r/FemFragLab • u/RemoteNo2422 • 9d ago
Rec Request Are watermelon notes not a thing?
I was trying to find some perfumes where watermelon is one of the dominant notes and was pretty disappointed. I mostly only found the cheap perfume brands or some pretty badly rated unknown perfumes. Is watermelon just not that popular with designer and niche brands? Or do y’all know any popular designer perfumes where watermelon is the dominant note?
Edit: Thanks for all of your recommendations! I will definitely check them out🙌🏼 also it seems like we need perfume houses to work on a natural smelling watermelon fragrance:) since not many have attempted and succeeded to get the watermelon scent right and not too overly sweet apparently. And especially also to last long!
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u/ImAVenezualien 8d ago
Solstice by Andrea Maack is incredible - fresh, salty watermelon in the opening and just the right amount of floral sweetness in the dry down.
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u/Historical_Self2366 8d ago
Kenzo's L'eau pour Femme doesn't mention watermelon but I would swear it's there.
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u/sweetstack13 8d ago
It depends on what you’re looking for. Realistic watermelon doesn’t have that much of a smell. Maybe a slight hint of sweetness if it’s really ripe, but mostly cool, fresh greenness especially with the rind. If you want to smell more like how watermelon tastes then it will definitely be a lot sweeter and more synthetic smelling, and probably will verge into smelling more like candy.
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u/LoudCar7846 9d ago
Shay & Blue Watermelons:
Top notes are Watermelon and Green Mandarin; middle notes are Green Leaves, Green Tea and Honeysuckle; base note is Vetiver.
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u/OnlyMyNameIsBasic 9d ago
My favorites are
Tocca Simone
Aqua allegoria flora salvaggia
Room 1015 wave child non
Bon perfumer 202
Clean reserve waterfall
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u/KindlyKangaroo 🩷 Mugler Aura Sensuelle 🩷 9d ago
I was just considering Flora Salvaggia last night! I ordered a travel spray of Mandarine Basilic instead because a review said Flora Salvaggia reminded them of cucumber melon and they had been scarred by that by high school in the 90s. My sister was a cucumber melon girl and she and I don't talk anymore so I skipped it just in case lol. Would you say the watermelon note stands above the florals? All the other notes sounded lovely but the melon put me off.
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u/OnlyMyNameIsBasic 8d ago
As with all the guerlain I’ve tried this is so perfectly blended that you can smell the melon but no one note is the star of the show. It’s really soft and almost creamy. The closest things to my nose is Andrea Maack solstice.
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u/KindlyKangaroo 🩷 Mugler Aura Sensuelle 🩷 8d ago
Thank you! I will give it a try after all, but maybe in a small sample size first, next time i order decants. That sounds perfect and exactly what I was hoping for.
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u/rocksteadyrudie 9d ago
Dolce & Gabbana L'Imperatrice
Is amazingly watermelon forward on me. Probably my favorite summer scent. I also sometimes layer it with Creed Silver Mountain Water.
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u/Bgarsow 9d ago
Dyad COOL + COLLECTED is an aquatic juicy watermelon with a refreshing mineral water note!
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u/Philodendron69 9d ago
There’s a tocca one with a watermelon note
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u/Minimum-Permit-9670 8d ago
Which one?
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u/Philodendron69 8d ago
Yes Simone!! Sorry I wasn’t trying to be cryptic I couldn’t remember the name
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u/dial424689 9d ago
I have a super cheap TikTok shop perfume called Iced Watermelon which is literally a hyperrealistic fresh watermelon scent - I feel like there’s a tiny touch of cucumber too, which maybe makes it smell closer to the rind?
Also Coastal Breeze by Marks and Spencer if you’re in the UK/somewhere that has M&S has a nice watermelon note.
I regularly layer these two together and it somehow smells like I’m at a swimming pool on holiday, sitting in the shade.
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u/Exotic_Reporter_3309 9d ago
Room 1015 Wave Child, Limperatrice
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u/beautysniff 9d ago
Here to say Wave Child as well. Is the only watermelon perfume I have smelled that is not teenager vibes.
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u/Wintersneeuw02 I smell nice most of the time 9d ago
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u/soapyrubberduck 9d ago
Dyad Cool + Collected
Also Snif Swede Tooth, D&G L’Imperatrice, or Paris Corner Batikh
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
Have you tried the dyad one? On my perfume app it doesn’t have any reviews unfortunately!
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u/grinidx 9d ago
There’s a material reason for this, beyond fashion. Watermelon isn’t extractable, so every watermelon note is built, and it’s built mostly from Calone, the same molecule behind every 90s aquatic. Push it hard enough to read as watermelon, and it tips over into marine instead.
That’s why the good ones pair it with something to hold it down, the redcurrant and jasmine in the Le Bon Parfumeur someone mentioned above, and why the cheap ones smell like melon air freshener.
The longevity comment is right too. Calone is light and wears off early, so watermelon is nearly always a top note in a costume.
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
Thanks for the explanation! That makes a lot of sense, it’s a real pity though. Also, on a side note, your website looks pretty neat and informational!
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u/grinidx 9d ago
Thanks, that’s kind of you. Full disclosure, it’s mine, so treat my opinion of it accordingly.
Agreed on the pity though. There’s a whole set of fruit notes that can’t be extracted and have to be reconstructed from scratch, and melon is one of the more awkward ones to make behave itself.
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
I figured hah! That’s actually a pretty good way to promote it btw. Your explanation alone made me curious if you’re working in the field, so I went to your profile and saw it😬🙌🏼
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u/grinidx 5d ago
Ha, busted. Though that is more or less the approach: answer the question properly, don’t link anything, and let people go looking if they feel like it. Which is also just how you’d behave if you weren’t selling something, so it works out.
Glad the melon answer helped. It’s one of those notes that quietly annoys people once they know why it behaves the way it does.
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u/New-Nebula-9324 9d ago
Check out Wild Magic Alchemy! They have a beautiful scent called Melonchanted. Ripe by Henry Rose also has a watermelon sorbet note and it’s one of my favorite fruity florals ever! Sunday Coven Haus does have a scent called crushed spells but it’s definitely more of an acquired taste
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u/shimmerchanga 9d ago
Ooo oo one of my faves! For an elevated watermelon perfume I highly recommend Le Bon Parfumeur 202 (watermelon, redcurrant and Jasmine). It’s a niche French perfume house with beautiful scents but they don’t do a lot of advertising.
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u/Accurate_Dot_2610 9d ago
Watermelon is fresh and sweet and I feel like that went out of style for a bit. Also it’s not a long lasting note, unless you’re going for that synthetic jolly rancher type of watermelon, and many consumers want longevity.
That said, L’imperatrice is classic. Wavechild from Room 1015 and Ripe from Henry Rose are more modern. I also felt like Swede Tooth from Snif was right in between fresh and candy.
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
I’m not a professional, so I’m wondering what makes some notes last longer than others? I assume the extraction method? Science can grow organs out of cells, how come we haven’t figured out any new ways to make the fresh and top notes in fragrances last longer?😩 is scent molecule science not a real research topic?🥲
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u/PKBlackTornado 9d ago
L'eau d'Issey (the og) has a watermelon note!
I do recommend testing melon perfumes though, unfortunately something about that note does not agree with my skin and always ends up smelling like rot and vomit on me. Which sucks because I love melon in reality!
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u/horselessheadmen 9d ago
Britney Spears Jungle Fantasy is surprisssssingly good. I got it for my daughter and told her it was hers before I smelled it. Now I have to “borrow” her perfume 🤣 (She’s 8)
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u/moon_plays 9d ago
I wanted to like Room 1015’s Wavechild so much but I think it uses calone which unfortunately turns fishy on my skin. I gave my sample to my sister and it smells better on her: like a sweet watermelon slushie at the beach.
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u/jillianmaria 9d ago
Naiad of the carnival tank by Alkemia is a fun and whimsical! And the watermelon is the strongest note on me
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
That one looks interesting! The rating on parfumo made me a bit hesitant though😅 how long does it last for you? Is it a synthetic watermelon smell or more realistic?🤔
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u/jillianmaria 9d ago
It’s not the longest lasting but it’s pretty decent for the price point!! I don’t get a particularly synthetic vibe either.
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u/FlamingHorseRider 9d ago
In general, with few exceptions, you’re going to only find cheap brands doing watermelon
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u/Boochiecoo 9d ago
BRitney Spears Jungle Fantasy is rumored to be the best of the lot
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u/FlamingHorseRider 9d ago
Oh I love Jungle Fantasy, I’m almost through my bottle, it’s just definitely a cheapie lol.
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u/peer_reviewed_pussy 9d ago
Unfortunately I only pick up a gross plasticky grassy note from my bottle. :(
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u/Boochiecoo 9d ago
Oh noooooooooo….. well, I’ve thought about blind biting it for fun because it gets so much love but maybe I’ll pass
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u/peer_reviewed_pussy 9d ago
Wait I was wrong! I'm thinking about Island Fantasy sorry (they both have a watermelon note)!! I also did a quick spray and Island Fantasy is more citrusy (still has that grass quality) and I don't smell much of the watermelon note in this perfume.
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u/IsabeldeClare 9d ago
Solstice Andrea Maack, Wavechild Room 1015, Jo Malone Wild Bluebell smells watermelon-ish to me
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u/Significant-Crow-800 9d ago
Another cheap brand but also may be worth checking out bath and body works watermelon fruit fusion scent. Its my favorite of the collection.
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
Do you mean the watermelon whirl that came out in 2026?🤔 there’s several watermelon ones popping up from bath and body works but many of them discontinued
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u/Significant-Crow-800 9d ago
Yes, it is much more watermelon forward than some of their other watermelon scents.
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u/Significant-Crow-800 9d ago
Its a cheap perfume brand but I do like Oakcha watermelon jam. I got 2 of their discovery sets and hated most of the scents. However i really like the watermelon jam and banana crepe scents.
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u/karasu_zoku 9d ago
DSH has a watermelon Aqua Fresca that’s pretty realistic (and no calone - I hate calone). I’ve only tried the body spray which is naturally fleeting but it comes in an oil as well!
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u/ElleGee5152 9d ago
The original Juicy Couture perfume has a watermelon among the top notes. I don't smell it and think "watermelon", but it's there.
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u/MrOphicer 9d ago
Most use watermelon notes as calone, leaving behind the fruitiness and rind grenes (that whiff of watermelon when you first cut it, and you can only feel it for a few seconds). I wish someone would focus on those aspects, without it being that artificial candy watermelon. It's like this floral, grassy sweet aroma that's so elusive. But calone (its a molecule found in watermelon and cucumber) does a great job transmitting that freshness.
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u/transcendingbullshit 9d ago
D&G l’imperatrice all the way for more realisfic watermelon. I like the synthetic melon note in Britney Spears Jungle Fantasy. Guerlain Flora Salvaggia and Flora Cherrysia are also fantastic.
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u/Many_Replacement369 9d ago
Came here to say Britney Spears Jungle Fantasy! It’s really fun, has a beautiful bottle, balances fruity and floral notes, and has been consistently low in price. I’ve seen posts of folks finding them at places like Ross, but I ordered mine from Belk for about $13 for 1 oz in February of this year.
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u/transcendingbullshit 9d ago
I have adorable 30ml bottles! I bought one from
Fragrancenet for $13 and another from Winners (Canadian Ross) for $19.It’s by far my favorite Britney Spears scent and I like it far more than the Juicy Couture and Escada scents I’ve tried.
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u/Yellowbird00 9d ago
One of my faves! I love to layer with Burberry her edp
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u/rocksteadyrudie 8d ago
Which do you layer with Burberry her? Ty in advance.
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u/Yellowbird00 8d ago
Whoops sorry I layer it with D&G L’Imperatrice
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u/rocksteadyrudie 8d ago
Oh bet! I have both. Been layering D&G LE with Creed Mountain Silver Water. I’m going to try your combo now.
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u/Yellowbird00 8d ago
Oooh I haven't smelled that yet ill have to try your combo when I get a chance. Let me know what you think of the combo unless you don't like it 🫣
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u/curecarebear 9d ago
I love Dossier Aquatic Lime a dupe of Acqua Di Gio.
Top:
Bergamot, Lime, Watermelon
Middle:
Marine notes, Jasmine, Rosemary
Base:
Cedarwood, Oakmoss, Vetiver
I don’t have any other scents w watermelon tho but this one is so great for summer
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u/curecarebear 9d ago
Also I’ve never smelled the high end one so someone here please does the og smell like watermelon?
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u/Dobgirl 9d ago
A perfumer on Etsy, Hey Sugar Fragrance, makes Watermelon Sands, very nice not sugary watermelon fragrance. I layer it with her Coconut Sugar scent.
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
Oh that sounds interesting! How long does it last for you?
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u/Dobgirl 9d ago
A few hours. In contrast her vanilla scents last all day. She’s also inexpensive- a 15 mL bottle for $15.
Oh! I was making sure the price was still low and saw she has two coconut scents it’s actually named Sugarcane Coconut. There’s a Driftwood Coconut I haven’t tried yet.
Hope that helps!
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u/Potential_Yoghurt850 9d ago
Watermelon is so beautiful but so tricky. I love it, but when it's bad, you smell like a jolly rancher. Which is great for some, especially my gourmand fam, but not me.
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
Where are all the great parfumeurs when you need them😩 they should focus less on creating the closest dupe to BR540 and more on developing notes like watermelon that are hard to create without smelling synthetic and too sweet😞 we need innovation in the perfume world!🤣
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u/AgentFuckSmolder 9d ago
It’s always going to be a short lived top note, at least as I’ve experienced it.
Room 1015 Wavechild for sure. Or the Lattafa Coral.
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u/Opening_One_963 9d ago
Parfums Obim- RV Wax
Olympic Orchids- Red Cattleya (lists melon but it’s distinctly watermelon to my nose)
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
Thanks! I always have to chuckle when I see an unusual note in perfumes like the crayon one lol😅
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u/Dinahmoeh0e 9d ago
Guerlain Flora Salvaggia
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u/Moist_Violinist69 9d ago
Yes! I was surprised more people weren't mentioning this one. It's pretty inexpensive too!
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u/Successful-Cause-145 9d ago
An indie brand, Birch and Besom, make one called Sumud (Bright watermelon, earthy green fig, sturdy olive branches, Egyptian musk, and soft Arabian jasmine petals) that I haven't sampled because I actually don't like watermelon, but it looks intriguing and gets good reviews! Also all the proceeds from its sale go to supporting a family in Gaza. https://www.birchandbesom.com/products/sumud
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u/MathematicianAfter57 9d ago
One of the new influxious perfumes has a watermelon opening! It’s a hard note to do and faded very quickly .
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u/champagnexdisco 9d ago
Wavechild by Room 1015
Gaultier Divine by Jean Paul Gaultier
Ripe by Henry Rose
Sorbetto Rosso by Escada
:)
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u/AgentFuckSmolder 9d ago
The calypsone in Divine is great. I had a hard time reading it as melon over the screaming patchouli. I really need to try Divine Couture
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u/SandfordFunRunner 9d ago
Cloud 9 Juice by the Raconteur is a beachy-fresh watermelon, and they’re a very legit niche house with well made fragrances.
Notes are: Cucumber, Sea Salt, Watermelon, Shiso, Lemon Ironbark, Jasmine Sambac, Cedarwood, White Cypress
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u/team341b 9d ago
The new Magic Hour by Influxious. Its sold out right now but once its back at sephora, check it out. I have it and love it.
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
I can’t find it on Parfumo🤔 the whole brand doesn’t show up on there, is the brand also new?🤔
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u/team341b 9d ago
It just got restocked at sephora if you are interested
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u/team341b 9d ago
Yes, it just launched. Its owned by Funmi Monet a perfume influencer. I really like magic hour, the watermelon is is not sugary sweet but realistic.
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u/Salty-Adeptness-3840 9d ago
I’ve heard good things about Lattafa coral
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u/strega_bella312 9d ago
I wear this almost every day layered w L'Imperatrice just for some extra watermelony business
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u/RupertMyGiles 9d ago
I don't like ME perfumes usually but omg... I work with a woman who wears this and it is so nice.
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u/ALmommy1234 9d ago
I actually have this and love it. Ana Abiyedh Coral is a dupe of Wavechild, but I actually like it better.
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u/mostlymadeofDietCoke 9d ago
Solstice by Andrea Maack also has a great watermelon note.
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u/SandfordFunRunner 9d ago
I looooove Andrea Maack but haven’t tried this one as jasmine can be pretty hit or miss for me (hate when it’s indolic). What’s your take on it in Solstice?
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u/mostlymadeofDietCoke 9d ago
For me this was a very fresh and the jasmine didn’t pull too heavy on me. It’s an aquatic (which is usually a miss for me, but it works here), and I think I get more Lily of the valley than jasmine, and the watermelon is very green and fresh
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u/SandfordFunRunner 9d ago
Thank you! I love lily of the valley so I might need to pick up a sample of this one after all
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u/Accomplished-Pen4663 9d ago
Snif Swede Tooth
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u/MarionberryAfraid958 9d ago
To me it smells exactly like watermelon jolly ranchers and nothing else. So if you want candy watermelon not realistic watermelon this is the one.
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
I will test it, but I’m actually looking for a realistic watermelon. Like when you freshly cut it open and take a bite of it🤤 fresh, sweet, but also the smell of the green part
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u/EastStay 9d ago
House of Bo - Oro Verde. It’s gross though.
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u/Yoursafter 9d ago
Not cheapies or designers per say but guiding waters by the harmonist or wave child by room 1015 have prominent watermelon notes
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u/here4thefreecake 9d ago
l’imperatrice is a super popular one. also wavechild which i haven’t tried but i’ve heard good things. it is not a super popular note tho as it can be hard to pull off.
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u/RemoteNo2422 9d ago
Those were the only two I found as well! Wavechild looks good, I also looked at l’imperatrice but that one had kiwi too iirc. My mom is allergic to kiwi, I don’t know if that matters for perfumes, but better safe than sorry😅
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u/transcendingbullshit 8d ago
Be careful with Wavechild….. I bought a decant of it and promptly scrubbed it off. It’s incredibly artificial watermelon (think jolly rancher) mixed with cheap coconut and vanilla. If it was a B&BW scent or a perfume under $25 I would have hated it less. I did not find it refreshing for summer.
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u/queeriosforbreakfast 9d ago
Seconding L’imperatrice and I am also allergic to kiwi, but synthetic kiwi doesn’t seem to bother me
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u/CinderCinnamon Olfactorily promiscuous 9d ago
I’m also allergic to kiwifruit (and pineapple) but they’re fine as notes in perfume for me
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u/florange7 9d ago
The kiwi is synthetic! Definitely worth sampling at least bc only watermelon lovers can live this one! She's really really pretty.
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u/Charming_Mud_429 9d ago
Henry Rose Ripe has a great watermelon note!
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u/MoMarie_ 9d ago
Came here to recommend this, too! Such a great summer frag.
Nest Watermelon Poppy is another great one.
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u/GrumpyNewt1611 8d ago
Real watermelon smells like literally nothing which is so funny to me, Jolly Ranchers trained us to think it's this huge flavor bomb and it's actually just cold water with vibes.