If you’re looking for a scent that punches way above its "high street" weight class, Sand Desert at Sunset is arguably the crown jewel of the Zara Chapter No. 4 collection. Created by master perfumer Benoist Lapouza who, notably, is the nose behind the legendary Kilian Angels' Share. This is one of my favourites that got me interested in the Zara range. To my nose thos is very close to Ziimaya's gorgeous Sharaf Blend. Perhaps a touch less boozy, this is more of an Amber/Vanilla vibe. This is a rather good, Oriental Spicy fragrance. The Opening first spray hits you with a blast of incense and orange. It’s slightly zesty but immediately smoky. Unlike many cheap fragrances, there is no harsh alcohol "sting" here.As it settles, the cinnamon takes center stage. This isn’t Christmas candle cinnamon; it’s a dry, woody spice. It blends with a chocolatey, boozy undertone that feels incredibly creamy and thick.The base is a smooth mix of tonka bean, iris, and sandalwood. The Tonka provides a vanilla-like sweetness without being cloying. The Iris: Adds a subtle "powdery" elegance that keeps the fragrance from feeling too heavy. To be honest this one is probably my favourite from Zara. Its really well structured and for the price,€22 You cannot really fault this. If your looking to smell like a high end designer fragrance for a budget price. Then this is the one to go for. Performance is rather good compaired to some of their other offerings which can lack staying power. You can get up too 6hrs with about 2 hrs projection. It creates a nice "scent bubble" without offending the whole room. Leans slightly masculine due to the spice, but smells divine on anyone.Considering it costs about 1/10th of the price of a luxury niche bottle, it is an absolute steal for anyone who loves warm, spicy, and resinous scents. My Rating 7.5/10 Scent 2.5 Longevity 2.5 Sillage 1.5 Y/N 1

Right now in southeastern Pennsylvania we have been dealing with some pretty frigid temperatures. Pretty much with highs at or hovering around the 20’s for over a week with lows in the negatives and its not predicted to ease for another week or two. I know this is nothing for my brothers in Chicago and Canada but for us here; it sucks! So in an effort to dream about warmer weather I started thinking of which fragrance I will bust out that reflects the newness of Spring. Yes I know its only January but… That being said, what style of fragrance would you be most inclined to wear as a signal to yourself and the world that its time to put away the heavy spicy vanilla scents and you are in warm weather mode. Please comment with a specific fragrance that corresponds with the category you voted for down below. Have a great day as I go and try and burn a chair for warmth.