Intrusion by Oscar de la Renta

This perfume isn’t intrusive as its name suggests; it’s soft, silky, and perfect for not bothering others while still feeling cared for. Although it promises citrus, what you actually smell is anise wrapping around flowers like lily of the valley, jasmine, and peony. The longevity is great, but the sillage is low—a delicate scent that follows you without overwhelming. Its minimalist bottle fits its essence perfectly. Another great job by Cavallier & Morillas, and I prefer it because it’s not trendy.

A precious, clean, and timeless fragrance. The citrus opening is super refreshing, with no aggressive sillage, but very enjoyable. The floral notes are well-balanced, and the woody dry down is moderate, featuring a light patchouli that I love. Ideal for hot days; it now has a permanent spot in my collection.

I confess I don’t smell much citrus, just freshness at the start. The florals are subtle (lily of the valley, gardenias, jasmine), and at the end, anise, patchouli, and amber give it a woody touch. It smells great, though it’s a classic white floral combo. It stands out for using lily of the valley instead of jasmine, making it lighter and less long-lasting, but with good sillage and an accessible price. It’s my favorite in this accord, though it sometimes gets confused with others: it resembles Salvatore Ferragamo Pour Femme (more elaborate and elegant), Oscar de la Renta Jasmine (younger and lighter), or Versace Eros (more potent). If you’re looking for the white floral flagship, go with Pure Poison, but Intrusion is ideal if you don’t like heavy woods and want something different from jasmine.

A citrus fragrance where the musk gets a bit heavy. Despite being floral, I can’t detect any actual flowers. Very unisex, but nothing current. Won’t be buying it again.

Something weird happens with this perfume: despite the main notes being citrus, I’ve never perceived any citrus note; sometimes I feel it’s floral (very subtle and nothing synthetic like other white florals), and other times I feel… woody? What surprises me most is that its notes don’t contain any wood, so I attribute it to the star anise or the amber, which at the same time make it slightly warm. PROS: smells great, it’s uncommon, has good sillage, and it’s affordable (imported versions can be found for $400 MXN pesos). CONS: When I first tried it, a friend accompanied me, and the first thing he said was: “It smells rich, but it feels like it’s for an older person,” an opinion I shared at the time since it reminded me of a perfume my grandma used. It reminds me, in a note, of Tous’ Sensual Touch; the only note they share is patchouli (so maybe that’s what gives it the “older” smell we perceive). Regarding price-to-quality, 8.5/10.

Rich scent and quite original, but it doesn’t quite convince me to repurchase. In fact, my mom bought it, and I ended up using it myself. 7/10