Illicit

Illicit, released by Jimmy Choo in 2015 and composed by Anne Flipo, is a sweet, honeyed floral for women with a spicy citrus start. Everyone who describes it calls it gourmand and floral, about two thirds add woody, and a third mention spicy, amber or citrus.

It opens with ginger and bitter orange, a sharp, warm, slightly bitter pairing that keeps the first minutes from being sugary. The heart is a rich white-floral blend of jasmine sambac, orange blossom and rose, creamy and a little heady. The base is where the sweetness takes over: honey and caramel give a golden, sticky warmth, vanilla smooths it, and sandalwood, cashmere wood and amber add a soft, musky-woody cushion underneath.

Most wearers find the longevity moderate, with only a fifth calling it long lasting, and sillage is moderate to intimate, so it is less bold than the name suggests. It is voted for autumn and winter and mostly for daytime, which places it as a cosy, sweet scent for cooler days.

Illicit — unisex fragrance by Jimmy Choo (released 2015). Top notes: Ginger, Bitter Orange. Heart notes: Jasmine Sambac, Orange Blossom, Rose. Base notes: Honey, Amber, Caramel, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Cashmere Wood. — Parfica open fragrance database