Well, these are interesting. Not necessarily in a good way. MAC Shadescents are designed to olfactorily embody the colours they represent – maybe try imagining you couldn’t see a colour, but could only smell it. I love the concept but not the execution. Bear in mind that fragrance is totally subjective and given there are six and I have access to only two that haven’t hit the spot, it’s not necessarily representative.
MAC has taken six of its most popular lipsticks to reimagine as perfume – above are Ruby Woo and Creme d’Nude, but the others are Candy Yum-Yum, Lady Danger, My Heroine and Velvet Teddy. Starting with Ruby Woo which is probably MAC’s most successful lipstick ever in a very matte, blue red shade.. it has leathery notes with wood and flowers – quite sweet like a fruity jelly at the start, but warms to something more sophisticated over time on the skin with the wood notes emerging as it settles.
Creme d’Nude (cremesheen in formula) is all about amber and musk, but again delivers a lot of sugar at the top before settling to a creamy, almost smoky scent that lies lightly on the skin. Both of the fragrances I’ve tried from this range give a big blast at the beginning where I thought I hated them, but with time on the skin they calm down. I’d take Creme d’Nude over Ruby Woo, but personally speaking, I’d really take neither.
MAC Shadescents isn’t the brand’s first foray into fragrance – existing (although I’d completely forgotten about it) is Turquatic and Air of Style which I don’t think I ever knew existed. MAC is in the Lauder stable so should really be able to deliver a decent fragrance – it could just be that neither of these are for me and that another would hit the spot – hard to say, but if you do like your fragrance sugar-tipped then you’re already half way to liking them!
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