The Forward

The Forward opens with a bright, almost tart citrus trio of pomelo, lemon, and mandarin orange that feels like a cold splash of sparkling water on a sweaty neck. It is bracing and slightly bitter, but that edge quickly softens as a sheer salt note emerges, not marine or briny but more like the mineral dust left on skin after a day at the beach. The jasmine sambac and tonka bean arrive together, one floral and slightly indolic, the other powdery and sweet, creating a tension between freshness and warmth. As it dries, Madagascar vanilla and sandalwood fold in with cashmeran’s fuzzy amber comfort, turning the composition into something like a linen shirt that smells of sun-dried laundry and a faint whisper of suntan lotion.

The overall character is a sunlit, salty-sweet vanilla with a clean, slightly synthetic edge that keeps it from feeling gourmand or heavy. It sits close to the skin, sillage noticeably soft at 2.80 out of 5, and longevity is acceptable but not remarkable at 3.54. This is a niche fragrance designed for the minimalist who wants to smell interesting without announcing themselves. It thrives in spring and summer, ideal for daytime wear, a morning at a farmers’ market or a lazy afternoon on a terrace. Who should skip it? Anyone who demands projection, darkness, or complexity. The Forward is a quiet, polished scent that refuses to shout, and that restraint is both its charm and its limitation.

Smells similar

We matched these by the notes each one lists, giving more weight to the unusual ones they share. Sharing materials does not make one a copy of the other.

Dua describes Forward Tactic as inspired by The Forward:

“Inspired by The Forward by Mind Games”

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