Very salty, like a salted dried peel. Lasts a few hours as a floral musk whisper. Completely unisex to my nose.
Feels like a cool raindrop or dew on green grass. I get a slight lemongrass/verbena note, even if not listed. I can't determine the individual notes but it definitely recalls a garden in the morning before the flowers open and all is fresh and green. This one is memorable and satisfying.
It’s a unisex fragrance I reach for whenever I’m in the mood for something light, clean and subtle, the kind of your skin, but better scent. The composition opens with a luminous bergamot that quickly gives way to an accord of bitter almond, gently lifted by a touch of anise. Almond is clearly the leading note here, smelling like a freshly cracked almond kernel or marzipan with a drier, slightly cosmetic character, reminiscent of an elegant almond hand cream. The fragrance remains airy and refined, gradually becoming softer and creamier thanks to sandalwood. It’s a very minimalist scent with something deeply comforting about it. To me it evokes the smell of clean skin, a freshly laundered shirt and delicate almond scented skincare. Longevity on my skin is around three hours, and the projection stays fairly close to the skin.
It was a blind buy, because I really enjoy plum in perfumes. I was hoping for something along the lines of a plum liqueur with a touch of the Orient. The composition opens with a very sweet, ripe plum splashed with a hint of alcohol, accompanied by leather and patchouli. My first association was rather unusual, as if I had opened a jar of plum preserves in a cool, damp cellar. That earthy patchouli is very noticeable here and, unfortunately, it’s a note I don’t get along with. However, once that initial musty, cellar like impression passes and the patchouli settles down, the fragrance becomes much more pleasant. The plum returns to the forefront, this time more liqueur like and dense, accompanied by soft leather and a subtle coffee note. The saffron suggested by the name is sadly very scarce. As the fragrance develops, a gourmand leaning vanilla and a touch of musk become more prominent, smoothing the composition. Interestingly, at this stage the patchouli almost completely disappears and the scent becomes creamier and more comforting. Longevity on my skin is around six hours. The projection is quite noticeable at first, but over time the scent settles closer to the skin. In summary, Drunk Saffron turned out to be more of a drunken plum. It’s an interesting composition, sweet, but not typically gourmand thanks to the additions of leather and patchouli. I would definitely recommend testing before buying, as the first impression can be quite challenging.
A fruity vanilla fragrance that feels perfect for spring. The opening bursts with juicy passion fruit touched with citrus, giving it a very sunny, holiday like vibe. From the very first moments it reminds me of a Pornstar Martini enjoyed on a terrace by the beach on a warm evening. After a while, plumeria joins the composition, adding a creamy, slightly exotic softness, together with a sweet, custardy vanilla note. The vanilla beautifully balances the fruity freshness, making the scent more comforting, a bit like a passion fruit pudding with vanilla cream. As the fragrance develops, subtle slightly resinous nuances appear here and there, giving it a bit more depth and preventing it from becoming overly sugary. On my skin it lasts around five hours, with projection strong enough that a few colleagues have already popped into my office today to ask what smells so lovely.
To be honest I’m still not entirely sure how to describe this fragrance. The opening is very intense, almost overwhelming with the aroma of clary sage. My first association was the cheapest herbal soap from the 1980s, the kind that used to sit by my grandfather’s washbasin. Unfortunately, I can’t detect either the pepper or the bergamot, which might have brightened the composition a little. After a while the sage softens slightly, but the scent still reminds me of a freshly dug garden full of wild herbs, damp soil and roots pulled straight from the ground. Overall it feels very botanical, herbal, woody and earthy, at times almost raw, like the smell left on your hands after working in the garden. On my skin it lasts around three hours with minimal projection, and to be honest, in this case that’s probably for the best, because it’s definitely not a fragrance for me.
The composition is quite simple, but well done. The opening smells as if someone right next to you has just cut into a fresh, juicy orange, it’s bright, fruity and very appetising. This impression only lasts for a moment, because white florals appear almost immediately. I could swear I detect a hint of jasmine, although it isn’t listed in the official notes. The intoxicating bouquet of flowers is enhanced by a coffee accord, which in a way reminds me a little of the vibe of Black Opium. Sweet, sensual, slightly intoxicating and very feminine. On my skin it lasts around 6 hours, with quite decent projection.
This is a lemon lover's delight. Starts with a spray of lemon juice, turns to a tart lemon peel then a buttery lemon curd. It dries down into a white floral musk with a hint of lemon. I needed more sprays than usual (6 instead of 3) but I can't be upset at this price point. Lasts on the skin for 8 hours.
Love this green but warm unique scent. Theres something about it that makes me able to focus better and enhances mental clarity for some reason. The dry down warms up but the beginning reminds me of clawing ones way out of a grave and being alive with heightened senses in a forest 😄
A nice coffee that isnt sweet. Great layering with a chocolate scent like Dark or emphasizing the coffee in Montale’s Intense Cafe which barely has any coffee notes and is mostly a rose
Love the scent but projection and longevity are bad. Pretty much gone in an hour. Because of that its a good scent to fall asleep to. Funny the line produced this to layer and its meant to be a base note. It has no structure and is too fleeting to be any kind of base note
Excellent scent but horrible performance. Does not project and is a skin scent in 1-2 hours
It seems very ozonic, with slight lavender and violet. Slightly woody, but would say ozonic and mineralic for sure. Best way to describe it is a breezy spring day right before a tornado.
Beautiful green citrus with tea with surprising longevity. Refreshing for spring and summer.
Sultan Vetiver is the vetiveriest vetiver that ever vetivered.
You must truly love all facets of vetiver to really appreciate it.
I don't know how it comes from these notes (Lime, Lemongrass, Grapefruit, Orange blossom, Ginger, Cardamom, Benzoin, Tonka bean, Myrrh, Peruvian tolu balsam) but I get a huge cola/root beer blast, refreshing and delicious. It dries down to a rich ginger ale that remains crisp without turning syrupy or stale.
It’s a very intriguing oriental fragrance. The opening is powerful, almost sparkling with spices and saffron. At first, I felt as if I were standing in the middle of a Moroccan bazaar, surrounded by stalls filled with aromatic spices, colourful fabrics, and a warm, exotic scent drifting through the air. After a while, the spicy intensity begins to soften, and a woody resinous base with a delicate hint of oud comes to the forefront. The composition gains depth and elegance at this stage. In the base, I clearly detect earthy patchouli, gently warmed by a drop of golden honey, which adds softness and a subtle sweetness to the fragrance. This is definitely a composition for lovers of oriental, bold fragrances with character. On my skin, it lasts for around eight hours, and the projection is noticeable, although it gradually becomes softer and more enveloping over time.
Sunny smells like candied orange peels with a creamy jasmine dry down that lasts 8-10 hours close to skin. Isn't too sweet, just perfect.
Stepping into the world of Bortnikoff is always an experience, but Manie du Café hits differently. It’s not your average "breakfast" gourmand; it’s a sophisticated, dark-roasted journey.
The opening is a photorealistic blast of espresso—bitter, rich, and slightly smoky. But as it settles, the signature Bortnikoff DNA kicks in. The oud is clean and structural, providing a wooden counter for the sweetness of vanilla and cardamom to play on. It feels less like a coffee shop and more like a private library where someone just pulled a fresh double shot. Perfect for crisp mornings or evenings when you want something with real presence.
The opening is very blackcurrant forward and immediately reminds me of Robinsons Squash smelled straight from the bottle, juicy and distinctly fruity. After a while, delicate jasmine joins in, along with a touch of davana, which subtly enhances the sweetness of the blackcurrant and adds a light aromatic nuance to the composition. In the base, oakmoss and earthy patchouli appear, but fortunately it’s not the heavy, cellar like type, but rather soft, slightly green and elegant. The composition is very pleasant overall and has something about it that reminds me of a summer forest after the rain. Unfortunately, the fragrance is rather fleeting. Longevity is around four hours, with moderate projection for the first hour, after which it quickly becomes a skin scent. A pity, because it’s truly a very enjoyable composition.
A fragrance I simply have to keep in my collection. My bottle dates back to November 2015 and still evokes the same emotions in me. The juicy mirabelle opening, with a pinch of pink pepper, brings to mind warm summer afternoons and the taste of fruit picked straight from the tree. After a while, the composition unfolds into a floral fruity heart, delicate, sunlit and joyfully shimmering. It settles into a woody patchouli base that adds depth and elegance to the scent. Longevity is around six hours. The projection is initially quite pronounced and radiant, later becoming more intimate as the fragrance sits closer to the skin.
A light, salty aquatic that lasts 4+ hours.
It's a lightly fruited lemongrass. Longevity is terrible, less than two hours. I like it though, because I like lemongrass. Good to put on when you want something gone quickly, like before an airplane flight or a dentist appointment.
It leaves a gorgeous, head-turning sillage without choking out a room, and the vanilla clings to clothes for hours. A beautifully blended, grown-up tropical gourmand. A must-sniff for the warmer weather.
