Just a few weeks ago, we explored the world of neo-gourmands here on The Fragrance Diary, and today it’s already time for another exciting addition to this fascinating fragrance family: Corn Star by Fascent. This review follows naturally on from the interview with the brand’s founders, Fanny Descamps and Edwina Réthoré, which was published two days ago. In our conversation, they shared the story behind Fascent, their creative approach to fragrance design, and the inspiration behind their latest Eau de Parfum, Corn Star.
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More Fascent reviews on The Fragrance Diary:
• Fascent – The new brand at Aus Liebe zum Duft
• Radical Softness and Sel à Vie by Fascent – Soft summer vibes
• I Fig You and L’Eau d’Or Dort by Fascent – Mediterranean summer scents
• Crème Brûlante by Fascent – A Fragrance for Those with a Sweet Tooth
• Beet in perfume? Red Flag by Fascent shows how it’s done
• In conversation with Fanny Descamps and Edwina Réthoré of Fascent
Corn Star – The Feeling of Popcorn
Naturally, I also spoke to the founders of Fascent about their newest creation, Corn Star. They describe it as “a tribute to life’s simple pleasures.” Country fairs, amusement parks, warm summer evenings, outdoor adventures, first crushes and carefree moments all lie at the heart of the fragrance, alongside one particularly unusual note: popcorn.
As Fanny Descamps and Edwina Réthoré explained: “We didn’t want to create a fragrance that literally smells like popcorn. We wanted to translate the feeling and emotion of popcorn into a contemporary perfume.”
With Corn Star, the young French niche fragrance house embraces two themes that I have been noticing for quite some time. The first is a growing number of fragrances inspired by childhood memories, funfairs and those wonderfully carefree days when life seemed full of dreams and free from worries. Kurky by Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Once upon a Time by Francesca Bianchi immediately come to mind, and I would also include Tilia by Marc-Antoine Barrois in this category. The second is popcorn itself, a note that has been appearing more and more frequently in contemporary perfumery. Poka by Pernoire, God Bless Cola by Versatile, What about Pop by THoO, and Love 6765 by PERFUME.SUCKS are just a few examples of fragrances built around this sweet, airy treat.
Top notes: Pear, angelica, coconut
Middle notes: Popcorn, musk, gourmand notes, sesame
Base notes: Sandalwood, tonka bean, nagarmotha
Juicy, sweet pear opens Corn Star, accompanied by refreshing coconut water and soft musky nuances. Before long, the gourmand facets of popcorn begin to emerge, bringing sweet, salty and lightly buttery tones touched by hints of caramelised sugar. Sesame introduces delicate nutty accents that reinforce the gourmand character while adding a wonderfully creamy texture. As if that weren’t tempting enough, tonka bean and sandalwood gradually unfold with hay-like vanilla nuances and warm balsamic woods. Simply irresistible.
Corn Star is exactly the kind of neo-gourmand I love: deliciously tempting, utterly mouth-watering and given a thoroughly modern twist. Rather than becoming sticky or overly sweet, it remains refined, multifaceted and surprisingly airy throughout. It’s a fragrance that feels just as at home in summer as it does in winter, lifting the mood and bringing back memories of carefree days.
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