The combination of violets/rose and absinthe, especially in the top notes make for an intriguing brew. Levantium is pretty triumphant and I'm someone who loved Lothair from this collection as well. A perfect mixture of sweet and sour has a slight earthiness mixed with very luxurious and full bodied florals. The opening for me is quite musky but like everything from Penhaligon's totally under control allowing the wormwood and rose to shine but with a hint of clove and spices. The body of this fragrance is those woods oud and sandalwood to be precise and in the dry down are more prominent turning this juice very woody and almost animalic with musk after the first two hours. That floral combo in the top and heart notes reminds me for a moment of Tom Ford Noir de Noir but this is less deep and sensual but far more complex and less crowd pleasing. That floral woody base does have a slight 'off' note to it perhaps the oud but I find it a welcome and balancing dimension to Levantium. If yours expecting a strong oud fragrance this isn't it Penhaligon's (in the main) are all about combining lots of notes to create something which seems simple and effortless this fragrance is no different. I bought it on the spot because I was really taken with it but by the same rule it will never be my favourite fragrance. It has okay performance too.