Sunrise on the Red Sand Dunes is a masculine citrus aromatic fragrance that launched in 2023 and was created by Mylene Alran. It features top notes of bergamot and ginger; middle notes of mandarin, orange blossom and cassis; and base notes of musk and amber. It is an eau de parfum, edp.
ZARA SUNRISE ON THE RED SAND DUNES REVIEWS
Fragrantica: Very simple put this is a very close inspired by version of Acqua di Parma Fico di Amalfi. I have both and sprayed next to each other and there's no doubt. It's slight softer than ADP and didn't project or last as long but at the price point it's worth the resprays. The new Zara range is very good and have added 3 of the 4 but this is definitely my favourite.
Fragrantica: I got a decant of LV Imagination, and after wearing it Sunrise On The Red Sand Dunes is very close to Imagination. The opening is a bit different for 5-10 minutes. The mandarin take the back seat while the orange blossom dominate in the opening, but in the mid, that’s where the magic starts. This one turns closely to Imagination. Easily 6-7 hours longevity, and if you are outdoors, and the weather is warm, it’s magical and last a bit longer. It’s not beast mode, and that’s fine with me. I don’t measure a fragrance for longevity or projection, but for the enjoyment of wearing it. If I want more longevity, I carry a decant and that works for me. Apply some more on clothes and there you have it. Easy Spring and Summer time fragrance.
Fragrantica: On my skin the opening is very sweet and fruity. The sweetness lingers on my skin for about 1 hours, after that the perfume settles down to a fresh, floral, slightly spicy and musky/soapy scent, really lovely especially for the price. I personally wouldn't wear this in the high heat (25°C and up). Although targeted for men, the scent is perfectly unisex.
Fragrantica: Imagination this is not…but this is also not $400. This does the same things as Imagination does, but many fragrances do. Citrus/Ginger - without the citrus being overly tart, or overly sweet. All in all I do not regret buying this, as it’s an easy reach in the summer - slots in well with the aforementioned Imagination, Dior Homme Cologne, etc. But if you’re buying this in hopes of replacing your LV, sorry to say you’re just going to have get your wallet out.
Fragrantica: This is nice, VERY NICE. Dry down is divine. Forget about the LV Imagination comparison. Despite its similarities, this is great in and of itself and does its own thing. Highly recommend you give it a try. Truly a hidden gem.
Fragrantica: It's a good fragrance but it's not like Imagination. The formula is similar though. Let me explain. They both open with a bright citrus, and transition to sweetness. Imagination: citron/bergamot --> Chinese black tea, ambroxan, cinnamon (although it's not super obvious) Sunrise on the red sand dunes: mandarin orange/bergamot -> amber, musk. Mandarin orange is more zesty sharp compared to the citron in imagination. The citron is more smooth, the zestiness is there, but it's a calmer zest. The black tea with ambroxan melds well in Imagination's transition towards the base notes giving it a uniqueness that's not found elsewhere. It's hard to find a summer fragrance thats middle of the road usable for day/night/office. Haven't tried the sunrise on the red sand dunes enough to say it does the same as imagination, but it's pretty damn good in of itself. Is it a good replacement for imagination? As someone who owns imagination, no. But then again, the musk ginger amber combo is really nice, and may be substitute worthy if you don't want to spend the money on imagination. Probably OK to blind buy, but don't expect to find yourself responding to this fragrance like you would imagination.
Fragrantica: Omg, serendipity in a bottle!!! I was expecting, reading Zara's description, a citrus overdose of the bothersome kind...instead bergamot, mandarin and ginger are perfectly blended togheter, they present a united front and they are so louminous and airy, even solar in a way...mandarin is sweet and tender, the ginger a smidge spicy and earthy, never bitter! Their olfactive presence is a tad lost in the middle fase, but the sparkly and watery quality they gift to the scent remains, actually...the ginger is still felt in the heart of the scent, it gives something extra to the flowers, a kick of fresh spiciness and a cool sensation! The orange flowers they choose for this are lovely, simply lovely...multifaceted and rich. They are made zesty by the ginger, sweetened by the mandarin, have an intrinsic honeyed quality about them, but in contrast they are also very soapy (more so then the ones in ZaraxJoMalone Fleur d'Oranger); they smell a tad young and unripe too, as if blossomed by just a day or two. They have the sweetness and candor typical of the orange flowers but also the greeness of neroli, probably because they are accompanied by cassis, lots of cassis, which adds something a little herbal and unruly, but no ammonia (or cat's pee) at all, nor yet fruitiness to my nose. The base is light amber and white musk intertwined, I can not distinguish between the two, the effect is warm and sweet but posh, clean and sophisticated. Also this is a sexy musk....dry down is addictive! The scent lasted for at least 4 to 5 hours; it projected quite well for the first three, but then dies down a bit...becoming more intimate, you can still smell it on you though, actually the musky/ambery dry down last until the day after, but it would be detectable only by someone very close. If a man were to wear this, on a summery night, I think I would just jump on him without shame...or at least I would say "hi"! This perfume speaks of freedom, of joy, of a carefree attitude and of someone that would not say no to you...speaks of an "ecstasy like" want for human connection. Perhaps I am a dreamer, a looner or a tad extra but scents always talk to me in this way, and this one managed to make feel less anxious, made me imagine beautiful peopole with beautiful hearts having no reservations in knowing me. Now my wallet is in trouble because if Louis Vuitton Imagination is similar to this, plus a tea note, then it deserves to be in my cabinet! EDIT: I think we should forget about Imagination and take this on his own, for its worth, the major component and what really gives value to it is the way they used cassis, not even the citrus-ginger play. I have my bottle for about two months and after a bit of maceration I can assure you that beautiful cassis remains on skin during the dry down, projection has gotten better too! It has become a slightly more fruity cassis but it is still unruly without being ammonia like. It is a good one, I assure you.
