Forbidden Fruits
by Ava Luxe

EDP review:

I’m not a great fan of Ava Luxe fragrances, in general, and this one is no exception. Like most of her other creations, the composition comes across as flat, muddy, synthetic and totally uninspiring.

This house, to me, is very much a ‘girlie’ house (a la Body Shop) and should, like other houses of this ilk, be approached with extreme caution. Also, there’s something very amateurish about most of her creations that prevents me from giving Ava Luxe the full respect that I usually award most niche houses.

The only good thing about this house is their prices. But, then again, you definitely get what you pay for here.

Want something playful but not too serious? Want something for layering? Then investigate Ava Luxe. However, if you’re really serious about fragrances and expect high-quality compositions, please investigate elsewhere…

[Original submission date: 10 April 2008]

In the beginning, this scent is truly fruit, with just a hint of spice. Perhaps these are the spicy gumdrops that I cannot find anymore? The drydown turns ambery, and the sweetness and spicy soften to reveal a hint of woods. Nicely balanced, unique, and has none of the floral scents that could wreck this delicate balance.

This starts off with a fruity blast that reminds me of the flavour of a fizzy red grape juice drink I had as a child, Shloer. It might remind Americans of grape jelly, which we don't get here in the UK, but which I've encountered on breakfast buffets at hotels in the States. Or perhaps grape bubblegum. It's nice though - sweet but not sugary. There's an undercurrant of woods an incense which is now starting to shine through, six hours after initial application. The fruitiness has softened slightly, but it's still very much in evidence. I like this very much. Another FBW? Oh so tempting!