Review of Elevation by Olga Steinfeld

A fragrance that, to me, feels rather unexpected within the DNA of Les Eaux Primordiales. The brand’s fragrances are usually restrained, architectural, or velvety. But ELEVATION has a much more oriental and gourmand character – sweet, spicy, and almost dessert-like. Honestly, when I first tested it, I was quite surprised. It felt so different from everything else I knew from the brand. The opening notes of pear, hazelnut, and cardamom create a very sweet, spicy opening with a creamy texture. I expected the sweetness to soften over time, but the opposite happened – with every passing minute, the fragrance became increasingly sweeter. Dry, spicy cinnamon is particularly prominent, intensifying the association with desserts or oriental sweets. In the base, the fragrance starts to remind me of Vanilla Powder by Matiere Premiere – cloyingly sweet, with a somewhat fizzy or powdery texture. Sesame and vanilla smell warm and creamy, while musk and ambroxan add a certain sharpness to the composition. In the end, the opening intrigues me, but honestly, the fragrance starts to annoy me as it develops. It is simply too sweet, suffocating, and this sweetness persists almost all the way to the very end. The longevity is extremely impressive: the fragrance lasts almost forever and is not easy to wash off the skin. As a way to discover the brand and expand your perfume experience, this fragrance is definitely interesting. But personally, I find it extremely difficult to wear.