I quickly pop one of those red-and-white swirled candies into my mouth, the kind named after the aging lead singer of a German punk band. My mood lifts instantly. The candy is creamy in my mouth, delicately sweet, with a certain acidity that's necessary so the bubblegum feeling doesn't overwhelm you. Lately, for reasons I can't explain, I've been looking for a "squeaky" perfume that reminds me of how we teens in the 2000s constantly reached for body sprays from various clothing brands. It was colorful, a bit too sweet and fruity, and well, cheaper than perfume. This here is—and I really don't mean this as an insult—an upscale, mature version of that. I feel motivated, a bit cute, a bit whimsical; the wild strawberry does exactly what it's supposed to do and packs a real punch, but not in a teenage way. Maybe I don't even really smell it, but the vacation vibe, the pool note, something ephemeral resonating in the background, grounds the fragrance. You might think at first that those around me would complain about the scent, which starts off quite expansive, but no—"you smell like spring, a bouquet that's just been cut," "Nostalgic," "this is how I imagine #dopaminedressing smells." It sounds absolutely feminine at first, but I would love to smell this fragrance on a man. I think it could create some truly wonderful contrasts.
