Mixed Emotions has an aromatic yet sweet opening that reminds me so much of the blackcurrant buds. The aromatics have a touch of mint facet in it, which gives a thrilling freshness to the nose. The herbaceous hint of the aromatics somehow reminds me of the molecules in the rosemary and sage. However, they are paired with the blackcurrant, which is interesting as it gives some sweetness that reminds me of a blackcurrant drink I used to have in my home country. The metallic part of the blackcurrant enhances the aromatics nuances, giving a feeling of a damp and cold surface.
Besides all that, the tea accord plays a big part here.
The violet leaf notes amplify the greenness of maté, creating a realistic vision of dry tea leaves. It is getting more and more pronounced in Mixed Emotions’ heart, immersing the sweet blackcurrant notes. At this stage, it feels like the blackcurrant is getting infused into the tea. I imagine having a cup of tea in the mountain, in front of a bonfire, surrounded by trees and woods around me, and the weather is chill. The birch’s smoky notes visualize the bonfire’s burning woods and smoke, giving an extra punch to the tea’s bitter facet, making it even more profound and exciting.
Speaking about woods, Mixed Emotions evolves to be very woody on my skin. In about 2 hours, the dry papyrus notes start to dominate the scent. It’s a beautiful papyrus, smelling like paper, a bit mushroomy, earthy, and has musky nuance. I am happy that it is not an amberwood bomb, although it has a trace of it in an excellent balance and well-rounded, giving a smooth texture.
The idea behind Mixed Emotions is, I quote from the brand, “to reflect the tumultuous nature of our times.”
“Drawing on the Byredo philosophy of translating fragmented memories and abstract ideas into scent, Mixed Emotions presents an olfactive sketch of our current, collective state of mind. Comforting notes of maté and the sharp sweetness of cassis sit within a wooden framework; the reassuring scent of black tea disturbed by violet leaf synthetics.”
Byredo official website
So I guess, Mixed Emotions was purposely designed to have a sharp contrast between the notes.
Honestly, I have mixed feelings towards this perfume. I am still trying to understand the aesthetic of this particular Byredo creation. I get the contrast between the tea realm and the woody background, which is nice; however, I feel there’s a gap between them. My skin doesn’t seem to support this fragrance to evolve smoothly because it changes drastically from top to bottom. I gave it full wear, and I had to spray it three times during the day because it’s gone too quickly.
If you are looking for a smoky tea perfume that has similar vibes with Mixed Emotions (except the fruity part), try Russian Tea from Masque Milano. Find my post about it here. Russian Tea is far smokier, darker, and more intense, yet the tea accord is in the same element (because of the birch).
So, If you’ve tried this new release from Byredo, would you tell me your feeling is with it? What emotions does it ignite? Do you enjoy it?
Cheers,
Gia.
