Yellow
Created by perfumer Sarah McCartney, Yellow by Our Modern Lives is a botanical unisex fragrance. It blends zesty blood orange and yellow mandarin with unexpected accents of fennel and coffee absolute. This scent is built for green beauty fans who want a subtle morning pick me up.
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Performance Metrics
23 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
This botanical blend is weak on skin, lasting only 1 to 2 hours. Sillage is intimate, staying close to the body, and it performs best in warm, humid weather.
Notes Pyramid
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Yellow is a dry, herbal citrus scent with a raw texture. It combines zesty yellow mandarin and sweet clementine with green fennel, warm cardamom, and a dark base of coffee absolute.
Main Accords
5 MAPPEDThe citrus accords open with a sharp fizz but quickly collapse. This leaves the warm spicy cardamom and herbal fennel to dominate the skin, creating a dry, savory aroma.
Community Data
30 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 summer and fall. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Features a highly realistic opening of yellow mandarin and clementine
Uses one hundred percent natural botanical ingredients
Intimate projection is perfect for quiet yoga sessions
Unisex profile appeals to fans of green, herbal scents
Spiced cardamom adds a comforting warmth to the dry down
Works well as a quick, refreshing morning skin spray
Designed by respected indie perfumer Sarah McCartney
Bitter coffee absolute provides a unique twist on citrus
Free from heavy synthetic aroma chemicals that cause headaches
Layers beautifully with OML synthetic base scents
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Fennel note can smell overly medicinal and savory on skin
Very weak longevity of only one to two hours
Citrus notes evaporate almost immediately in hot weather
Coffee note is too quiet to balance the heavy herbs
Polarizing scent profile is not safe for blind buying
Sillage is too intimate for those wanting a scent trail
Fragrance lacks a smooth, cohesive transition on skin
Requires constant reapplication throughout the day
Smells more like an aromatherapy blend than a perfume
Hard to find outside specialized indie retailers
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Our Modern Lives Yellow Review: Citrus Meets Coffee”
Yellow opens with a sharp, photorealistic splash of citrus fruits. You immediately smell the bitter rind of yellow mandarin mixed with the juicy sweetness of clementine and blood orange. It feels like peeling fresh fruit in a damp garden early in the morning. This bright phase is highly energetic, but it lasts only a few minutes before the botanical oils begin to settle.
As the initial citrus fizz quietens, the heart of the fragrance reveals its true, herbal character. Fennel emerges with a dry, slightly medicinal greenness that cuts right through the citrus. Along with the fennel, a warm dusting of cardamom and a dark, bitter splash of coffee absolute join the mix. This is not a sweet, milky latte scent. It is the aroma of dry, freshly ground coffee beans spilled near an herb garden.
On the skin, the dominant citrus and coffee accords show a distinct lack of cohesion. The lemon petitgrain and clementine try to stay bright, while the fennel drags the composition into a savory, earthy territory. The cardamom tries to bridge the gap, but the fennel remains the loud star of the show. It is an artistic, raw texture that will challenge anyone expecting a smooth designer blend.
Performance is where this botanical creation shows its limits. In warm summer weather, the citrus elements evaporate almost instantly, leaving a faint trace of cardamom on the skin. You can expect about two hours of total wear. The sillage is very intimate, never projecting more than a few inches, which makes it suitable for quiet yoga studios or hot afternoons.
This scent is built for green beauty purists and collectors of indie perfumery. If you want a loud, compliment-getting perfume, you will be highly disappointed by this low-projection blend. However, it fits someone who wants to smell naturally fresh for a brief window without leaving a trail of synthetic chemicals behind.
Yellow is a fascinating botanical experiment that does not quite come together. The fennel dominates the blend too much, overshadowing the coffee and citrus. While we admire the creative risk taken by perfumer Sarah McCartney, the rapid evaporation of the citrus makes it hard to recommend as a full bottle purchase.
FAQs
What does Yellow by Our Modern Lives smell like?+
This fragrance smells like a fresh cup of black coffee enjoyed in a damp citrus grove. You get a quick burst of tart mandarin and clementine, followed by a warm dose of cardamom and earthy fennel.
How long does Yellow last on the skin?+
Because this is a natural botanical perfume, it fades quickly. Expect about two hours of noticeable wear on skin before it disappears. It lasts slightly longer when sprayed on a cotton shirt.
What is the sillage and projection of this scent?+
Yellow is a very intimate scent that hugs the skin. It projects only a few inches from your body, making it a safe choice for close office spaces or morning yoga classes.
What season and weather is best for Yellow?+
The bright citrus notes pop beautifully in the warm sunshine of spring and summer. The earthy fennel and coffee notes also make it a cozy skin scent for crisp autumn mornings.
What occasions is this fragrance suited for?+
This is a casual, personal scent. Wear it for lazy Sunday mornings at home, quick errands, or gym sessions where you want to feel alert without choking out the room.
Does Yellow lean masculine or feminine?+
Yellow is completely unisex. The sweet orange and clementine balance the dry, savory fennel and dark coffee, making it equally appealing to anyone who appreciates natural, earthy scents.
Who is the ideal audience for this perfume?+
This suits fragrance enthusiasts who prefer natural, low-projection blends. If you love quirky indie perfumery and want to avoid heavy synthetic aroma chemicals, this fits your style.
Can I layer Yellow with other fragrances?+
Yes, it is designed for layering. You can pair it with the brand's synthetic skin scents, OML alpha or beta, to give the citrus and cardamom notes extra staying power on your skin.
Does this scent have any dupes or similar alternatives?+
There are no direct dupes for this specific blend. However, fans of herbal citrus scents with a twist might find similar vibes in L'Artisan Parfumeur Mandarina Corsica.
Is Yellow a good value for the price?+
For a 100 percent natural botanical blend, the pricing is fair. However, you must accept that you will need to reapply it frequently throughout the day due to its short life.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCORENo dupes submitted yet. The first useful DupeScore can come from your community.
For a similar warm orange feel with better performance, look at Mandarina Corsica by L'Artisan Parfumeur, or layer Yellow with OML Alpha to help lock the botanicals to your skin.
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