Grossmith
Grossmith
98 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Bergamot and neroli snap into focus with citreous crispness, those bright top notes establishing a clean, almost classical impression that feels deceptively straightforward—a false promise of simplicity that the fragrance is about to contradict entirely.
As the citrus fades, May rose blooms with genuine presence, its floral heart softened and blurred by the creamy jasmine and ylang ylang into something powdery and slightly soapy, green around the edges, genuinely pretty without veering toward saccharine. This phase lasts longest and represents the truest expression of Betrothal's character—a soft, multifaceted floral with unexpected dimension.
The base settles into something altogether quieter: dusty vetiver, warm cedarwood, and a faint patchouli foundation emerge as the florals retreat, leaving only the gentlest vanilla and musk—a skin scent now, powdery and pale, something you smell only when your nose drifts toward your own wrist.
Betrothal occupies a peculiar liminal space—it's an eau de parfum that performs like a whisper, which seems almost intentional, as though the fragrance itself is shy about its own beauty. The opening salvo of bergamot and neroli suggests classical restraint, but what unfolds is far more intricate than a simple citrus freshener. This is where May rose asserts itself with genuine presence, not the synthetic rosy-plastic that haunts so many "floral" fragrances, but something with actual green veining running through it. The ylang ylang doesn't sweeten so much as it lends a slightly creamy, almost soapy texture to the rose, whilst Grasse jasmine (that noble, slightly indolic variety) adds depth without tipping into sickly territory.
What makes Betrothal truly distinctive is how its base refuses to follow the typical trajectory. Rather than amplifying the florals into something hedonistic, the vetiver emerges with a soft, almost dusty texture—green and faintly peppery—whilst the cedarwood contributes something woody but never austere. Sandalwood and patchouli play supporting roles, lending warmth and subtle earthiness rather than bombast, and the vanilla appears delicate, more as a soft binding agent than a sweetening force. The musk sits underneath like a barely-perceptible second skin.
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3.9/5 (234)