Bring on the dancing horses…
Notes: Leather, Ginger, Tonka Bean, Musk, White Woods, Caramel, Saffron,
Toffee, Candy Apple and Cotton Candy.
When I met up with lovely Esperanza of Esperessence a while back, she kindly gave me a decant of Dzing! I was really pleased with this because although I’ve found it a little too skanky in the past, I thought it was a fantastic perfume which I really wanted to write about.
Even when I didn’t think it was something I could wear, I still admired Dzing! from afar. I loved its brilliant “Ta-dah!” name and its novel circus concept.
First released in 1999, it’s a brilliantly executed fragrance. This is down to perfumer Olivia Giacobetti who is a masterful ringmaster. She orchestrates this clever composition so that it is both cohesive and evolving. To experience Dzing! is a thrill and more than likely to raise a smile of recognition.
When I sprayed my newly acquired decant, I held it close to the back of my hand, the way I usually do with samples and decants. As expected, the most prominent note on my skin was sawdust with eau de elephant. Not scrub-worthy but not something I’d want to spray properly.
The next day I sprayed it on the same place, but at a bit of a distance. The difference in scent was remarkable. This time, after a bright orange opening, I got soft creamy saffron, old books and a layer of sawdust concealing something only mildly animalic. There was also a hint of leather from the horses’ saddles and the lion-tamer’s whip.
In the base, Dzing! has a fabulous fur-like quality; warm and silkily textured. The sweetness of the toffee, caramel and cotton candy (candy floss in the UK) comes through and the balance of this with the last traces of the departed animals is perfect for me during this final encore. The sugary treats are also kept in check by hay and vanillic cardboard accords.
Lasting power is excellent and I’d put the projection at moderate.
Dzing! Is that rare beast; a truly unique fragrance. L’Artisan Parfumeur deserve a standing ovation for continuing to produce it. It’s a good reminder of why we need niche perfumery and where it excels.
Please let me know your thoughts about Dzing! in the comments, or if there is a another quirky perfume which you really admire.
A Bottled Rose 