MCMC founder Anne McClain was inspired by a free-spirited friend to create this ethereal perfume. Part of The Stories Collections—a group of scents inspired by McClain’s personal experiences—it’s the embodiment of feminine flair. The top note of vanilla quickly translates to a honeysuckle when it touches skin. The lasting note is peach, and its lightweight essence personifies the story of Phoenix.
I typically NEVER gravitate towards this kind of vanilla-y scent, but it is so unique and unfamiliar that I had to keep smelling it...and then I couldn't stop! It's so weirdly awesome (kind of like how Uma Thurman is strangely beautiful), but I can totally see how some people may hate the scent too. Kind of like how I hate Tocca's Cleoptra, but how some people swear by it. I love it on me and my boyfriend loves it on me, but I'd warn my friends that they'll probably either love it or hate it.
5I'm not much of a perfume gal and at first I thought this was too sweet for my tastes, but after a little while it mellowed into a fantastically addictive scent. I literally couldn't stop smelling my wrist. A bit too much comes out of the sample at once—large drops instead of a mist—so you have to be careful when applying. I'm thinking maybe some of those who reviewed this negatively had this problem? It can be a bit strong in larger quantities—but so can most perfumes. I've never been particularly fond of any of the perfume samples I've received in my 1+ year with Birchbox, but Phoenix is fantastic. Most perfumes smell pretty generic to me, but this unique and intriguing.
5