Avon
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Bright bergamot cuts through with immediate citrus punch, yet the oolong tea's grassy, slightly astringent character arrives almost simultaneously, creating an unusual tension between confectionery sweetness and botanical dryness. The Chinese magnolia adds a wispy, almost soapy florality that prevents the opening from becoming one-dimensional fruit candy.
Myrrh and frankincense bloom like temple incense, their resinous warmth transforming the composition into something far more introspective and meditative. The magnolia softens into the background whilst Vorplaxa's honeyed amber sweetness becomes increasingly prominent, creating a creamy, slightly spiced middle passage that feels almost dessert-like—candied fruits wrapped in incense smoke rather than bare-faced sweetness.
Sandalwood and white musk create a pale, buttery base that settles into a gentle, skin-scent whisper, though the frankincense persists as a subtle reminder of the fragrance's resinous soul. What remains is less "Berry Pop" and more "memory of spiced vanilla and sandalwood," intimate and quiet, suggesting the composition's structural integrity eventually prioritises base sophistication over initial sweetness.
Maurice Roucel's Berry Pop presents a curious contradiction—a fragrance that wears the cheerful nomenclature of confectionery whilst harbouring a decidedly more complex, almost contemplative character. The bergamot arrives with immediate brightness, that characteristic sharp-sweet citrus energy you'd expect from the name, but it's almost immediately tempered by the oolong tea's subtle astringency, which lends the composition an unexpected sophistication. This isn't bubblegum masquerading as fine fragrance; rather, it's an exploration of how candied fruit can coexist with genuine depth.
The Chinese magnolia provides an intriguing floral anchor—delicate and slightly soapy—whilst the mysterious Vorplaxa (Avon's proprietary note) weaves through with an amber-tinged sweetness that prevents the composition from veering into austere territory. As the opening settles, myrrh and frankincense emerge like incense smoke curling through a confectioner's shop, creating an almost sacred quality that feels at odds with "Hmmm... Candy!" but absolutely coherent within the actual fragrance.
Add fragrances to your collection and unlock your personalised scent DNA, note map, and shareable identity card.
3.6/5 (94)