By / Rosie Jane: Dulce

Fresh Laundry and Milky Sweets: The Sunny, Pastel Duality of Dulce

Dulce is described as a woody, chocolatey vanilla scent.

While the hinoki most certainly stands out, it's presented here as less evergreen and more pleasantly spa-like. The vanilla recalls baking extract, but avoids any hint of synthetic sweetness. The chocolate doesn't stand out to me, at first, but when I close my eyes and try to understand it, there it finally is: a shy, milky chocolate that's reminiscent of European chocolates we get in the US during holidays—particularly Easter and Valentine's Day.

As kids, I think we tended to dislike them for their noticeably milkier flavor than our usual chocolates. As adults, though, we learned to appreciate their more refined chocolate profile. The ones I remember most are the little Easter egg shapes, wrapped in colorful, pastel foil.

This part of Dulce’s personality takes me to a perfectly sunny morning on a day off. There’s nothing on your To-Do list and you can spend the day alone, treating yourself to a dessert while people-watching at a cafe.

Dulce is trixy, though…

…and also mimics an entirely not gourmand experience, just as vividly: it's the most peaceful, relaxing fabric softener scent. Mellow and gauzey, the musk is clean and transparent, like the texture of an actual strip of fabric softener. If you've ever been out in your yard when a neighbor is running their clothes dryer (their vent leading outside), then you've likely smelled that warm, pleasant cloud of puffy cleanliness wafting over to you, like a comfortable little daydream spilling over from someone else's reverie into yours. I can see this scent taking you into that same Saturday off work, but you have some laundry to do at the kitschy new laundrette, where the retro vibe is meant to make your weekend chore time feel less like work and more like a tiny escape.

Whichever story you receive from Dulce, I think you'll find yourself in a place that's characterized by a relaxing sense of comfort and softness. Muted pastels and crisp whites are the order of the day. Use this scent to slow down and savor a peaceful, contented sweetness.