Varanda | Extrait de Parfum

I have been using Varanda for around 40–50 days now, and after spending a good amount of time with it, I feel this is one of those perfumes which should not be reviewed through notes or ingredients alone.
The minimalist square bottle with the wooden cap feels elegant and well thought out. It genuinely feels special in hand. The bottle has a certain balance and character to it.
For me, Varanda is all about memories.
If you grew up in India during the 80s or 90s, there is a good chance this perfume will remind you of those hot summer afternoons when air conditioners were still a luxury for most households. One desert cooler would be running somewhere in the house, trying its best to cool every room. The cooler had real khus pads, and as water soaked them and air passed through, a beautiful earthy freshness would spread through the house.
Varanda takes me straight back to those days.
Another memory that kept returning every time I wore it is of clean, fresh, lemon Liril soap that many of us grew up with. It feels as if you have just finished a bath, and then stepped into the veranda where the cooler is running and the scent of wet watery Khus (vetiver roots) is floating through the air.
Anyone who has spent time with vetiver fragrances knows how easily it can dominate everything around it. Here, it has been handled with a very light hand. The vetiver is present from beginning to end, but it never becomes overpowering or overly earthy.
Personally, I would have enjoyed a little more watery khus character, but that is purely a matter of taste. Even in its current form, the fragrance remains beautifully balanced.
The scent does not undergo dramatic changes from opening to dry down. Not every perfume needs to tell three different stories. Sometimes one beautiful story is enough.
And that is exactly what Varanda does.
It does not remind me of a designer perfume. It does not remind me of a luxury perfume.
It reminds me of a time.
A veranda in summer. A cooler humming in the background. The smell of wet khus drifting through the house. The freshness of a lemon soap (Liril) after a bath. Those long, lazy afternoons when life moved a little slower and felt a little simpler.
For me, that is the real achievement of this fragrance.
Well done, Mayank bhai. Keep making perfumes like this. They are becoming increasingly rare, and they deserve to be experienced.

I am writing this review after using veranda almost 20–30 days. After spending a good amount of time with it, I feel this is one of those perfumes which should not be reviewed through notes or ingredients alone.
I must mention the presentation. The minimalist square bottle with the wooden cap feels elegant and well thought out. In this price range, it genuinely feels special in hand. The bottle has a certain balance and character.
Coming to the fragrance itself, for me Varanda is all about memories.
If you are a 90s kid, there is a good possibilities that this perfume will remind you of something familiar.

Yes. those hot summer afternoons, One desert cooler would be running somewhere in the house, trying its best to cool every room. The cooler had real khus pads, and as water passed through them, a beautiful earthy freshness would spread through the house.

Varanda transports me straight back to those days.

Another memory that kept returning every time I wore it, is of liril soap. Yes. That lemon bathing soap that many of us grew up with. it feels as if you have just finished a bath with one of those fresh lemon soaps, and then stepped into the veranda where the cooler is running and the scent of wet khus is floating through the air.

That combination stayed with me throughout my wearing experience.

Anyone who has spent time with vetiver fragrances knows how easily it can dominate everything around it. Here, it has been handled with a very light hand. The vetiver is present from beginning to end, but it never becomes overpowering or overly earthy.

Personally, I would have enjoyed a little more watery khus character, but that is purely a matter of personal taste. Even in its current form, the fragrance remains beautifully balanced.

Another thing I noticed is that the scent does not undergo dramatic changes from opening to dry down. Some people may prefer more transitions. I actually enjoyed the consistency. Not every perfume needs to tell three different stories. Sometimes one beautiful story is enough.

And that is exactly what Varanda does.

It does not remind me of a designer perfume. It does not remind me of a luxury perfume.

It reminds me of a time.

A veranda in summer.

A cooler humming in the background.

The smell of wet khus drifting through the house.

The freshness of a Liril lemon soap after a bath.

Those long, lazy afternoons when life moved a little slower and felt a little simpler.

For me, that is the real achievement of this fragrance.

Well done, Mayank bhai.

Keep rocking and keep making perfumes like this.

It's fresh & airy compliment getting blindbuy

Bring back childhood memories ,nostalgic feelings.. really it's take me to thar time...a really unique idea from Mayank bhai to bring it in a bottle...very soothing and calming effect...great work...

It's a beautiful blend must try from mayank bhai