Review and SOTD: Fifty Four by Jusbox

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So. Here it is. The scent that drew me into the house, and led to my purchase of the discovery set.

Fifty Four. A sweet gourmand with a spicy kick that's themed on the fabled Studio 54 (New York's epicentre of disco hedonism in the 1970's). Made in collaboration with the YouTuber The Perfume Guy.

Here's a spoiler for you: I LOVE this scent. I've worn it a couple of times before, applying at the counter of my local Selfridges, small spritzes on pulse points, after respectfully asking permission from the staff. And both times? It was fantastic.

It starts with the tropical fire. Pina Colada, a creamy coconutty pinapple hurled directly into the face, somehow made a little sultry and shocking by a straight up cardamom spice. There's also Davana, if you're a fan of that. I have no idea what Davana actually is, so I can't provide commentary here.

The Colada isn't cloying, and although the sweetness is the main event early on, this ain't no virgin mocktail. Rum is there, distinct but delicate, growing slowly through the scent's travel-path to affix an adult edge to the splendid sugars and vanillas. It does reflect a certain decadence that could be twinned with the disco scene, but I feel it's less a loved up drug bender and more a sweat-soaked dance fest in a windowless room full of pulsating beats and party-clothed dancers. Racing ahead, a sense of tobacco also informs this sense of nightclub excess, paired with an earthy patchouli and woody to ground it in the mud.

But first, there's the chocolate.

The mid-smell profile fills the room with chocolate, a deep and rich and tasty dessert mousse rather than a dairy bar of milky goodness. It has a cinnamon swirl throughout, adding a second spice to the fading Dirty Colada cardamom vibe without feeling jarring. It's a glorious, delicious, sumptuous delight, made all the more intriguing with a dose of Saffron. Also, the early Davana is joined by Nagarmotha, and they both wander off together, presumably looking to fight Godzilla.

Does it perform? Yes. It goes strong and long, at least eight hours on my skin. Does it project? Yes. It can fill a room early, and always makes itself known no matter which stage of the journey it is on. Is It Full Bottle Worthy? YES. One hundred times yes. It's the best fragrance I've sampled for quite some time, and it's definitely the next bottle I intend to buy.

As for the playlist? Three hours plus of DISCO, from title bangers to deep dive remixes. Some highs, some lows. Pulsating, pleasant, pounding, and ultimately FAR TOO MUCH BLOODY DISCO for a Basic Bobby such as myself.

So... a resounding success for Fifty Four, as I always knew it would be. Tomorrow, back to the unknown, with Golden Serenade. Easy listening from a bygone age... sounds right up my alley.

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