NCD: Dances 2022 Review

With the Big Island release this year, we also had a return of the Dances collection. I was able to pick up a few of these scents, and although they are a little late, I hope to see a return of this collection next year as I really love the concept! As always, a heartfelt thank you to Forest and Josh for sending through these press samples. 

Cancan - A fun-loving potion to dispel anxiety and conjure a festive mood. Wild french frivolity with high kicks and black lace. Lavender lemon cupcakes and a touch of true cognac under ruffled red satin, sugared absinthe, and a wisp of fine tobacco in the footlights.

This is a bit of an enigma on my skin  - it's very herbal forward, with a punch of lemon and lavender in the opening, but it learns a little closer to a mishmash of potpourri and air freshener than the zingy sweetness of the more foodie lemon accords. The cognac, absinthe and tobacco aren't very strong here, it's more of a dash of something astringent and a little zesty, before drying down to a more soft herbal lemon scent. If you were a fan of Health (NCD), this definitely has a similar tone, with a sort of clean linen undertone, marked with green, slightly bitter herbs, but with a fancier, sharper edge from the booze. 

Haka - A decidedly assertive blend to invoke your Warrior Spirit. Golden Manuka honey, torch ginger, kava kava, tart tangelo, sun-warmed feijoa, and a breath of blooming monoi.

This is a blend that channels contrast, it's both a deceptively clean scent but also one that channels a summer's warmth. With a combination of lightly spiced honey, with a decadent dab of full bodied white florals, this has a little punch of something musky and savoury to finish it off. I think my skin really amped up the savoury aspect in this blend, despite usually amping sweet notes, so YMMV! I don't mind a savoury note at all, but it definitely gives me more of an almost breadlike vibe.  

Pas de Deux - An ethereal blend to conjure a fairytale romance. Diaphanous white rose glistening with pale citrus, sheer musk, juicy d'Anjou pear, and the effortless grace of tonka butter.

I mean, who doesn't love a pas de deux. If you ask me, although this is a boring answer, the black swan's pas de deux at the ball in Swan Lake is absolutely one of my favorite numbers. (no one asked for ballet discourse, here it is). 

I've saved my favorite till last - and this definitely did not disappoint, and it's probably one of my favorite non-gourmand NCD scents ever. This is absolutely gorgeous, there's a bright zing of citrus, with the most jammy sweet white rose. I love the sweetness of this scent, it's definitely a floral but it feels almost like a flormand with the delicate sugary aftertaste. I ended up really loving this - I typically love roses but there's definitely a lot of potential for rose notes to go straight into soapy territory, but this is a warm, sugared rose, and frankly, and I really love how it treads the line between straight floral profile and rose syrup, and it's tempered by the coconutty creaminess of the tonka butter. I've also raved about NCD's take on d'anjou pears before (Mourning Dove is one of my absolute favorites from NCD),  and here is just adds a little something juicy and sweet to the scent. I'd definitely consider upsizing this one! 

Disclaimer: These scents were sent as press samples. I was not sponsored or paid for this review, and am not affiliated with this brand. All opinions are my own, and do not reflect any brand's opinions or interests.