DEMETER PAPERBACK – Completely Unexpected

We are back with a number of new fragrances by DEMETER.  Catch my Instagram unboxing here.  One of them is called PAPERBACK.  Yes, like the book format.  You are probably having the same perplexed expression on your face as I did when I first came across such a fragrance name.

Wouldn’t you know it, as of late there are number of “book” inspired arrangements out there. The Commodity house with their Book and Paper fragrances come to mind.

You may also have come across some noise about the KOBO eBook giant launching a limited edition fragrance called PAPIER.  Apparently, it’s a real thing!  And interestingly enough KOBO partnered with DEMETER to make it happen!  This probably led to PAPERBACK?!

Being an avid reader and fragrance enthusiast, my interest was obviously piqued!  How would one give an aroma to a paperback? Is this a joke – a fragrance that smells like nothing? Does it smell like a story and if so, which one?  Basically, I felt like this could go in any direction and all of them where exciting!  I had to get my nose in this bottle!

So here we are with a bottle of PAPERBACK.  Right off the bat, this perfume turned my crank as it brought me to a used book store, to the university library, to my uncle’s study. The scent pyramid I went through was: old books, sweetness, leather, all of which sprinkled with a light touch of dust.  It totally reached me and spoke directly to my inner bookworm and Goth at all once!

It is somewhat of a magical arrangement as you might think that this couldn’t possibly work as a fragrance, but it does.  First, I’ll say that it will work for both genders as it is more of a state of mind.  Once the surprise of the old books dries down, there is a slight amber like sweetness followed by leather.

The feeling is reading a great book with a coffee in a vintage library.  Considering the convenience and ease of eBooks, the simple pleasure of reading a book has been transformed.  The texture, the odour, the presence is just not the same so aiming to recreate that is certainly a worthy endeavor.

This is one of the most unexpected fragrances I have come across because it takes a context that I never imagined could be bottled and delivers it as if I was going through a transporter.

Like every DEMETER fragrances, the experience is rich and long.  Staying power is in the 6-8 hours range.

I didn’t know what to expect and this has turned out to be a favorite!  I have been wearing it for maybe 7 days straight and will be needing a bigger size bottle.