Perfume Review: Cherry Stem Eau De Parfum (Phlur)

Top Notes: Black Cherry, Brandy, Orange

Middle Notes: Red Freesia, Jasmine, Plum, Sugar

Base Notes: Ebony, Leather, Caramel

Well ladies and gents, Phlur has hit yet another home run in the fragrance community. If anyone knows a thing or two about Phlur, it is their staple to take a well known note and make it something entirely new and unique. Missing Person, Vanilla Skin and I could never forget to mention Father Figure - perhaps one of the best fig fragrances in my opinion and easily one of my quickest empties to date. They did not miss the mark here either. Whereas Lovefest Burning Cherry and Cherry Ambition gave us “smoky” cherry, Phlur really said “hold my beer” with this one.

When I first sprayed this, I was overwhelmed with a boozy and dark cherry with very little sweetness. Like the cherry at the bottom of your glass when the old fashioned is gone. It was so complex and interesting with a background that was giving me just enough hinting to know that this dry down was going to be an exploratory dive in the best way possible. I couldn’t help getting lost in what I was smelling in the present as it was so not what our noses or brains are trained to associate with the word “cherry”. As the dry down really began, a juicy cloud with a small hint of tartness and a small hint of sweetness hit, enveloping all of that boozy goodness from the beginning in its power. I loved that the heart of this was strong enough to take over but all of the right notes were selected to ensure that nothing from that beautiful entrance was overpowered. And it actually was getting STRONGER as it warmed up on my skin. I was enjoying the wave pool of different vibes being thrown at me as well as the fact that I had not smelled anything like this before, when the sultry and mysterious shadow self of the fragrance made itself know. A rich and deep Ambery leather crept in, taking this already interesting journey to all new heights. Starting bold and boozy and then moving into a carefree and sexy juice bomb, and finally sewn together by the thread of dark yet grounded depth - true art.

As if the above description didn’t get my point across, this is an absolute gem In my opinion. About halfway through the wear I started to assume that the name “Cherry Stem” was to relay that this fragrance was kind of Cherry but also kind of just the root of the Cherry. But after the completion of the dry down, I’m thinking the name is more of a visual representation. The woman who can tie a cherry stem with her tongue and is bold enough to show it off? This is what she embodies. Different enough to excite you while staying familiar enough to be comforting all at once. In a community full of repeats and copy cats it is always so refreshing to find a good one, and to find something truly one of a kind and that is what this is. I can see this being great in the fall and winter, but also great on a summer evening. Longevity was pretty great as well, but all Phlur seem to last a lifetime on my skin. I could be wrong here but I also think this is a first time use of a leather note for the brand and job well done as leather is often times not executed well (literally still looking at you Goddess Le Parfum). The use of brandy and red freesia as opposed to what we usually see also really cranked this up a notch for me.

If you collect cherry perfumes, this is for you. If you enjoy fragrances that have depth, complexity and a little mystery, this is definitely for you. If you can tie a cherry stem with your tongue, you probably already have this (or it is at least sitting in your cart by now). But most importantly, if you want a perfume that says “I am a beautiful woman but I am far from a boring one” this needs to be your next try!

With Love as Always,

The Front-Range Fraghead