Before the Drop is a blend of peppermint, green tea, marshmallow, heather, violet and evening rain. I know, it sounds unusual, but it is something else - gourmand atmospheric? Love! It is an eau de parfum, edp.
The Strange South's perfumes are blended by hand and bottled in small batches. They are alcohol, paraben, phthalate, and cruelty-free; the only testing being on willing human subjects
Reddit: Wet on my skin - Oh yeah, there’s violet in there. The almost chocolate like violet - very similar to what’s in Darling but I’m getting something sugar in there. I feel like there’s another floral as well (reminds me of an ultra delicate tea rose) and maybe a gourmand. Like, it smells kind of marshmallow-y to me but I remember the marshmallow fluff note in Darling didn’t smell like this. There’s also peppermint but its at the edges. It’s really interesting - like a gourmand take on a storm rolling in. Drydown - Moisture/humidity, sugared violets, gourmand note that reminds me of marshmallow… touch of what feels like another floral. Mint is basically a subtle edge note at this point. I feel like I might be getting like the itsiest, bitsiest bit of earthiness but that might be part of the gourmand (I’m getting real close to sniff it, like nose pressed on skin close). The tiniest bit powdery at the edges… but the powder balances will with the rest of the scent. Verdict - A very nice gourmand with atmospheric nuances. I ended up full sizing (It's such a nice, calming scent). Also, dang this would make a great skin lotion. Like this would be the most soothing thing to rub on your hands or face or even feet after a long hot summer day. This was the big surprise of the sample pack for me.
Reddit: Inexplicably beautiful and weirdly familiar. I can’t figure this one out. It’s dusty, sweet but mild… Makes me think of opening the door to a dust closet (what my mom called the cupboard where she stashed the vacuum & broom) and taking a big whiff, then stepping outside to watch storm clouds rolling in, the air heavy with the scent of summer rain. And also there’s musty marshmallows?? Doesn’t sound great out loud but I LOVE this blend and these impressions are hitting me in the most positive way possible. I think the “dust” feel is what’s so nostalgic for me. Looking at the notes, some of it makes sense: can pick out just about everything and see where some notes are combining to make “musty” (matcha green tea + somewhat powdery violet + marshmallow), but altogether it’s still a nebulous, nameless atmospheric feeling of a perfume. It’s fantastic, perfect for summer, and totally bizarre. To me this has a petrichor feel even if it doesn’t have a direct petrichor smell. Doesn’t specifically read as floral to me but that becomes a little more apparent over time. Lasts like 8-10 hours.
Reddit: Before the Drop is truly something else. It transports you atop a cliff, overseeing a seemingly endless ocean at eventide. Amidst the song of crashing waves and call of the seagulls, you find a certain kind of stillness in the chaos of your mind. You come to the realization that you are small. Minute. You become a conscious part of the universe in place of that egocentric entirety of your own world. Your personal problems become insignificant and you fall on your back and close your eyes and for once in your life you feel what it means to be alive. An extraordinary concoction with an evocative atmospheric heart; and a warm, enveloping gourmand soul that unravels softly over time. Incredible sillage and longevity. An unexpected rare find to treasure.
