TBA (2008)
by True Religion

True Religion

Notes: Bergamot, Mandarin, Violet Leaves, Granny Smith Apple, Red Currant, Freesia, Pear Tree Blossom, Amaryllis, Purple Plum, Hinoki Wood, Ambrette Musk, Blond Cedar Wood (from Sephora.com)

True Religion starts very bright and cheerful, with a splash of blended citruses, juicy, fruity apple and peach or nectarine, and a watery aquatic note. The citrus (bergamot, orange) fades rather quickly, leaving a banal peach-water with aspirations for an inexpensive scented shower gel or hair care product. Something about TR seems familiar--perhaps it is the peachy note which seems to show up in quite a few "fresh floral" fragrances for women (the new Zen limited release in the white cube comes to mind). After the initial fizzy citrus blast, the development is monotonous and flat. The base is a clean soapy musk accord and a huge dollop of IsoESuper. Add this to the list of mediocre "fresh" smelling scents that could have been a shampoo.

An interesting name for an ordinary fragrance. One would expect an epiphany, but what one gets is a trend-following perfume. On the cover is a woman wearing a cowboy hat and an expression that is both horny and suspicious. It is as though she is saying, "I don't trust you, but I'm really desperate, so I will ignore my aversion in order to satisfy this horrible craving." I guess that is how some people feel about religion.
So, I had hopes that this fragrance would be something other than the usual stuff pushed at this demographic.
The opening is the Sour Patch candy beginnings of a "new chypre." The middle notes begin to smell more interesting and woody, and I hoped for a woody Oriental, but they did not last. In the end, it returns to the sour candy and adds a big Juicy Fruit chewing gum note. Yawn. I almost gave it a neutral rating because I like gum, but actually, I wouldn't wear it. There are better bubblegum fragrances.

This fragrance has no character. I wouldn't even rate it amongst the 'nice and inoffensive' scents, because it so faint that to call it watery would be an overstatement. It smells like all those generic bright, fruity body sprays, only watered down with the sugar content turned to 'low'. I guess you can give the brand credit for not trying too hard, but on the other hand, I'm annoyed they're charging so much for something so boring.

Smells faintly of wet paint and sour green apple. After about 30 minutes of wear, I couldn't smell it anymore. I would never buy this fragrance.