I’m usually the woman who loves the fragrances that others hate, so reading Julian Kynaston describe the brand’s first foray into perfumery as:
There’s no middle ground with Freak. The name, the packaging and the fragrance will polarise opinion to simply love or hate.
I can’t help but feel tremendously excited. I’m really hoping for something that strays wildly from the well-trodden, mass-appeal fruity-floral, mild musk that proliferates the market today.
Illamasqua’s Freak lists top notes of: Black Davana, Opium Flower and Belladonna followed up with heart notes that include: Poison Hemlock, Datura and Queen of the Night (are they making these florals up?) sitting on a base of aromatic Frankincense, Oud and Myrrh. Finally, something I can grasp at, and although I’m not the world’s bigest fan of Frankincense, I do love (quality) Oud and Myrrh. Freak will be available to purchase only in 75ml bottles and will be priced at £59.00.
I have a niggling concern that Illamasqua Freak has the potential to demonstrate a classic case of style over content. Everything about the fragrance has been so carefully constructed to fit with the brand’s ethos and whilst that’s clearly not something to be criticised, I hope that the sum of these individual (edgy-sounding) notes add up to something that represents and rings true for their fans. I don’t actually care if I hate it, I just want it to be engaging enough to make me care one way or another. I also want it to be powerful, with great sillage and turn heads regardless – it wouldn’t be Illamasqua without that quality. The fact that it will be released exclusively as an EDP has me hoping.
First impressions based upon the campaign film and images alone? I dislike the name, love the film and adore the bottle.
So there we have it, Illamasqua’s first fragrance. On paper, it works. On the fragrance blotter and under our noses? Time will tell.
Freak by Illamasqua is available for pre-order from the 3rd October online at Illamasqua.com before it launches on the 20th October.
Oooh I can’t wait to smell this, though I also have the feeling it’s so overhyped that it may fall a little flat. Plus I have no idea what to expect because I’m a scent n00b to begin with, so all those notes and ingredients are just flying over the top of my head!
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I cannot wait to try it, hope they are willing to give out samples online, I am not paying £59 for an online fragrance purchase that I haven’t had a chance to sniff!
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Agh I want a sample of this STAT!!!I hope they will give out some
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IT’S GOT A SNAIL ON IT. Therefore, want.
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I LOVE the bottle! I hope Illamasqua will be willing to give samples, £59 is a lot of money!
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This is really interesting, although I agree the name is terrible!. I suspect the Oud will be for beginners, but lets hope it’s a decent composition. With the addition of frankincense and myrrh… If it’s anything remotely amouagey I will be on it!. Love the bottle, I hope they offer samples since many people can only access the brand online…
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Purple! ‘Bottled midnight’! Oh, I do hope that I like it! Unsure about the name, could be a bit bad 90s pop song.
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Love the bottle but the scent doesn’t sound like something I would like unfortunately.
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The snail is sweet, I would like him on any cosmetic!
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Fragrance is FABULOUS. Very, very different and exciting. Not that much sillage.
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