Zara
Zara
175 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Cherry and plum launch immediately with bright, almost canned-fruit intensity, whilst almond threads through with a subtle bittersweet edge that prevents immediate cloying. Within minutes, you're confronted with something that genuinely resembles the creamy top of a fruit smoothie—frivolous and immediate.
Heliotrope emerges subtly, its powdery character merging seamlessly with the lingering almond, whilst Peru balsam introduces a waxy, almost caramelised warmth beneath the fruit. The composition becomes creamier, rounder, less aggressively sweet—the synthetic support structures the fragrance into something almost convincing, stretching the fruitiness across the drydown phase.
Vanilla and tonka dominate entirely, the cherry-plum accord reduced to ghost notes beneath a soft, almost imperceptible sweetness. The fragrance becomes a barely-there skin scent, pleasant in its restraint, though longevity suggests this phase doesn't extend considerably beyond four hours.
Cherry Smoothie cuts through Zara's typical minimalism with an aggressively gourmand approach—this is a fragrance that doesn't apologise for its sweetness. The opening salvo of cherry and plum establishes a jammy, almost confectionery landscape, but it's the almond top note that provides crucial textural intrigue, lending a subtle nuttiness that prevents the fruit from becoming pure saccharine indulgence. As the composition settles, heliotrope arrives with its characteristically powdery-almond character (a natural synergy with the top note's almond), whilst Peru balsam introduces a resinous warmth that grounds the fruitiness in something almost spiced—though not spiced in the traditional sense. The synthetic accord reading (64%) shouldn't alarm; here, synthetics function as amplification rather than degradation, bolstering the fruity sweetness and creamy mouthfeel.
This is a fragrance for those drawn to the olfactory equivalent of a smoothie bowl: visually indulgent, genuinely pleasant, but never challenging. It appeals to younger wearers, those still exploring gourmand territory, or anyone seeking a playful, non-committal sweet scent for casual wear. The creamy base of vanilla and tonka bean envelops everything in a soft, almost skin-like finish—this smells less like luxury and more like a grooming product you'd genuinely enjoy wearing. It's entirely functional, effortlessly wearable, and utterly devoid of pretension.
Add fragrances to your collection and unlock your personalised scent DNA, note map, and shareable identity card.
3.1/5 (110)