Marc Jacobs 'Decadence' - unboxing and first impressions

Today, I will be reviewing the newest, and long-anticipated fragrance by Marc Jacobs - 'Decadence'. I'm a huge fan of Marc's previous scents (Dot, Honey, Lola, Daisy to name a few), and I was very excited about Decadence ever since I first heard about it. This was announced as Jacobs' first 'mature' fragrance - sexy and sophisticated, as opposed to his usual girly, sweet scents. The concept seemed very promising, and I decided to just put my faith in the brand and blind-buy a bottle online before it hit the local stores. Unfortunately, thanks to the incredibly slow mail service, it only arrived yesterday, but I'm glad to finally have it. Today's post will be all about unboxing and first impressions - hope you enjoy. =)

This perfume emanates class and sophistication even before you take it out of the box. I absolutely love the box design - the deep, emerald green colour; the velvety fabric - it looks as if it was meant for some kind of expensive jewellery. It's stylish, elegant, and quite different to the usual colourful, floral, girly Marc Jacobs designs. Definitely worth re-using this box as a little storage space for makeup or jewellery!

Like the box, the bottle is modern, elegant, and unlike anything else I've ever seen. Marc Jacobs always creates the cutest, most eye-catching perfume bottles, and Decadence is no exception. The design is completely unique - the bottle resembles an emerald green handbag with a stylish gold chain (sizes 50ml and above also come with a black silk tassel), inspired by Jacobs' iconic fashion accessories. I was convinced that the bottle was only going to look good in the advert, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's truly gorgeous in person as well. It looks expensive, high-quality, and is actually pretty heavy. It is a sturdy design, too - you can hold the bottle by the chain, just like a real handbag, and the cap will stay attached (trust me - I tested it!). 

The scent itself is a complete departure from the existing Marc Jacobs fragrances. My first impressions were a little mixed, and that's not because I didn't like what I was smelling - I was just completely surprised! Daisy, Dot, Honey, Lola - they are all such girly, sweet, happy scents. But Decadence? This is a dark, sexy and sultry fragrance. Right from the beginning I could detect lots of amber, which smells warm, earthy and balsamic. Amber is commonly used in night-time perfumes such as Thierry Mugler's Alien, or Chanel's Coco - and Decadence definitely shares that same bold, sexy, 'going out' vibe. I could also smell some dark fruits (possibly plums or blackberries), and something quite sweet that made me think of caramel and honey. This fragrance is very well blended, though, and it was difficult to tell the individual notes apart.

The quality of this perfume is exceptional. Whilst I really love Marc Jacobs, I think that some of his scents come across as a little watered-down, and don't last too long after spraying. Decadence however, is a powerhouse of a fragrance. It's intense, it really fills the room, and it lasts all day. If you want to buy this perfume only because you like Jacobs' previous fragrances - don't! This is completely different from Daisy or Dot. If I had to compare it to something, I'd say that Decadence is slightly similar to Gucci Guilty, or maybe Givenchy Ange ou Demon - elegant, modern, bold; whilst still very sexy and feminine. I think this perfume would be perfect for autumn, romantic dates and going out - ideal if you want to make a statement! 

Pros:
+ Gorgeous, unique bottle design
+ The scent - unusual, elegant, dark and sexy
+ Exceptional quality - it smells luxurious and expensive
+ Good longevity (about eight to ten hours)

Cons:
- Not really suitable for casual wear
- Expensive 

Where can I find it? Decadence is a recent release, and you should be able to find it on the shelves of most major perfume retailers. The price is about £49 for 30ml, £69 for 50ml, and £96 for 100ml. 

Have you tried Decadence? What are your thoughts? =)

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