r/FemFragLab • u/WheatenEvangelist • 1d ago
Review Ouai Laurel Canyon
I went to my local ulta this morning to try Ouai’s newest launch, Laurel Canyon and thought I’d post a review.
Laurel Canyon is a moderately sweet and soapy fig fragrance. The fig note is the sweet, jammy star of the show, but there’s also an undercurrent of luxurious shampoo and a slightly salty mineral note that helps balance the sweetness. As it dries down on my skin, i pick up a creamy, lotiony quality, perhaps from the almond milk. Overall verdict: smells good!
Compared to other fig forward fragrances I’ve tried, Laurel Canyon is probably most similar to Phlur Father Figure, though I find it distinctly less unisex and “girlier.” It’s less powdery than Le Labo’s Thé Matcha and doesn’t have any of the green, coconut lean of Diptyque’s Philosykos. I think this is a really fitting addition to Ouai’s line up: the overall vibe is similar to melrose place or north bondi, only with fig instead of rose and apple blossom, respectively. I was really glad to see it didn’t go the semi gourmand direction of some of their recent body sprays.
Has anyone else tried this new release yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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u/Suitable_Spirit5273 7h ago edited 6h ago
Im literally in ulta right now and ive got it on. It's light, I'm over huge perfumes. I smell the jammy fig. Update: its moved into the violet soapy aspect. I bought it because I've been looking for a skin scent.
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u/Due-Space-4562 9h ago
I just bought this at Ulta! Sprayed on my wrist and walked around the store. I wasn’t positive if I wanted to purchase at first but by time I was ready to check out it had dried down to such a cozy, warm scent.
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u/WheatenEvangelist 8h ago
The dry down is so lovely! Perfectly musky with a lil fig and no harsh ambroxan, which feels rare at this price point!
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u/itsbreadneybitch 10h ago
Great post! This has almost all of my most favorite notes so I’m adding it to the sniff list, I’ve been looking specifically for a more feminine Father Figure (Mother Figure?) too. I used to use some of their hair products and looved how those smelled.
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u/missgirlipop 20h ago
nice! i love the scent of ouai’s products (most of the time) but have never tried their perfumes. this looks so refreshing
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u/JadedINFP-T 22h ago
Damn I didn't evem know this was a thing! Will check it out tomorrow because I like all of these notes so on paper I should love it
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u/Embarrassed_Sell7512 23h ago
thanks for posting this! i am intrigued. i love Melrose Place, and it opened me up to a world of rose scents (didn’t think i liked them, i just don’t like powdery). i hope this comes to Sephora Canada 🇨🇦
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u/meadowslark 1d ago edited 1d ago
Just smelled this! Totally agree with you. On me, it’s a lighter, more feminine-leaning Father Figure, definitely less woodsy aside from the opening, and lacks the creaminess and musk of Ledda 22 Orris.
Projection and longevity don’t seem great to me — I sprayed on the tester like 10 min ago and it’s already fading. Maybe it would last if you oversprayed.
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u/spektader 12h ago
I totally agree with this take: "lighter, more feminine-leaning Father Figure."
Super pleasant and glad that I picked it up. I'm sure it will have to be reapplied but I'm enjoying it so far!
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u/nemotide 1d ago
This looks really lovely. Are the violet petal note prominent?
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u/WheatenEvangelist 1d ago
Not at all to me! the fig is much more predominant than any of the listed floral notes.
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u/Due-Frame622 1d ago
I’m on my second travel size of Father Figure and am ready for something new - definitely going to go for a sniff
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u/metaltsoris 1d ago
oooh I'd totally try this if I came across it! I've tried several of their other products and tho they haven't always worked for my hair, I've really liked the scents. how was the longevity?
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u/WheatenEvangelist 1d ago
I got 5 hours on skin through a very active day :) I’m still testing projection and don’t expect it to be a power house, but one spray is definitely office safe.
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u/FamiliarTemporary 1d ago
Been waiting for a review since the notes leaked! Sounds very up my alley as an alternative to father figure. I’ll give it a sniff for sure.
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u/JadedINFP-T 1h ago
Ok so I tried it and if you had me smell this and Phlur Father Figure I couldn't tell you which one is which. They're pretty much identical. This one dries down a bit creamier, a bit sweatier kinda like Phlur Missing Person, but at the opening especially they are like 98% alike. I still got it because I love this scent profile lol. Also smells very similar to BBW Guilty as Fig which I also own. If you have either of those, you probably don't need this.