Hi Crew, Lost Alice by Masque Milano is one of the decants to arrive in my latest Surrender To Chance order. Yeah, I’m affiliated with them because the STC crew are my mates. That doesn’t change the facts; they are terrific, have an excellent range and you can be guaranteed their stuff is the real deal. (OK unpaid ad over!). Lost Alice is an excellent title and the reason I bought this decant. Didn’t even look at the notes, it caught my eye as I was browsing their NEW section.
Lost Alice by Masque Milano 2021
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Ambrette (Musk Mallow), Black Pepper, Bergamot, Clary Sage
Heart: Black Tea, Orris, Carrot, White Rose
Base: Milk, Sandalwood, Broom
A clear and airy open, warm and cool vie against each other and are bridged by what I’m smelling as the two main players ambrette and iris. How is there no vanilla in this perfume? Maybe it’s the milk and sandalwood playing early but it doesn’t smell like them to me. The pepper and tea would normally give me a dry ache in my throat but here I get nothing.
Lost Alice is a strangely beautiful fragrance. It definitely has the feeling of yearning towards something. Maybe the blending is so good that parsing the notes is impossible (for me). It reminds me of two things without being like either of them. You know that rush of steam that blasts out if you open the dishwasher too soon? It’s a clean, hot, glasses fogging experience. Partly that feeling. The second thing is boiled lollies, not the taste but how smooth they become after you’ve sucked the edges off, just before you inevitably crunch it up.
The whole fragrance feels barely there but is so distinctively unusual that it’s a constant presence. Do I like it? No, I haven’t fallen in love with it but Lost Alice is compelling, I’m forced to sniff it and sniff it again. Did you ever smell Dama Koupa by Baruti? Though the smell is quite different, the general attitude is the same.
After the initial fireworks burn off the thing I’m most reminded of is French Vanilla ice cream. Totally unexpected from the note list and my imaginings of what a Lost Alice would smell like. Finally, about an hour or so in a terrific, creamy sandalwood takes the spotlight and stays there for ages till fade. The whole fragrance comes together and it feels like Alice may not be so lost anymore.
Unisex, low to moderate projection but surprisingly good longevity.
Do you want to smell like a Masque Milano version of Lost Alice?
Portia xx
Undina's Looking Glass 
I don’t care for any of the drydowns in any of the MMs. I love the guys, the concepts, and the parties they throw in Milan. Have not tried Alice, but a hookah and a white rabbit might have me hunting it down.
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Yeah, it’s kind of exciting to find a perfume house that doesn’t really work for us. One less we have to track down, but will sniff if in the vicinity.
Pretty sure I never met them any more than in passing. They seem to be really invested in making interesting perfumes though.
Portia xx
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Hey Portia
The notes sound good to me but the end result sounds rather too vanillic for my tastes. I would have much preferred iris and ambrette or the dry tea and pepper. Loved reading your unique comparisons as always though.
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Hi Tara,
I think I might skew some perfumes towards a sweeter vanilla than others do. Michael and I have talked about it a few times.
Lost Alice may wear quite differently for you.
Portia xx
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Just ordered a sample of this one. I loved Madeleine and own many from the line. Looking forward to it!
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Hey TaraC,
The only one I own a bottle of is Russian Tea but I remember liking a few of them over time. It was a shame they lost the 100ml, they were good for splitting but I LOVE that they do a 30ml. It’s a perfect amount for a perfuimista.
I’ll be very interested to read how you liked Lost alice and how it wore for you.
Portia xx
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Sounds intriguing. I have not had the best luck with this house (which is good, yes!). I’ve tried a few of their offerings and found them well done but not to my taste. I love your description, very evocative!
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Hey RR,
Yes, there is much rejoicing when I find a house that doesn’t work for me for one reason or another.
Portia xx
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Yay, a new Masque Milano! They’re always worth a sniff, but fortunately for my pocket book I only have absolutely had to buy L’Attesa.
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Ahhhh! I remember trying L’Attesa. I might go try ist again. I think when it came out I thought I’d found my one iris to rule them all, Monegal’s Impossible Iris, but it seems I have needed a couple of others.
Portia xx
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Since I love several of MM’s perfumes, and I love-love-love your description, I hope this perfume will also work for me. But we’ll see when I try it (hopefully soon).
No, seriously – it was a very good description, and even more convincing since you didn’t love perfume.
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Hey Undina,
Though I didn’t fall madly in love the ride was VERY interesting and it smelled good. Not even exactly sure yet why I don’t adore it but I’ve got a couple of ml left to find out if it falls over into the want list.
I bet you do love it, it’s a clever fragrance.
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I really enjoyed Lost Alice (more than Madeline which I thought was a touch too sweet for me). I felt it had a very similar feel as Meander by Amouage which is also done by Mackenzie Reilly. She seems to have a real knack for these semi-gourmand scents. I loved the comparison to Dama Koupa, I’ll have to compare those two. I love this Baruti scent!
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Hi there Dubaiscents!
Lovely to see you.
That’s so interesting that you mention Meander. It’s my favourite of the new Amouage foursome, by far. I had not connected them but there is a sample around here that I now need to find and do a comparison. Thanks.
Dama Koupa is a bit further along the weird scale but I think you’ll see where my reference meets.
Portia xx
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I am not familiar with this line and not usually one for clary sage, but I do love vanilla, also the imaginary Wonderland variety!
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Hey Vanessa!
This could very well float your boat. It’s definitely an interesting one to try.
Portia xx
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