Ex Nihilo's Hidden Gem: Lust in Paradise

Hello everyone!

I'm excited to share my thoughts on Ex Nihilo's latest addition to my collection, Lust in Paradise. This scent has won me over with its unique character and alluring charm.

While many perfume enthusiasts know Ex Nihilo for its famous Fleur Narcotique, I'm here to tell you that the brand has a lot more to offer. I've had the pleasure of trying several of their scents, including Sweet morphine and Devil tender, which I absolutely loved.

Description of 'Lust in paradise':Lust In Paradise is a captivating, vibrant, and alluring floral scent, wrapped in the magic of woody-musky notes. The perfume is released by the French niche perfume brand Ex Nihilo and embodies a mythical and sensual French Riviera.

➩ General information:

Name-Lust in paradise.Brand-Ex Nihilo, France.Volumes- 2 ml (sample), 7.5 ml (miniature), 50 ml. and 100 ml.Concentration-EDP-perfume water.Prices from 350 rubles for a sample to 30,000 rubles.Available for purchase in network stores and online stores from the white list. I bought 7.5 ml from a trusted seller on WB during good discounts. My miniature cost me 1883 rubles.Direction- floral, woody-musky.Release year: 2019.Perfumer- Louise Turner. (Creator of the great 'Lost cherry' from TF.➩ POPULARITY OF THE BRAND AND PRICES.

This isn't an old or super well-known brand, but their prices are pretty outrageous. I mean, I've seen cheaper perfumes from other brands that are just as good, if not better. But I guess that's what you get when you're considered a niche brand.

I'm not saying their scents aren't good – they're definitely high-quality, especially when it comes to packaging. But some of them are just too similar to other scents out there. I can name a few that come to mind right away.

I have to admit, Ex Nihilo Fleur Narcotique was a huge hit a while back. It was my go-to scent when it wasn't as overhyped and counterfeited as it is now. Now, I'm not a fan of it as much. I went through the same thing with Baccarat Rouge 540 – I used to love it, but now I'm more into Mancera Instant Crush.

I think it's either the sheer number of similar scents or the fact that it's just super popular and recognizable. I'm not sure which one it is.

I've cooled off, and my perception of it has changed. But I'm glad I was one of the first in my circle to try it before the hype train arrived.

➩ On the packaging.

I've already talked about how to spot a fake miniature in my previous reviews, so I won't repeat myself. They're often counterfeited, so do check out my previous posts to avoid getting scammed. There were some scandals in the perfume community when fakes started popping up.

I'm glad the brand offers miniatures, though. It's a great way to carry them in your purse and share them with friends. I even got a miniature of this scent to share my thoughts with you. I just fell in love with it.

The packaging is standard, just like with all the scents in this format. But, honestly, the inner part of the box is a total pet peeve of mine. It's made of some spongy material, and when I try to take out the bottle, I always end up scratching it with my nail and leaving marks. I've even started being more careful when taking the bottle out of the box. The lasting impressions
The back of the fragrance bottle always has the name, general information, and batch code. The letters 'LP' are an abbreviation from the fragrance name. Each fragrance should have the first letters matching the name. In counterfeits, they might not match. The codes on the bottle and box should also match. The way the code is applied is quite interesting and will help you tell the original from a fake. But don't rub it or wipe the bottle from the bottom - the code will wear off. If you ever want to sell it? The 7.5ml bottle is enough to last a long time, thanks to the excellent longevity and characteristics of the fragrance. The liquid has a soft pink hue, reminding me of peony petals.
The atomizer is great and quite sensitive. It allows you to apply even a single drop of fragrance to your wrist for a test. As for the design, I have no complaints, except for the cap. I think the edges could be smoother. The Mancera has a better cap at a lower price point.

I've already mentioned the distinctive features of fakes. Here, I'll add that the ball in the atomizer device should always be there - ALWAYS!

➩ The fragrance pyramid.

Top notes: Pink pepper;

Heart notes: Peony, lychee, petalia (peony and rose aromas);

Base notes: Musk, amber, white cedar extract.

The pyramid has references to FN. You can spot many similar notes, such as lychee, peony, petalia, musk, and woody notes.

Lust in paradise, according to the pyramid, is a clearer and lighter version of FN, with a similar character and aura. Here, the peony and petalia theme is more pronounced, with a lot of wateriness. That's why it disappeared from the bestseller for me, but I found it here.

➩ My impressions of the fragrance.

I loved it from the start! I got a strong desire to own it in a smaller size. I wouldn't be able to finish the 7.5ml bottle in a year, as it would gather dust.

At first, I feel the familiar pink pepper, which tickles my nose slightly. And then, within a minute or two, the magic begins. The coolness and tartness of lychee, the gentle peony, and the subtle, non-intrusive notes of young rose. The rose reminds me of Attar's 'Rosa galore'. It has a certain innocence and tea-like quality.

I've got to say, this is my favorite part of the perfume - the lion's share of aquatics and aquarellism. It's like the components are painted with watercolors. They're so semi-transparent and delicate.

I have to say, I prefer this version of the perfume a lot more. The scent is crystal clear.

This semi-transparency reminds me of the scent from Zarkoperfume's 'Pink Molecule' or 'Purple Molecule'. It's an untranslatable feeling of purity. But while that's due to molecularity, this one's due to the balance of components.

This is a very natural, hassle-free carnation with no surprises. It plays with half-tones from rose to this flower. It's incredibly beautifully blended. It's not overpowering or irritating.

The scent is understated, delicate, airy, and attention-grabbing. People would constantly ask me about it or compliment the trail. 'You're gone, but the subtle scent from you remains.'

Only once in a stack of compliments did I get a 'anti-compliment' saying the scent was too sharp. But that was to be expected from that person. I even laughed about it.

The base is stunning. Nothing gets muddled, and it acquires a pleasant roundedness. The musk is clean, feeling like a fluffy cloud. I'm genuinely impressed by the balance of components. Nothing stands out or pulls the blanket over itself. I barely notice the amber, but the woody chord is quite distinct and adds a freshness.

The longevity of the scent is 6-8 hours on the skin and after washing on clothes. The most interesting thing is that after an hour or two, I thought it had faded. But over time, I could smell it again, and so could those around me. This is a quirk of molecular scents, but I didn't notice it here.

The trail is excellent. It'll stand alongside the same FN, but it won't be recognizable. It's not as common. Personally, I've never smelled it from anyone else. And that's what I love about it.

The trail cloud is so light, delicate, and understated. Unlike 'Fleur Narcotique', which might give you a headache if you overdo it, this scent's trail is completely understated and doesn't get into your receptors.

And for me, it's exclusively feminine. I'm still wearing it now. It's perfect. But I'm looking forward to spring, when it'll fit in perfectly with nature.

In summary:

It's beautiful and watercolor-like. It feels like crystal that's been carefully polished and then dipped in a solution with indigo. The same bright shine and play of colors.It's polite and aristocratic. There's a subtle haughtiness to it. If FN seems hot to me, this one's cold.It'll be a pleasant discovery for fans of carnations - delicate, natural, and very gentle.It's incredibly feminine and alluring.It doesn't give away the cheap base and doesn't fall apart in its structure.It's balanced. There are fruits, flowers, a light coolness, and freshness.

✔️The good stuff: Build quality. I've got to give it up - it's top-notch. The notes are well-balanced and there's no feeling of a showy top note and a lackluster base. It's universal in terms of wear and age. The iris is stunning, with no unnecessary frills. It's incredibly complementary. I've finally found that watercolor quality that was missing from FN. The semi-transparent dry down is gorgeous.

❌The not-so-good stuff:

Price. But I'd definitely recommend the mini or decant - it's worth it. I'd probably never buy the full bottle, unless it's on sale. I use it occasionally, but it's not a daily go-to. The name is a bit misleading - there's no sexiness or naughtiness to be found, thankfully. ➩My reviews of other popular scents:

Nasomatto Black Afgano Escentric Molecules Escentric 02 Escentric Molecules Molecule 02 THE VERDICT:

Ex Nihilo "Lust in Paradise" has been a pleasant surprise for me, coming on the heels of the well-known FN. They've taken out all the things that annoyed me, but kept the beautiful iris, cool lychee, and subtle rose notes. This scent feels alive, very sensual, and natural.

I love it, wear it with pleasure, and would recommend it to fans of this direction.

Thanks for reading, folks! I'm Svetlana, and I'm glad you stopped by.