Cherry Musk
Ramon Monegal (2011)

Cherry lollipop and that artificial strawberry that's in every fruity floral, over a clever mix of musks that's sort of effusive and soapy, but also just a bit funky in a leathery way. It does exactly what it says on the tin, and in a way that's simultaneously quite wearable and not scary to less daring perfume consumers, but also just unique and weird enough to keep us snobs entertained.

It's hard to review this without a comparison to L'Artisan's Mure Et Musc Extreme, which really is the definitive fruit-over-musk perfume. Ramon's cherry is a bit common-smelling compared to L'Artisan's signature blackberry, though Monegal's mix of musks is arguably more pleasant (or at least more likeable) than L'Artisan's strong rubbery musk base. So I guess that puts Cherry Musk at the mildly daring end of the mainstream spectrum, but also in position to be a guilty pleasure for artsy snobs. Thumbs up, despite that strawberry note, for just being fun and interesting.

Cocooned in cherry blossom, joyful, pretty, long lasting great compliment giver, uncomplicated. Pretty on a girl, clean sexy on a man.

Animalic, musky, barnyard accords straight away. A cloud of sour cherry - not strong, just there. Strawberry and cherry merge, become a little louder. The "animal" accord stays around, closer to the skin. Rose is faint for me. It seems rather greenish, unsweetened, and un-powdered.

A bit something greener and earthier emerges. It is fleeting. I find CM rather linear. I don't get massive fruit, in the traditional sense. It's more crushed, slightly rotting fruit, dropped onto the stinky floor of a barn. Not a daily wearable perfume. This more "art". For that reason, I give it thumbs up, for being "different".

Later, more rose, like a weaker tea rose. A bit more strawberry appears, too. The barnyard mess / smell begins to ebb.

A gift, I thought that I would love this, as I have other Monegal fragrances. No, overly sweet, sickly the cherry overly juvenile and wholly at odds with the basenotes, musk and whatever else. I was unable to smell much beyond a sweet candy store smell which thankfully didn't seem to last. I'm at a loss to understand where this scent is targeted, too expensive and strange for a youth, summer group. Way too tweenie for we more mature wearers.

Cherry is hard to pull off and this is no exception. Sweet overly so, and the musk doesn't redeem this scent.

Musk can go all over the place, ranging from soapy to downright carnal. If you enjoy the plastic baby doll smell of Mona Di Orio Musc, whatever is in Guerlinade, heliotrope or Kiehl's Original Musk, or Mure et Musc, then Cherry Musk is right up your alley. Just imagine a more powdery feminine Chergui without the tobacco, but same sweetness.