Description
Here is the most perfect candidate for the retrograde files yet: a creamy coconut scent just in time for Summer! But here’s what makes this more than just a relaunch: it’s a re-imagining of the fragrance as seen through the lens of magical new materials that weren’t available when the first design was released in 2001.
Maui was always delicious, but now it is in every way worthy of it’s namesake island. We’ve added glorious Hawaiian sandalwood as well as an utterly exotic natural coconut pulp co2 to make Maui stupendously creamy while giving it a sheer, breezy, tropical feel that is like lying in a hammock listening to the ocean waves. A soft, blond wood accord in the base keeps Maui from going “pina colada” sweet, making it the perfect summer scent for both men and women alike.
** EdP/VdP sample vials are filled.
yanatommelise –
It is a sheer, not too sweet coconat. Tropical? Maybe but not Pina Colada…It wowed me! Just so pleasant, easy and chic. Perfect for summer because it is not too sweet but still has a summer vibe and kinda refreshing too. Very smooth, like how longlasting but at the same time delicate is.
henri345que –
It is interesting how some simple fragrances within the perfumery are complex to reach, especially when it comes to the fruit aromas. As pleasant as they may be, reproductions of fruity aromas always run into technical limitations: sometimes you can reproduce the aroma, but you can not make it last. At other times it is even possible to make it last, but in doing so the more exotic nuances are distorted. And there is still the risk of the end result becoming something that from the design point of view is more appropriate for an exotic shampoo or body lotion than for a perfume itself. In that sense, Maui from indie perfumer Dawn Spencer Hurwitz manages to escape all these pitfalls by setting out on the mission of creating a summer coconut scent.
This perfume is part of a series of perfumer projects that are called Retrogade files, where Dawn returns in old projects and with her current experience and new materials available she is able to see the theme with other eyes. The perfumer’s mission here is to use new materials like hawaiian sandalwood and a natural co2 coconut pulp extraction to give more realism to the creamy and juicy aspect of the tropical fruity idea. And it can be said that what she promises to deliver is done to perfection.
Perhaps of all the perfumes I have ever felt of the perfumer this is one of the most simple and direct, but I understand that this was a way of reproducing with fidelity and longevity the theme of the coconut. It is impossible not to think of coconut when spraying Maui on the skin, it is an ultra-realistic experience with the aroma of coconut. This is an interesting fruit because while there is a creamy and juicy aspect in its aroma there is a more lactonic and waxy side that borders the white floral aspect. These lactonic nuances also make the coconut a perfect companion for woods such as sandalwood, which has that nuance in its scent, so combining the two together is making a good tropical wedding. Somehow the perfumer has also managed to reproduce a nuance of coconut that is little explored, which is its driest and almost burned aspect, which you notice mainly in the bark or the flour that is made from the coconut.
The perfume evolves fluidly and it is almost difficult to tell where the creamy, juicy and lactonic aroma of the coconut ends and the woody aroma of sandalwood begins. Maybe something I miss here is from an intermediate floral stage – maybe a jasmine or frangipani would be perfect in this tropical paradise. Still, the way Mauí was built besides being a bottled vacation is the perfect coconut perfume – ultra-exotic, complex and of an amazing duration on the skin. A simple project that is not easy to execute but delivers everything it promises.
Carole Pitcher –
Today was the first truly beautiful day we’ve had on the east coast since winter ended. To celebrate, I tried Maui for the first time. What a perfect scent for what feels like the first day of summer! It starts with a very realistic coconut that smells more like the tropical fruit than any tanning spray I’ve tried ( and there have been many:). The coconut comes on strong but it mellows into a warm coconut glow within about 15 minutes. Soon after a faint hint of Sandlewood appears. After about an hour it was impossible for me to distinguish between the two main notes: they blended seamlessly into a warm ideal tropical summer. Sitting outside, reading a novel and smelling this fragrance made me have a practically perfect day. I highly recommend this to help recover from the winter blahs.
hannahmh106 (verified owner) –
I cannot get enough of this amazing scent! It’s like a powdery, warm, not-too-sweet coconut. I’m terrible at describing scents so I’ll stop there, but I basically want to dump it all over myself and everything I own.
landshark321 (verified owner) –
Exactly as advertised, Maui is a creamy coconut/sandalwood mix that feels like it has more to it, perhaps some citrus, if ever so slightly, just in the background, but that could definitely be me filling in the blanks in my head since pineapple often goes hand in hand with coconut. Mostly, it’s the woody creamy coconut, which, while fairly straightforward, does have a little mystery to it, perhaps in some nuances of the sandalwood accord used. Overall, it’s quite pleasant and a welcome try, I imagine, as it’s both safe yet transporting, a little vacation but without too much heft or boldness. It feels like it has above-average density and richness for light summer fragrance but is not as loud as some of the more cold-weather-leaning creations, appropriately. Certainly a recommended try as it’s a smooth, comforting, easy-to-wear experience.
Lisa Speer –
Maui is a pleasurable perfume. The most prominent note is the coconut, which reminds me of sweet coconut pulp. Then I get some cozy musk (probably from the ambrette seed) and a touch of sandalwood. The musk and sandalwood keep the coconut from becoming too sweet.
alle11019id –
This showcases a less typical aspect of coconut: Milky with no added sugar. The wood notes are strong on me but not overpowering and give it a true unisex feel. Very pleasant and I think could even work all year.
anadevice –
Opens with the deliciously tropical scent of a fresh coconut — airy, sheer notes of pure coconut water merging with creamy coconut milk, and rich, buttery pulp. Fragrant vanilla bean infuses the coconut, as toasty sandalwood emerges, deepening the scent.
Cool, creamy coconut and warm sandalwood may sound like a simple combination, but they’re beautifully blended, a relaxing representation of a balmy beach day. I sampled this in VDP, but I really like to try it in oil, I think it would be more rich and creamy.
Bee (verified owner) –
This fragrance is so beautifully balanced. It is perfectly creamy, sweet, woody, and fruity, with just a hint of musk. I frequently have big problems with coconut notes, but that doesn’t happen here (hooray for no surprise cilantro!), so I would absolutely give this one a try if you want a coconut perfume, but have trouble getting them to work on your skin!
I echo the other reviews saying that this is sweet coconut pulp, as well as a citrus aspect to it — it reads more like pineapple to me, perhaps from context, but it is very subtle and adds a lot to it!
I also tend to struggle with sandalwood turning to pickles on my skin, but this one stays firmly in soothing sandalwood territory! This one was pretty risky for me to try out, but it ended up being a fragrance that allows me to enjoy notes that tend not to work out on my skin! So if you have picky skin chemistry, I would absolutely give this one a try 🙂
lbld50 (verified owner) –
A complex tropical coconut scent. Maui is a chic, wear anytime fragrance. Everyone should try this one.