Cochine definitely love using tuberose in their fragrances, with Tuberose Absolute & Sandalwood being their most intense. It’s also one of their best, that is, if tuberose is a note you scan stomach - as there is no hiding from it here. The tuberose itself, thankfully, doesn’t smell like that sickly bubblegum that a lot of tuberose fragrances have, instead it is more supple and bright, favouring a dense soapy facet instead. To counter this, a copious amount of ylang is present which flattens the tuberose with its buttery, creamy smoothness, alongside sandalwood and orris. It’s all rather lovely, until that black pepper hits you in the back of the throat unnecessarily. There’s a running theme with these Cochine fragrances, that for the most part they smell great, but there always seems to be one note which I don’t get on with, somewhat ruining my enjoyment of it. They’re all pleasant, but none have been loves for me, this one included.
It’s a unisex composition that opens with a light citrus accord touched by a subtle hint of pepper. After a short while, tuberose comes to the forefront, intertwined with ylang ylang and iris accords. Although tuberose dominates, it is neither overly sweet nor old-fashioned, or granny-like, instead, it’s classy and elegant. The composition is grounded in leather and sandalwood notes, which lend the fragrance depth and a slightly earthy character. On my skin, longevity is around five hours with moderate projection. It is definitely a scent worth trying.