I'd never heard of Mirus perfumes until I visited Tigerlily in San Francisco this July; a sales assistant insisted I sample the Northern California-based line. I was so taken with Mirus Wicked Stepmother, I included it in my Top 10 Summer Fragrances 2016 post.
Wicked Stepmother
(jasmine, lychee, orange, carnation, animalic amber and vanilla)
Wicked Stepmother reminds me of a vintage French perfume, one I could easily imagine being worn by the likes of Anouk Aimée or Simone Signoret in their heydays (both actresses could have rocked a mean stepmother — méchante belle-mère — role!) Wicked Stepmother opens with lush jasmine, spiked with a shot of something green. Next up is spicy carnation mixing with syrupy fruit-citrus and some tough-chick musk, not dirty exactly (Pierre, mon amour...quick, school is almost out...the hateful child will return soon, ah, AH!, oh, OOOOOH!"), the musk is more "distressed" (Don't make me slap you, girl! I'm the woman of this house!) or "unkempt" (Clean this room or I'll have your father punish you!") Near the end of its development, Wicked Stepmother presents some sweetness in the form of creamy floral vanilla (Darrrrling, don't tell your father Uncle Pierre was here today. Your father works so hard we don't want to upset him...DO WE?")
Driftwood
(sandalwood, cedar, pink pepper, frankincense, ambergris, vanilla, incense and fresh sea breeze notes)
Driftwood is the latest perfume from Mirus and it's perfect for late-summer/early-autumn wear. Driftwood opens with cedar (this cedar has a pleasing hint of dill); pepper arrives and departs quickly and then sandalwood comes to the fore. Driftwood's sandalwood is smooth, but it also possesses that necessary mustiness one gets from real driftwood found on a beach (salty-damp wood). I currently work at an American Indian organization and Driftwood got raves from a staff that loves rituals involving cleansing with wood smoke or cedar leaf dipped in salt water. A friend, new to perfume, asked me to recommend five "cozy" fragrances to wear this fall and winter that won't "scare" her husband; I included Driftwood on the list.
Mirus Wicked Stepmother and Driftwood have good sillage and lasting power; the perfumes are created by Mirus owner Neal Peters and are available at Tigerlily (15 ml Parfum Extrait; $65).
Note: top image is Rubus sumatranus stem [cropped] via Wikimedia Commons.
Does Cristiano Ronaldo like Tom Ford’s perfumes? His packages are copied from them…
Kalyazin…have no idea, I didn’t even know he had his own fragrance till I read your comment!
https://www.cristianoronaldofragrances.com/
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Don’t see the resemblance myself, to be honest. What do you think of the Mirus range? :^)
Have you compare both the packages of Tom Ford’s Extreme and C.R.’s Legacy?
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Kevin, I’m not really very good at imagining the smell of a perfume from its notes, but I can totally get its personality from a review like your one of Wicked Stepmother. I really appreciate the way you wrote it. The perfume sounds fabulous, as though it has a distinct and distinctive presence. I’d like to think I could carry off such a scent, but I suspect it might be more assertive than I am, and that would never do!
Great review–made me think AND laugh. Thank you!
Waterdragon, thanks…glad you enjoyed it.
These do sound interesting, and 15-ml is the perfect size. Will try to sample both of them.
Speaking of aromatic rituals, have you happened to try House of Matriarch’s “pre-workout” fragrance? “FITNESSENCE works directly your brain to create strength, stamina, balance, clarity, power, and overall well-being. Increases oxygen flow, benefits the circulatory system, activates beneficial hormonal chain reactions, increases stamina, improves reflexes, and even lubricates the joints.”
Sounds like you’d have to be careful what you layered it with.
The notes sound really interesting, actually.
https://www.matriarch.biz/collections/fitnessence/products/fitnessence
This does sound interesting, though I am a little suspicious of all the claims…
jjlook: I’m hoping the lubrication of joints points us to the realm of tongue in cheek…a funny way to present a ‘sport’ fragrance for sure.
Noz: HAHAHAHA! I’ll have to try that next time I’m in Nordstrom; I’ve liked most of the House of Matriarch scents I’ve tried, though.
Yeah. So Mirus sell to only one shop, and the drop-down list of countries that this shop delivers to features… one country. These ones are for unitedstatesians only I’m afraid. (Still shaking my head at using a drop-down list when you have a list of one. I’m sure that’s not what I *should* be taking away from these great reviews). :^)
They’re probably just using some kind of off-the-shelf software, Koenigsberg. OTOH, since they made a Wicked Stepmother perfume, I guess we can’t completely exclude the possibility that they set it up that way deliberately just to annoy you.
Ha! Yes! They’re out to get me, I can feel it in my bones!
Koenigsberg: I’m betting the range will soon be available at bigger online retailers.
I read through all the descriptions and it does come across as a range worth sampling. Even the Citrea scent has some notes that elevate it out of the usual citrus schlock.
I discovered the line in July as well at TigerLily. I ended up with Bad Intentions but wicked stepmother was my second choice. Will revisit next time I make it to SF
Urgh, Questionable motives
I’m squealing with delight over these reviews, Kevin! I hope that I get a chance to try these. I wonder if Neal Peters will add other family members into the mix – that would be such fun! I’m sure we could all come up with a few naughty suggestions for Mirus to explore.
I’m always open to suggestions.