California-based fragrance brand Pinrose has been on my radar for a few years now. Launched in 2014, the brand’s expanding line of “perfume for clever devils” offers a unique approach to the fragrance shopping experience and is aimed at those shoppers who literally don’t know where to start. They offer a scent quiz which is designed to discover your subconscious scent style.

 The Pinrose approach is to use an interactive quiz to help match you with your perfect fragrance instead of focusing on notes and fragrance families. So when I recently came across an online sale for their rollerball wardrobe sets at 40% off I saw it as a sign that it was time to give Pinrose a whirl.

The fragrance wardrobe set came with 10 different fun-size rollerballs so I was going to have a whole lot of sniffing to do. They also offer suggestions  on different ways to mix-and-match to  depending on whether you want to go for “the girl next door” or “the bombshell”. I’m on board with that since I’m all about experimenting and layering. My apologies to any perfume purists out there.

A preliminary search revealed that Pinrose co-founders Christine Luby and Erika Shumate met while at Stanford Business School. Shamate had always been a fragrance fanatic, earning a degree in the science of olfaction from Yale and it was she who helped Luby fall in love with fragrance. Clearly these are two smart cookies but what about the juice?

According to the Our Story section on the company website:

 

“We built Pinrose around our shared goals: create high quality and interesting fragrances, reimagine the status quo, and laugh daily. We met while in school almost 10 years ago. We became fast friends, bonding over a mutual love of improve, fractal geometry, and the 1996 Chicago Bulls.

 

We believe the ritual of applying perfume is short, but significant. We hope that when you apply Pinrose, you experience a moment of joy that adds a skip to your step and a twinkle to your eye.

 

We created Pinrose to be different from the other perfume brands. Unlike the big brands that overdesign and overcharge, we make the highest quality scents that are designed by real women for real women.”

 

First off, ICYMI personalization of fragrances is right on trend which I wrote about here. Shopping for perfume can be frustrating and for many of us intimidating. People are looking for a more personal connection before they plunk down cash and more than ever before are finding this in niche brands.

I won’t lie.  I took the scent quiz that promised to pinpoint my scent personality with a large dose of skepticism. I’ve taken these types of online tests before and  none of them have been right on target. Most have been laughably inaccurate, recommending perfumes that I hated. FYI trying to find your perfect perfume based on zodiac sign is a total waste of time. Those have consistently pointed me in the wrong direction although I’m Aquarius which supposedly means I’m highly unpredictable with a tendency to go off-track. I’m sure my sign is a toughie. I’m guessing that if you’re a Cancer or a Scorpio you’ll have much better luck.

The Pinrose quiz is actually one of the better ones I’ve come across and uses a series of pairs of images, shapes and colors. On each screen (there are 7), you are instructed to select the one that you are instantly and instinctively drawn towards. Before revealing your 3 scent recommendations, they ask for your birthday. Huh? I considered shaving a few years off the year but in the end honesty prevailed.

I’m not going to spill the beans about which three scents Pinrose had pegged me as loving until the end so you have to bear with me…

Since I had 10 different perfumes to try and some of them had the cutest names. Pillowtalk Poet, Cuddle Punk and Garden Gangsta  Gangster got a giggle out of me. I knew I was going to have to pace myself since frenetic sniffing is always a bad idea.

So here’s my take on the whole kit and caboodle along with some fun facts about each one offered by Pinrose:

 

• Secret Genius

 

 

Notes: Madagascar vanilla, caramel, sandalwood

Sips Like: White Russian

Perfumer: Harry Freemont

 

“Perfect for hatching plans and stealing kisses.”

 

I would have to call this a sweet gourmand comfort scent but way too sweet for me. I love caramel but not almost never in perfume. Interestingly this initially reminded me of a little of a Victoria Secret scent someone gifted me years ago which I never wore and eventually gave away. They definitely got the drink right.

 

• Treehouse Royal

 

 

Notes: Fig, jasmine moss

Sips like: Pinot noir

Perfumer: Ilias Ermendis

 

“Best worn when reigning with style and grace.”

 

Although it’s not listed as a note I am 99% sure I smell pear here. It’s the fig that steals the show here and it’s a very nice fruity fig. The jasmine was in remission which was disappointing since I love my jasmine. The mossy note gives this an earthy, grounded quality which isn’t overpowering. If you love Philosykos by Diptyque this might be right up your alley and costs a lot less.

 

• Gilded Fox

 

 

Notes: Cocoa, rum, vetiver

Sips like: Spiked hot cocoa

Perfumer: David Apel

 

“Outfox your prey with this warm and sexy potion. Best worn with a barely there come-hither stare.”

 

Butter cookies and boozy chocolate pretty much sum it up. Gilded Fox isn’t for me but it’s not horrible. The chocolate smells divine and the vetiver lends a nice powdery freshness. I am reminded of a Jo Malone scent which contains cacao and vetiver that I can’t remember the name of.

 

• Wild Child

 

 

Notes: Gardenia, jasmine, plumeria

Sips like: Cosmopolitan

Perfumer: Richard Herpin

 

“Unleash your inner troublemaker with flirty white flowers. Best worn with a twinkle in your eye.”

 

Soft, feminine and powdery, Wild Child is anything but wild. Free and youthful yes so that must have been what they were getting at. The plumeria transported me to my last vacation in Maui and sent me into a nostalgic funk. Tropical scents have a way of either lifting my spirits or making me despondent that I’m stuck here in freezing New York and am probably about to lose power when the next nor’easter hits soon.  The gardenia isn’t the most natural smelling gardenia that I’m always hoping to find but it’s not a nasty gardenia either. The amber and vanilla base keeps this from becoming overly floral.

I do like this scent although I’m not sure yet if I like it enough to purchase a full bottle. This is a definite maybe.

 

• Tambourine Dreamer

 

 

Notes: Ylang ylang, lily of the valley, white musk

Sips like: Elderflower Martini

Pefumer: Nathalie Benareau

 

“Perfect for vineyard picnics and bottomless brunches.”

 

I know some people steer clear of lily of the valley because it either reminds them of funerals or it goes mothball of their skin. This one has an unmistakeable LOV vibe but it’s grounded by a lovely ylang ylang and peony with a hint of musk. After a couple of hours of wear, it settles into a delicious and uncomplicated floral, woody musk.

They had me at Elderflower Martini. How yummy does that sound? I need to try one of those soon.

 

• Cuddle Punk

 

 

Notes: Apricot, vanilla, cypress

Sips like: Fuzzy Navel

Perfumer: Davis Apel

 

“Get cozy with this playful mashup of apricot and vanilla. Perfect for pillow fights and love bites.”

 

 I love the name but I need to pass on the juice. Whatever is going on just does not work for me. I really wish that the apricot and vanilla had managed to balance the cypress and what is clearly patchouli but it ended up feeling extremely medicinal on my skin. And there was also a weird tobacco but not quite impression I got from it. I can’t see myself cuddling up to anyone wearing this. Nope.

 

• Merry Maker

 

 

Notes: Nectarine, plum, tonka bean

Sips like: Bellini

Perfumer: Christelle Laprade

 

This bright cheerful scent is a must try if you love Happy by Clinique because they are definitely sisters. It smells super fruity at first which is a little cloying but graduates to a subtle skin scent. Light, bright but a little teeny-bopperesque and not memorable.

 

• Pillowtalk Poet

 

 

Notes: Powder, amber, musk

Sips like: Hot Toddy

Perfumer: Vito Lenoci

 

“Perfect for days in bed when sweet nothings mean everything.”

 

A perfect scent if you are looking for a “my skin but better” fragrance, like on the days when you want to give yourself a little lift but not smell like you’re wearing perfume. It smells familiar and laid back yet graceful and reminded me a little of James by Rosie Jane.  Love it and am seriously thinking about getting it when my fun size runs out.

 

• Garden Gangster

 

 

Notes: Lime, bergamot, mandarin

Sips like: Pimm’s cup

Perfumer: Elias Ermendis

 

“Zest up the party with this invigorating and fresh citrus blend. Perfect for dominating lawn courts and tennis courts”.

 

Interestingly this arrived without the ball in the bottle, not my first time with rollerballs. I love rollerballs but this is their downside. They are known to malfunction. The juice came gushing out and my wrist and sleeve ended up getting drenched. Given the unexpected soaking I waited a bit before trying to hone in on my impression.

Ultimately I decided that this smells very green and fresh with a minty lime twist to it. I’ve never tried a Pimm’s Cup but I’m getting mojito?. There’s a strong likeness to Acqua di Gioia by Giorgo Armani minus the brown sugar and labdanum. Different but not something that works for me. Meh.

 

• Pinrose

 

 

Notes: Rose, clove, leather

Sips like:Rose-infused Manhattan

Perfumer: David Apel

 

“Perfect for tap-dancing your way to lucky breaks.”

 

I was curious about trying this one since I tend to dislike most scents featuring leather leather but this is not an in-your-face leather perfume. The rose is very pretty but the clove seemed a little harsh and cloying. There’s something missing or just off here, kind of like it’s trying to be edgy but misses the mark. Sorry but no thanks.

 

So if you’ve made it this far it’s time for the big reveal…

 

According to the results from the scent quiz which was supposed to determine my subconscious scent style, I should be swooning over Pillowtalk Poet (yes, got that right), Cuddle Punk (sorry but no way) and Sun Saint (what???). Apparently Sun Saint is one of their newer scents and wasn’t included in the fragrance wardrobe I received. However I’ve heard it’s along the lines of Replica Beach Walk which I quite enjoy so I’ll give it a maybe.

One out of three (and quite possibly two) isn’t too shabby so maybe this scent quiz isn’t just hocus pocus like the others.

 

Pinrose perfumes are available in 50 ml ($65) and 30 ml ($39) at Nordstrom, Sephora and on their website.

 

Have you tried any of the Pinrose fragrances? If so, feel free to chime in with your thoughts. 

Update: If you’re interested in taking the Pinrose scent quiz you can find it here.

 

Until the next time,