Alright folks, grabbed my bottle of Hanae Mori Butterfly this morning thinking, “Let’s really live with this scent today.” Hadn’t worn it in a minute, wanted to see how it played out from fresh spray to bedtime fade.
The First Spray
Popped the cap and went straight for the wrists – one good spray each side. Boom! Immediately hit with that sugary fruit punch. Real talk, it smells like:
- Stepping into a candy store overloaded with jelly beans
- Someone mashed up super ripe strawberries and blackberries
Strong stuff right out the gate, no doubt. For a hot minute, I’m standing there thinking, “Dang, this smells cheap as hell.” Way too sweet, almost headache territory.
Getting Through The Opening Blast
Made coffee, trying hard not to breathe too deep near my wrists. But funny thing happened while I waited for the kettle to boil – it started shifting. Maybe five, ten minutes? That intense candy shock calmed down a bit. The mess of berries started sorting themselves out. Could actually pick out a clearer strawberry vibe, something a bit like blueberry jam, even a touch of tartness underneath the sugar. Okay, interesting… less like spilled soda now.
The Hour Mark & The Big Change
Sat down with my mug about an hour later. Whoa. The transformation kicked in hard. That wild fruit explosion? Gone. Or rather, smoothed over like butter. Suddenly smelling soft flowers pushing through:
- A creamy kind of smoothness, maybe that ylang-ylang?
- A hint of clean, laundry-like freshness – guessing the jasmine peeking in?
It wasn’t shouting anymore. Became like a cozy hug. Went from “WOAH” to “Hmm, nice…” Shocked me how different it felt just sitting there sipping coffee. This part got me hooked.
Midday Vibes
Checked in again around lunchtime. That creamy floral feel? Still going strong, but now there’s this warm, kinda nutty sweetness joining the party. Definitely sniffing that vanilla mixing with the woods others mention. Not super smoky woods, more like the sweetness hugging smooth wood shavings. That sharp sugary blast from the start? Long gone. Felt confident and put-together.
The Evening Wind Down
Finished dinner, kicked back on the couch. Where’s my scent at now? Hours deep. Close my eyes and inhale off my wrist:
- Pure, soft vanilla. Like straight up warm vanilla ice cream base
- A whisper of that smooth wood feeling underneath it
- Everything feels blended, sweet but totally calm and relaxing
It’s become this lovely, cuddly skin scent. Reminds me why I kept the bottle around. Started NOPE, ended YEP.
Final Thoughts After A Full Wear
So yeah, full journey with Hanae Mori Butterfly today:
- Opening: Brace yourself. It’s pure sugar berry fireworks – kinda synthetic, kinda overwhelming. Needs patience!
- The Shift: Worth the wait. Calms down beautifully into soft, creamy florals. Big relief.
- Midday Magic: Really shines here. Creamy flowers meet warm vanilla and smooth woods. Cozy and sophisticated.
- End Game: All about that warm, sweet vanilla comfort. Long-lasting, relaxing skin scent.
Would I call it complex? Maybe not deep deep, but it travels. Starts loud and kinda questionable, settles into something genuinely comforting and sweet. Bottom line: Gotta get past that wild opening. The dry down? That’s the good stuff. Makes the initial assault worth it for that lovely vanilla wood hug later.
