Replay Stone Review

Perfume has always been a central part of my lifestyle and helps me feel more complete, confident and above all alive with every spritz. To me perfumes are spiritual and at the core essence of every human being. Our attraction to scents is nothing new, refined by the Roman’s, Persian’s and Arab’s perfume became an emblem for wealth; incense based perfumes lacked the refined iconic scent of steam distilled perfumes but by the 18th century distilled perfumes were used worldwide. Scent consiuners delighted in cooking up new concoctions and were inspired by sixth century Arabian recipes which preserved musk, amber and jasmine as part of religious purification ceremonies. Today perfume trade continues to boom and its increased accessibility makes it difficult for perfumes to stand out from the crowd but if anyone can do it it is Replay Stone. Available for Him and Her the iconic jean brand has increased its expenditure to include two unique perfumes that embody the gender- fluid essence of Replay.

 

Bottle Design

 In 2015 Replay collaborated with Mavive, Italian perfume powerhouse  where innovation and experimentation allowed them to create a perfume range that exuded youth, diversity and an exclusive collection that were targeted torwards 16-30 year old’s. Unlike its precessdor’s the youthful premise of Him and Her is largely connected to its iconic jean range and more specifically stone washing. Stone washed jeans are popular with a young target audience because it is rebellious and defies social convention, which is why the flacon shape of Replay Stone is linked to stone washed jeans. Derived from the typical pumice stone, Replay’s textile production and washing techniques recreates the pumices ‘planar facets’ creating a prism or illusion of light and is very much linked to the eye-catching aesthetic of Replay Stone. The design of Replay Stone is innovative and charismatic, emblazoned with a signature ‘R’ engraved pendant around the neck of the bottle while amethyst purple for Her and matte grey for Him remains neutral enough to remain available to both sexes.

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Replay Stone For Her

Featuring main accords of citrus, sweet vanilla, floral, powdery and balsamic scents Replay Stone is characterized by its oriental-floral composition. Similar to Diesel Loverdose Replay Stone’s  heady mix of balsamic and powder intermingled with delicate juicy citrus it has top notes of blended bergamot, orange, mandarin and Artemisa. To compliment the sweet, citrus top notes Her’s middle notes of orchard and almond blossom is less sacchrine, offering a delicate oriental composition which closes with savory base notes of sandalwood, cashmere, amber, vanilla, tonka and musk. The headiness and slight spice added by the base notes ensure that Stone for Her is not too sweet, although the overarching scents are citrus based.

Conclusion 

Growing up sweet, floral fragrance compositions were at the top of my to-buy list and not much has changed since. The sweet citrus top notes are what drew me to Replay Stone and it’s heady base notes creates an intoxicating mix that puts you under an enchanting spell. Some critic’s have criticized it’s lack of sophistication declaring it to be less sophisticated than YSL Manifesto or Chanel Allure but what they have failed to take into account is that Chanel and YSL cater to a completely different age bracket. Being part of the 18-30 manifesto I am naturally drawn to delicate or sweet fragrances and my personal home favourites Britney Fantasy and Hollister Havana Beach are two of my favourite scents which bear similarities to Stone (Her). Although I prefer Stone for Him, the female version is fresh and fragrant the ultimate embodiment of empowered womanhood and would be ideal during spring and summer where flowers burst into bloom and the sun caresses our world.

Fragrance Rating: 4/5

Replay Stone For Him

 For those who prefer a spicier less sweet scent, Stone For Him’s main accords- balsamic, warm spice, amber, fresh spice and musk- is brought to you by Luca Maffei, the award winning nose behind ‘Atelier Fragranze’. With the perfect mix of zest-lemon- and added spice-nutmeg- the perfume pyramid’s top notes features lemon, elemi resin, nutmeg, nutmeg and black pepper bearing remarkable simularities to Donna Karen’s Black Cashmere. Like its direct competitor Donna Karen, Stone For Him is seductive and richly confident, with strong smoky middle notes of styrax, cinammon and cloves and intense base notes of labdanum, benzoin, amber and musk.

Conclusion Stone for Him embodies the lost energy, spirit and essence of the 90’s perfume market; it’s unwavering intensity and unapologetic strength in scent makes for a powerful perfume that is equally unisex as it is mascluline. Like an adult version of Lynx Africa, the spicy undertones reenergizes you and acts as a scented motivator to get ahead with your day. It might seem ironic that as a woman I identify with ‘masculine scents’ too but their intense mix of spice and musk is perfect for long winter nights where you need to shelter from the unrelenting wind and snow.

Fragrance Rating 4.5/5

 

What are your thoughts on Replay Stone for Him & Her?

 

*Disclosure please note I was given Replay Stone at their launch party and gifted with 200 ml Him & Her. These gifts have not affected my opinions on the brand and all research and data is mine.