Hey frag hounds,
There has been a lot of talk about the two fragrances released around the same time by ELdO, Afternoon of a Faun and today’s offering. Having loved the Claude Debussy Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun as a child I will spend some real time with it, and the fragrance, soon for you. I really enjoy the name of the fragrance that we’ll be talking about today….
Dangerous Complicity by Etat Libre d’Orange 2012
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one linew:
Rum, ginger, Chinese osmanthus, coconut, bay leaves, calamus, leather, patchouli, ylang ylang, Egyptian jasmine, Lorenox, cashmere wood, sandalwood
So you have probably read the back story of Dangerous Complicity, Adam & Eve: “By eating the forbidden fruit, complicity took on another dimension, and became dangerous. They lost their innocence and their paradise. The door was opened to carnal energy, they were liberated from restrictions, and they could now create their own version of Eden” The inspiration is a story that most Christians and many others are aware of. A good place to start but fraught because we all have our own preconceived idea of how that fall should smell.
Photo Stolen WikiMedia
Opens sprightly citrus, ginger, vanilla and tea-ish, like a milky chai. This is a surprise because everything I’ve been reading says that Dangerous Complicity is only dangerously generic. Not how Dangerous Complicity opens for me at all, um, HA HA HA HA!! Note to self, put your glasses on before you spritz! Ha Ha Ha HA HA HA!! I am an IDIOT. Hilarious. Sorry all I’ll be back to review this after my next bath.
OK Back on track and we have spritzed…….
So are these notes for real? I miss all ginger and rum completely but get a soft wash of very pretty flowers that are absolutely depthless. A fragrant solo soprano equivalent, floating and disconnected from anything earthly but without any of the chills and goosebumps. Soft, feminine and wispy, a winsome fragrance for people who don’t want to overshadow their own scent but enhance it with pretty waxy florals that float through the heart. Is this made for Asia? For schoolgirls? How did they get this name? Seriously, this is the perfumer who brought us Honour Woman by Amouage, at least this shows diversity, he he he.
I think Dangerous Complicity is called that because it’s Dangerous to Comply with the current trend for some drugstore offerings and some celebuscents: ethereal whispers of bland nothing. Or are the ELdO people proclaiming their outrage at the IFRA regs coming in and making a bland statement against what could end up being all we are allowed to have in perfume very soon? Remember the fuss when By Killian brought out the Asian Tales series? Was there the same outrage for this or was everyone so uninspired that they let it slide?
Further reading: The Non Blonde
LuckyScent has $149/100ml and samples
Surrender To Chance starts at $4.50/ml
Have you tried Dangerous Complicity? Is it just not working on my skin? Please tell me that it’s not as banal as I am getting.
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
Indeed, I too found it neither dangerous or complex. Soft and pretty and fleeting? Yes.
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Bummer Annina! I would be glad if it was my skin or nose. What are they thinking?
Portia xx
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I love soft and powdery, “pretty waxy florals that float through the heart” I think i want some! I don’t care if it doesn’t last long, most good things don’t and i’m ok with that. Anyway inside i am a schoolgirl. Whoever wrote this review could sell me the brooklynn bridge if they wanted too.
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Ha Ha Ha, thank you PatriciaC. That was me and we are currently out of bridges, lucky you.
We aren’t selling it but there is plenty of Dangerous Complicity to go around,
Portia xx
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Yup, it really is that boring and banal. Nothing dangerous at all. It’s a good bedtime scent. Soft, pretty, fades fast. Nothing I’d save my pennies to buy a bottle of. There are far better scents in this line.
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Hey Poodle,
I can’t yet decide if they are crazy or genius. What I do love and have a FB of is Fat Electrician: vetiver, wood and smoke with a buzzing metallic twang, now you’re talking!!
Portia xx
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I haven’t tried this one but would love to know what you mistakenly spritzed on first? Because it sounds more interesting.
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Me too. What was it?
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Here’s the problem Janice, the one I spritzed on first has suck small writing that what little I can understand of it doesn’t come up on Fragrantica or BaseNotes, so freakin annoying because you are right. On my skin and to my taste it is more interesting.
Sorry I can’t help,
Portia xx
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I bought Dino a 5ml sample and he’s been wearing it during the day. Its solid on him but I don’t think that it will make it to a full bottle purchase.
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Heya Margeaux,
Dino is welcome to my decant. I think it’s a 3ml maybe 5ml, I’ll dig it back out and put it in your PI.
Portia xx
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what a great review!!! you pan this fragrance so prettily 😀
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Ha Ha HA! Um, thank you….. It’s just not for me, that’s all. There is a market for Dangerous Complicity (stuill shrugging over the name to fragrance ratio) it is a well put together and smooth scent, though I’m not an expert by any means but it does feel very finished.
Thanks efemmeral.
Portia xx
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Maybe Dangerous Complicity was just ELd’O making fun of themselves (and all of us) with a quirky moniker? After all, they are known for the weird names they come up with for their fragrances. You are probably right that it may be their way of protesting IFRA regs. If so, who would wear it?
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Interesting that a bunch of people also love it ferociously Azar. It’s excellent when we all smell something different in a frag.
ELdO followed me on twitter after I posted it and have ignored my ot6her posts about them so I wonder if I hit the proverbial nail on the head?
Portia xx
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Thanks for your review!
I definitely do not want to try this…but it was fun to read about. Love other ELdO scents, and yeah it would be funny if this was a tongue-in-cheek commentary.
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Hey mim666,
Great to see you. thanks for dropping in.
Portia xx
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I completely forgot that they were released at the same time. Afternoon of a Faun just stole the show! Don’t remember anything about Dangerous Complicity, but it doesn’t sound like it was memorable. That’s such a shame!
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Heya BaconBiscuit212,
As you can see in the comments ELdO has captured peoples imaginations again and polarised the conversation. They are a cool crew even though this Dangerous Complicity is not for me.
Portia xx
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