Still Life by Olfactive Studio

Still Lift is a curious scent: it starts spicy, explosive, and hot, but as it develops, it turns into an aquatic and fresh bomb without losing that warm touch. On my skin, the peppers (pink and black) dominate with an elegant balance where the anise really shines. The cedar adds a subtle woody air. I think whoever wears it has the power to transform it into something very feminine or extremely masculine; it’s a unisex that changes when it touches the skin. I find Olfactive Studio fragrances so pleasant and high-quality that they leave me speechless. ♡Scent: 9/10 ♡Sillage: 10/10 ♡Longevity: 9/10

Still Life is a deceptive and ill-intentioned citrus fragrance. I adore natural yuzu for its exquisite nuances between tangerine and bitter orange, with slight acidity, rich sweetness, and generous freshness, but here there isn’t even a trace of yuzu; I only smell orange juice powder from those cheap supermarket containers that promise nectar of the gods but fail to deliver. It bothers me that a niche house from this brand, at a price that isn’t cheap, offers something so synthetic and almost ordinary. It doesn’t smell bad, it’s just fine, but you could get much more for that price, especially real yuzu or Japanese tangerine essence. A resounding ‘no’. Rating: 3

It starts strong with citrus, almost annoying, but fades in seconds. It’s almost a one-note perfume: the yuzu, which dominates the entire life of the fragrance, very linear. If I analyze it better, I notice a touch of Sichuan pepper, but very timid, almost hidden at the bottom. It stayed that way for almost 12 hours. It looks a lot like Mandragore by Annick Goutal; the one from A.G. feels more refined and elegant. If it were food, they’d be similar recipes, but in A.G.’s version they use bergamot and regular pepper, whereas here it’s yuzu and Sichuan pepper. The yuzu here smells very natural but gives it a rustic touch, unlike the bergamot in Mandragore which makes it sweeter and more pleasant. For me, Mandragore was the better result. In terms of price, Mandragore costs a third of this: $165 for 100ml versus $60 for the other. This reminds me of complaints about bad reformulations and high prices; they say it’s us who accept paying for it. It’s true, but unity is strength. This niche house, Olfactive Studio, lowered prices because sales were low: from $190 and $145, now they are $165 and $115. With the internet, it’s easier to communicate; they should use email to complain about reformulations and prices, stop buying them, and maybe they’ll improve. Although they can’t use old ingredients, they could adjust projection and longevity with other methods. We must be demanding. I don’t see it for sports, but for casual and relaxed use: a walk in the park, an informal date, or hanging out with friends and family, but not for the gym. Ideal for summer or intermediate seasons. It lasted about 12 hours: 7 hours with medium sillage and 5 more with low but perceptible sillage. In short, it’s a good natural and non-generic perfume, but at $165 it seems expensive; there are better citrus niche options like Mandragore.