Meraki by Botanicae

Meraki is another fragrance from the Botanicae house that, like Shomal, is suitable for the whole family. I’ve had both eau de parfums at home, and it’s a joy to use them throughout the year due to their versatility (obviously, except in winter). Regarding Meraki, on a male skin, the fresh, fruity, and woody aspects stand out, but on a female skin, a soft and pleasant permanent fruity sweetness comes to the forefront. Perhaps it’s on male skin where the fragrance is perceived as more olfactorily evolving. Also, with Meraki, you won’t have any problems with longevity. While Shomal will stay on your skin for about 6-7 hours, Meraki is a gem that can linger on your skin for around 9-10 hours. Moreover, Meraki has excellent projection, projecting about a meter and a half during the first and second hour. If you go on a trip, Meraki is an excellent Swiss Army knife that holds up without overwhelming and doesn’t abandon you. Meraki opens with a fresh and fruity sensation provided by a young strawberry, more green or underripe, but after about 20 minutes, the fig takes the lead, a type of fig still on the tree but at an optimal point that will persist, along with the woody notes, until the end of the fragrance on skin. I suppose the floral notes here have more of a function to balance the composition, as their perception is brief and light. In short, Meraki is a perfume with inevitable Mediterranean sensations. As always, I advise you not to rely solely on the score given to a fragrance; always test any niche perfume on your skin before making a final purchase and don’t trust exclusively in the scent that develops on blotting paper.

Meraki is a unique creation made with care. While not identical, it reminds me of Battito d’ali: serenity, good vibes, and quiet joy. It reinterprets that Mediterranean well-being, like ripe fruits in the orchard at the end of summer. I disagree with the idea that it’s for women. The strawberry note gives that impression, but why is strawberry feminine and grapefruit masculine? I lent it to a friend, and she said it smelled like an uncle. For me, women see it as a man’s scent, while some friends think otherwise. I’m a fan of fougères, realistic sailors, good blues, and very masculine perfumes… and I love this one. Singular, with a concept behind it. It doesn’t resemble anything else. Informal, carefree. It pleases, stands out, and intrigues. Excellent longevity, very high quality. I definitely recommend Meraki.

Fresh strawberry and hyper-realistic fig. Top-notch quality. The trail is potent at first but then settles into all-day bursts that you keep catching. This small Spanish brand caught me off guard; you can really feel the care. Great price for a niche scent. Can’t wait to try more from them.

Ripe fig and wild strawberry, very natural. You can detect a hint of coconut milk, a creaminess that complements the fruit. A delight that envelops you like a cloud, with high-quality ingredients and a very unique profile. Buy blind if you like fig. Unbeatable price-to-quality ratio.

I bought it blindly because it was recommended to smell like natural strawberry, but for me, it’s a fig perfume, not a strawberry one. It opens with a powerful and realistic fig, smelling of fig leaves and sage, very green and unisex. As it dries down, it becomes more feminine and the strawberry becomes more noticeable, while the fig relaxes but doesn’t disappear. I don’t know if it’s the blend or if I’m crazy, but it smells a bit like coconut to me, or rather, very subtle coconut milk (even if you don’t like coconut, you might like it in a perfume; it’s rare for me to like it). It almost reminds me of Yara Rosa, but with fig and less sweet. I’m liking it, especially for summer, but I need to wear it more to see if I regret my impulse buy.