FRAGRANCE | Tank Battle Perfume by Lush is not the tank battle that you might think of

halfwhiteboy - Tank Battle Perfume by Lush 01

When I first saw this frag, armored tanks at war came to mind. Tank Battle is the name of the fragrance, after all. Apparently, Lush meant something entirely different: a water tank, abandoned and filled with graffiti, transformed into a combined home, studio, and art gallery...yada, yada, yada.

Honestly, I don't get the scent vis-à-vis its supposed inspiration because what I immediately smell is bubblegum surrounded by damp earth. It's an uncanny combination for sure but I'm loving it, how both accords seem to be at odds with each other and how this pairing appears to work at the same time. Meanwhile, cloves give it a spicy-fresh and quasi-cooling effect that, when interacting with other notes in the composition, result in a cool, metallic overtone. It's not overbearing, more so since the sweetness keeps it in check. It's a little like the metallic accord in Penhaligon's Sartorial but lined with bubblegum.

halfwhiteboy - Tank Battle Perfume by Lush 02

This stuff is strong. Despite its fine mist, Tank Battle really hits you with that delicious bubblegum scent while also throwing a musty curveball at you. The damp earth, however, doesn't waft around as much. Instead, I pick up a rather dry and dusty accord, as if the soil has already dried up and its aroma carried by the wind. Either way, I'm hooked. I just love how the earthiness grounds the scent, how the metallic accord gives it a little lift, and how the bubblegum prettifies the whole thing.

I would understand how this won't appeal to most people's tastes but for those who are confident enough to pull this off, Lush's Tank Battle would be most suited during colder days. I can't exactly place it as either a formal or casual wear because it defies the typical profile of most fragrances. It's practically a linear scent although its lasting power is quite impressive. Definitely try before you buy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FRAGRANCE | Green Cedar EDT by Bench: An environmentally-conscious offering from the Philippines' premier retail brand

Image
A few weeks ago, I found myself wandering inside Bench Powerplant Mall. And what else would catch my eye but two fragrances by their lonesome twosome, positioned far away from the rest of the brand's scent offerings. They're Basil & Neroli and Green Cedar , both EDTs and part of the  Bench Better Made line . The frags are purported to be vegan and cruelty-free. They come in 125ml dark brown glass bottles and brown paper cylindrical boxes. Nice packaging there except for the cheap, plastic cap. No big deal, though, since they're just Php 428 apiece. 
Read more

LOOKBOOK | Barong Tagalog and sneakers for 'Buwan ng Wika'

Image
Looking oh, so dignified here. Although the celebrations are normally concentrated in elementary schools, August is Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) in the Philippines. Along with dressing up in various traditional Filipino costumes, schools usually hold programs and contests showcasing the national language and traditional Filipino songs and dances. Our department decided to join in the fun by designating a special day yesterday where everyone was required to wear a traditional Filipino costume reinterpreted for modern times. Two years ago when we first held this event, I found myself wearing an ethnic-designed shirt with a malong . This year I decided on a Barong Tagalog , considered our national formal wear for men. But no one wants to go all formal on a Friday, so I wore my Barong Tagalog with sneakers . I thought, if a full-on suit works just fine with sneakers, a barong would be just as perfect with this type of footwear.
Read more