FRAGRANCE | Grapefruit Amber EDP by ScentSmith Perfumery: When you just want pleasant and inexpensive

Homegrown brand ScentSmith Perfumery's grand launch in November last year saw the release of several new fragrances, one of which is Grapefruit Amber, to add to their initial dozen. As with all of this house's offerings, it comes in an EDP concentration and a Le Labo-ish customized label with your name on it.

Marketed as a men's fragrance, Grapefruit Amber is an overall pleasant, fruity-sweet scent. It has a zingy, spicy opening that's a little sharp to my nose but is not as piercing as its older brother Pink Pepper Leather. This one is more subdued.

After several minutes, the sharpness recedes, revealing this sweet and fruity base that goes in a linear direction from hereon. It's not overly sweet nor is it cloyingly fruity, striking just about the right balance. I couldn't detect much else that shines here, though. I know there are a few other ingredients thrown in but they're more of supporting players that simply disappear into the whole blend. Occasionally the spicy citrus accord in the opening makes a brief reentry.

ScentSmith Perfumery's Grapefruit Amber may not be the most exciting scent out there but if you just want something pleasant, versatile, and not too heavy, then it serves that purpose just fine. It lasts a good few hours before you feel the need for a respray, like in the middle of the afternoon perhaps, although it's most noticeable in its first two hours at least. And considering that it doesn't cost much (Php 1,198 for a 100ml bottle), it's worth at least a try.