Review of Wish Eau de Parfum by Yaroslavna Lasytsya

A satin ribbon of milk accord loosens itself into the air, lightly honeyed and faintly luminous. Soon it unfurls into a cloud of golden‑green and glittering mauve moths, as though the berries themselves had taken flight as jewel‑winged creatures. They flutter above an exuberant parterre of flowers: majestic orchids and coaxing honeysuckle, black locust and shy violets scattered among crystalline lily‑of‑the‑valley, powdery heliotrope and osmanthus, noble magnolias and insinuating jasmine. This riot of blooms is astonishing: sweet, airy, exotic, captivating, yet never cloying, never a burden on the senses. Their opulence is exquisitely synchronised, blended with an almost mischievous precision. It truly is a “Wish” worthy of a perfumer: to marshal so unorthodox an orchestra and have its music rise as an unquestioned little masterpiece. The toffee caramel is a particular delight, rendered so faithfully I almost taste it melt on my tongue. Vanilla drifts in as a powder-fine light, none of the heavy spiced syrup that has drenched so many perfumes of late; instead it is like gold flakes tossed idly into the air for the sheer pleasure of watching them fall. Yuzu darts through the composition like quicksilver demoiselles, scattering citrus glints, while pear lends fresh juiciness, laced with the faint tart blush of strawberry. This gourmand is unlike the others: delicious, rich, layered, yet never tipping to one extreme; it lays out all its flavours at once, bright and delightful, like a dessert trolley in miniature. Patchouli and incense spin a gauze-like veil, a trembling curtain of air, the perfect backdrop to all that frenzied fluttering above and among the blooms. Nothing grows heavy or overbearing; everything is ornate, playful, a little whimsical. “Wish” would sit perfectly at home in Madame de Pompadour’s boudoir, glimmering among frivolous bows and cushions, garlands of flowers and intricate lace. It is hard to believe that all this was so carefully conceived, a woman’s genius and patience arranging each puzzle piece into a seamless, flowing expression of her life, her pleasures, her passions and obligations. One can only “Wish” that such beguiling magic will never quite fade, never slip away without a trace.