KKW Fragrance - Crystal Gardenia

Crystal Gardenia (“Crystal”) is a floral woody musk fragrance released last year (2017).  After having purchased the newest scent, KKW Body, I was curious to track back and try some of the other brand fragrances (see Writer’s Note below review). 

Unlike the controversial bottle of KKW Body, Crystal’s bottle is, well, shaped like a crystal.  The bottle is well made and quite heavy.  It is somewhat difficult to store due to the size.

Crystal opens with a sparkling, sweet, bright, juicy pear.  There is a joyous effervescence to the opening that is soon joined by the other notes in this fragrance.  Not long after the first whiff, the pear is joined by the trio of white florals which help comprise Crystal. 

After its namesake, Crystal’s most prominent floral is gardenia.  The gardenia is clean and heady.  The tuberose is treated well and does not take on the often “screechiness” that tuberose can in fragrance.  It blends well with the gardenia and creates a rich bed of florals.  To me the tiare is barely perceptible.

Roughly three hours into wear I begin to get peeks of the dry down notes.  Crystal begins to add a warm amber wood to the fruity floral.  Another hour into wear, white musk joins the fragrance.  In doing so, Crystal seems to pull you in closer.  This is a common denominator between KKW Body and Crystal – it seems to be a signature closing.  KKW describes this fragrance as voluptuous, lush, and feminine for me, the description is accurate.

Crystal Gardenia wears on me for roughly 7 hours with moderate ultimately moving to skin scent projection.

Notes: pink grapefruit, pear, water lily, gardenia, tiare flower, tuberose, sandalwood, amber, musk

Perfumer: Nicole Mancini

Writer’s Note: My personal gratitude to my dear friend Carlos Powell (a/k/a Brooklyn Fragrance Lover) for this fragrance.  You can follow him @brooklyn_fragrance_lover