Sakura Solid Perfume

Despite enjoying the bath bomb of the same name, the solid and liquid versions of this perfume didn't live up to my expectations. Having been lucky enough to acquire one of these rare beauties through the Lush forum, I was excited to have a perfume that shared its scent with Rub Rub Rub. Unfortunately, my experience was less than impressive.

Sakura translates simply as 'cherry blossom' in Japanese, and it was this title that inspired it's scent. Made from a composition of mimosa, orange blossom and jasmine absolute, this perfume is supposed to be a delicate, floral arrangement with a dash of lemon juice to make it uplifting and refreshing. Yet the smell I got from the perfume was far from this.

Although I could smell mimosa slightly, it's the orange that makes the biggest impression on me. This along with the jasmine gives this solid perfume a rather intense cherry-scented smell. Yet it's not a sweet, subtle cherry, more of a plastic, synthetic fruity aroma. I could also detect a very faint but equally present sour note that made this fragrance a little off-putting. 

Aside from the floral elements, there is also a thread of green intertwined throughout and this is finished off with a touch of spice, which gives the perfume a slight warmth. While Rub Rub Rub has a fresh and predominantly salty smell, this has a more grassy, pretty aroma. Unfortunately  in the solid perfume format, this fragrance doesn't seem as refreshing and pales quite considerably to the rest of its family.       

As I've said in nearly all of my solid perfume reviews, there are many reasons why solid perfumes are a good investment. Firstly, they are very easy to transport from place to place. They take up very little space and have no way of leaking, so can be stored in pockets, purses and bags and taken near enough anywhere. Secondly, they are great value for money and normally outdo the lifespan of a 100ml bottle of liquid perfume. 

However, due to the inclusion of waxes to set the perfume, this fragrance just doesn't have the same impact in this format. On the skin, I could make out the lovely gentle floral tones but this was thwarted quite considerably by the plastic smell of the waxes. While the bath bomb flourishes under the heat of the water, this perfume just doesn't have any way of expanding and releasing those wonderful notes. 

Furthermore, the staying power of Sakura is rather poor, and I couldn't detect it at all after about 45 minutes. While I enjoy subtle fragrances as much as I appreciate the stronger ones, this fragrance leaves no impression on my skin and I found myself topping up with other perfumes. I didn't enjoy this at all. 

While the Sakura smell is rather lovely and well-suited for consumers who like the gentle, prettier smells, this just didn't sit well with me. I've awarded it three out of six because if you enjoy the smell, you may find it works better on your skin and senses. However, it's definitely not something I'd buy or use again. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Japan Wax, Perfume, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Carnauba Wax (Copernicia cerifera), Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Mimosa Absolute (Mimosa tenuiflora), Organic Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Orange Blossom Absolute (Citrus Aurantium dulcis), Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum officinale), Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.