OliveEyes@oliveeyes94
· Edited
And... Breathe.
InitioParagon4.2130 ratings- Longevity4/5
- 4 / 5
- Projection3/5
- 3 / 5
- Sillage3/5
- 3 / 5
- Value3/5
- 3 / 5
- Bottle4/5
- 4 / 5
Alongside Musk Therapy and Psychedelic Love, Paragon is amongst my favourites from Initio. It's a soothing, contemplative blend that feels introverted yet inviting, drawing us into a moment of quiet reflection.
Initio have removed plum from their official notes, and I'm not entirely sure why, because the opening has always had a fresh, sparkly, purple-tinged juiciness. It doesn't lean overtly fruity, but there's a noticeable tartness that certainly smells like plum.
Soon after, the aromatics emerge - camphorous sage, clean lavender, and the gentle warmth of black pepper. There's a refined smoothness here that's hard to pin down, but it gives the composition an airy suaveness that's felt more than smelled. Interestingly, Vintage Radio, a popular dupe that many swear smells incredibly similar, comes entirely without this ethereal je ne sais quoi and therefore totally missed the mark to me, despite the notes being near-identical.
The backbone of Paragon is palo santo - dry, woody, and subtly smoky. Often associated with aromatherapy, it certainly has a spa-like quality, bringing a calming, meditative aura that slowly softens into a creamy, comforting warmth.
