More Beauty Than Beast
Launched in 2013, More Beauty Than Beast is an artisanal oriental floral extrait by perfumer JK DeLapp. It blends zesty grapefruit and hot allspice with a heavy floral heart of jasmine, rose, and cloves, resting on a base of natural sandalwood, sweet benzoin, and warm civet.
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Performance Metrics
26 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
It provides eight to ten hours of longevity with an intimate, arm-length projection. The natural oils stay close to the skin, making it perfect for cold weather.
Notes Pyramid
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This is a warm, resinous oriental floral with a thick, buttery texture. It features sharp blood grapefruit, clove-spiced jasmine, creamy ylang-ylang, sweet benzoin, and a base of real sandalwood and civet.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe amber and woody accords dominate the wear, feeling dense and warm. Fresh grapefruit spice slowly transitions into a sweet, balsamic vanilla and powdery wood finish.
Community Data
55 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and winter. The vote picture leans most toward night.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Uses high-quality natural sandalwood oil
Excellent longevity of over eight hours
Spicy cloves add a beautiful vintage character
Citrus opening keeps the heavy resins balanced
Warm dry-down feels incredibly cozy in winter
Small bottle is easy to travel with
Unique blend that stands out from mainstream options
Does not rely on harsh synthetic aroma chemicals
Resins stick to woolen clothing for days
Warm animalic base notes smell cozy on skin
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Very expensive for a small volume of juice
Sits very close to the skin after two hours
Cloves and nutmeg can feel too heavy in summer
Civet note may be too animalic for some
Hard to find retail stores to test in person
Too heavy for casual daytime wear in offices
Citrus notes disappear within fifteen minutes
Thick oil can stain white fabrics easily
Vintage style might feel dated to beginners
Not suitable for hot or humid climates
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“More Beauty Than Beast Review: A Spiced, Resinous Embrace”
The opening of More Beauty Than Beast catch you off guard. Instead of a heavy, sweet amber, it starts with a bright splash of pink and blood grapefruit. A generous dusting of allspice immediately adds dry warmth, preventing the citrus from smelling like kitchen cleaner. This zesty top layer lasts only ten minutes before the dense florals begin to push through.
As the citrus fades, the heart reveals a vintage floral structure. Thick, banana-like ylang-ylang and indolic jasmine sambac take center stage, heavily spiced by cloves and nutmeg. Brazilian rosewood adds a sturdy, woody frame that keeps the florals from becoming too sweet or powdery. The rose de mai is subtle, offering a soft, jammy background texture rather than a clear rose note.
After three hours, the fragrance settles into its final phase on the skin. The dry-down is dominated by JK DeLapp's proprietary sandalwood accord, which feels buttery and smooth. Sweet benzoin and sticky labdanum wrap around the wood, creating a rich amber feel. A soft purr of animalic civet adds a warm, fuzzy texture without smelling dirty or offensive.
This is a concentrated parfum extrait, meaning it hugs the skin closely rather than projecting across a room. You will get a solid nine hours of longevity, but the scent remains an intimate experience. It performs best in cold, crisp weather, which allows the dense spices and heavy woods to breathe without feeling oppressive.
This fragrance suits someone who dislikes modern, clean, synthetic scents. If you prefer the complex, heavy-handed spice of classic twentieth-century perfumery, you will appreciate this bottle. It feels formal, demanding a nice coat or evening wear rather than casual sweatpants.
More Beauty Than Beast is a gorgeous showcase of natural materials. The price is high for a small bottle, but the quality of the sandalwood and resins is obvious from the first spray. We recommend ordering a sample before committing to a full purchase.
FAQs
What does More Beauty Than Beast smell like?+
It smells like a spiced, resinous floral built on a warm woody base. Bright pink grapefruit and sharp allspice give way to a thick middle of jasmine sambac, cloves, and ylang-ylang, which eventually dries down to a rich, fuzzy blend of vanilla, benzoin, and warm civet.
How does the opening compare to the dry-down?+
The opening is surprisingly sharp and zesty, dominated by blood grapefruit and allspice. As the hours pass, the citrus oils evaporate completely, leaving behind a heavy, sweet blanket of labdanum, vanilla, and animalic musk that sits close to your skin.
How long does More Beauty Than Beast last on skin?+
This extrait de parfum lasts between eight to ten hours on dry skin. Because it uses a high concentration of natural oils, the heavy base notes like sandalwood and olibanum will cling to clothing for even longer.
What is the sillage and projection of this scent?+
The projection is moderate, extending about arm's length for the first two hours. It does not fill a room, instead settling into a warm, intimate cloud that people will only notice when they get close to you.
For which season is this fragrance best suited?+
The thick profile of amber, cloves, and vanilla makes this ideal for autumn and winter. The cold air cuts through the heavy resins, keeping the scent cozy rather than cloying.
What occasions are best for wearing this perfume?+
This is a formal evening scent, perfect for late dinners, theater outings, or intimate winter gatherings. It feels too heavy and animalic for a casual office environment or a hot summer afternoon.
Does More Beauty Than Beast lean masculine or feminine?+
While marketed for women, the heavy doses of nutmeg, cloves, sandalwood, and civet give it a unisex appeal. Anyone who enjoys spicy, vintage-style oriental fragrances can wear this comfortably.
Who is the ideal audience for this fragrance?+
This suits fragrance enthusiasts who appreciate natural perfumery and vintage formulations. If you enjoy complex, spice-heavy compositions like classic Opium, you will appreciate the depth of this blend.
Can you layer More Beauty Than Beast with other scents?+
Layering is not recommended because the composition is already dense and complex. Adding another scent might clash with the delicate balance of ylang-ylang, cloves, and animalic civet in the base.
Are there any good dupes or similar perfumes?+
There are no direct clones available for this small-batch artisanal scent. It shares a similar spicy, resinous floral space with vintage Chanel Coco or Guerlain Shalimar, but with a stronger sandalwood focus.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCORELook to Guerlain Shalimar or vintage Chanel Coco for a similar spicy, resinous floral feel with a warm base.
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