Lift Me Up

The Verdict

Lift Me Up by Initio Parfums Prives, released in early 2025 as the fifth entry in the Hedonist collection, is a fragrance that has split the community sharply. One camp finds it irresistible, a creamy, sunshine-soaked floral vanilla that delivers exactly the mood boost its name promises. The other camp wonders why a niche house known for daring compositions like Side Effect and Psychedelic Love has released something that could pass for a high-street designer fragrance. With a 4.11 average from 262 community votes and 53% expressing love for it, the numbers lean positive, but the dissenting voices are loud and pointed.

What It Smells Like

The opening delivers Bergamot and Magnolia in a bright, breezy combination that feels like stepping into warm sunlight. The bergamot is fresh and slightly tart, while the magnolia reads as creamy and aquatic rather than heavy or traditional. This first impression is genuinely uplifting, and several reviewers note that the opening minutes are the fragrance's strongest selling point.

As the top notes settle, Ylang-Ylang and Tonka Bean emerge in the heart. The ylang-ylang here is milky and tropical, with multiple community members detecting a coconut-like quality despite no coconut appearing in the note list. One Fragrantica reviewer compared it to "how Malibu rum might taste due to the sweet creamy texture." The tonka adds a cozy, powdery warmth with an almond-like quality that weaves through the florals without overwhelming them.

The base settles into Vanilla and Musk in a combination that is soft, warm, and distinctly gourmand-adjacent. The vanilla is pronounced but not heavy, and the musk provides a clean, skin-like finish. A Fragrantica editorial described the overall effect as "gentle white musks and tender, almost fluffy woods reminiscent of dry sandalwood dust," noting that the ylang-ylang and vanilla together create a sunscreen-like quality that naturally evokes a vacation mood.

The total impression is of a creamy, sweet, comforting floral vanilla that sits somewhere between a high-end body lotion and a proper perfume. Whether that description appeals or concerns you will likely predict your reaction to wearing it.

When to Wear It

Spring and summer are the natural seasons for Lift Me Up. Its bright, sun-kissed character makes sense in warm weather, and the moderate projection ensures it will not overwhelm in heat. The community voting data supports versatile use, with a slight daytime lean (19% day vs 14% night), and the floral-vanilla profile works well for office settings, weekend brunches, casual dates, and any situation where you want to smell pleasant and approachable.

This also works as a transitional season fragrance in early fall, though it will feel out of place once temperatures genuinely drop. The lightness that makes it work in warmth means it lacks the heft for cold weather.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is one of the more contentious aspects of Lift Me Up. Fragrantica's community ratings put longevity at 3.49 out of 5 and sillage at 2.43 out of 4, which translates to a moderate skin scent rather than a room-filler. Expect 5 to 7 hours of wear time, with the projection staying close to the body for most of the experience.

The Velvet Life's review described it as behaving "like a soft glow rather than a bold billboard," which is charitable but accurate. For a fragrance in the $300-plus range, several community members feel the performance should be stronger. One Parfumo reviewer specifically called it "a dull and plain skin scent" that does not justify the price point.

That said, some wearers appreciate the restraint. The Fragrantica editorial noted its "almost meditative, vacation-like mood," and for those who prefer fragrances that stay in their personal space rather than projecting across a room, the performance may be exactly right.

The Community Says

The positive camp is enthusiastic. One reviewer described trying it at Selfridges and catching "the most angelic, soft waft of the prettiest florals" floating on "a gorgeous cloud of musk." It was only the second time in their life they had purchased a fragrance on the spot. Another called it "an amazing surprise" and "love at first sniff," declaring it their favorite from the Initio lineup and praising it as "the perfect floral creamy vanilla for those who dislike heavy florals."

The negative camp is equally passionate. One reviewer labeled it a "total scrubber" that "smells like plastic and burnt flowers." Another described it as "boring basic vanilla" with an unpleasant "burned sugary plastic" quality. A Parfumo reviewer called it "mass appealing" and said it "could be mistaken for a release from a high street brand," which for a niche house at niche prices is a pointed critique.

The broader concern from longtime Initio fans is about the house's direction since its acquisition. Names like "Lift Me Up" and "Can't Get Enough" feel less creatively ambitious than the earlier Hedonist entries, and some community members worry about a trend toward safe, commercially friendly compositions at unchanged premium prices.

Who Should Buy This

Lift Me Up is for the person who wants a beautiful, uncomplicated creamy vanilla floral and does not need their fragrance to challenge or provoke. If you love the warmth of tonka and vanilla paired with soft florals, and you value comfort and wearability above all else, this delivers. Fans of Parfums de Marly Oriana, Kayali Vanilla 28, or any of the current crop of creamy gourmand florals will find familiar and pleasant territory here.

It also works well as an introduction to Initio for someone who has been intimidated by the house's more challenging offerings. The problem is that Initio veterans may find it too tame, and the price makes it harder to justify when similar effects can be achieved at lower price points.

Skip this if you bought into Initio specifically for their experimental edge. Skip it if you want a fragrance that projects strongly and commands attention. And definitely skip it if you are sensitive to vanilla-forward sweetness, because despite the bergamot and magnolia top, this is fundamentally a vanilla fragrance.

The Bottom Line

Lift Me Up is a well-made, genuinely pleasant creamy vanilla floral that lives up to its name as a mood booster. The issue is not quality but value and identity. At designer prices, this would be an easy recommendation. At niche prices from a house built on pushing boundaries, it invites fair questions about what you are paying for. If you sample it and fall in love with its sunshine-in-a-bottle charm, the price may be worth it for the joy it brings. But sample first, because the gap between those who adore this and those who consider it a total miss is unusually wide.