute, Vanilla Absolute, Vetiver co2.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Sexiness. This was well suited for the warm Mexican nights and for dining al fresco at Merida’s lovely restaurants. It made me feel alive, confident and surprisingly sexy.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE PANDORA: warm, deep, soulful
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PANDORA: The Perfume Critic, Scent Hive, EauMG
BOTTOM LINE: This is so good that the 10ml bottle that I purchase has now been reduced to around 3 remaining mls. I must have more. Pandora has me under her spell! Now, I must have the parfum extrait!
- Bone Rating: 5 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Chypre Floral
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $63 for 10ml EdP from the DSH Perfumes website. It should be noted that the picture above is for the 15ml parfum extrait which sells for $227 (sorry, I couldn’t find a picture of the EdP version!)
The Scented Hound 