Woah! Woah! I'd anticipated my meeting with Leather Oud with much trepidation not just after looking at the notes but seeing a few negative comments in the forum. I like Oud (genuinely, I know what it's smells like!) Leather, in principle is great and a favourite note but can be and often is... done badly. It's the animalistic element and beeswax to this that worried me. It just seemed to compound the other acquired tastes into a hellish mixture that could easily be awful...I was thinking Montale's cuir d'Arabie but with animal stink thrown in for good measure. Just for the record I like the bravery of the Montale it represents a different kind of leather and the dry down is fantastic it's just the opening and first couple of hours that are almost unbearably horrible! Anyway...To my surprise this fragrance is really good. It's inkeeping with the trend of this Dior range, notably being really well blended indeed. The Oud is great and not stifled or distorted by the leather the animal quality is actually really good in the context of this fragrance. The longevity is massive and the animal quality is manageable in the dry down. As one reviewer has mentioned it smells like sex...and that's a good description. Insanely raw and primal yet somehow finessed at the same time this is not for the faint of heart in terms of wearing it... I'm still not sure whether I would myself as I prefer something with spices. This perfume is bold and makes a real statement don't have any preconceptions or write this off without trying because like me, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Patchouli overdose!!! This thing is banging and green in a way that I haven't encountered before to be honest. It's not the sort of thing I'm used to. Even the patch dominance seems unfamiliar when accompanied by these other grassy and tobacco notes, it could be the concentration...I don't know? It's a weird one...but I do like it. Hindu Grass intrigues me and encourages me to get my nose on it again. I'm staggering my nasomatto reviews having tried everything(ex.Pardon) they have to offer and I was only compelled to purchase Duro at this high price. The jury is still out on Black Afgano. I'm not sure when or where I would wear Hindu Grass it's a daring scent and no mistake.
As I mentioned in my original review below the patchouli in this fragrance is more 'hippy' than a chocolatey 'Tom Ford type' but it's more than that. The green and earthy notes surrounding it create a kind of floral almost natural soft leathery feel especially in the dry down. What a dry down it is too...magical! This juice has a opulent quality that you only get from a very high end fragrance, it's stunning to be honest. It teeters between green freshness and an intoxicating patchouli that to me is unique. There's notes in the drydown too which are almost rough against the general smoothness...if that makes sense? I love it anyway and definitely more impressed a second time.
Okay so... is this going to spellbind anyone? I doubt it! It's very reminiscent of many Acqua di Parma's really, fresh citrus and fruit in the top with a super clean, delicately spiced woody dry down. I found the opening to be very citrus and green too but pleasant and then the slighty rusty vetiver underneath is revealed. I get a slight tea vibe and some cardamom too. To be honest, contrary to reviews on here the first time I tried it I found the vetiver quite earthy. On wearing it for a second time it's much cleaner and more reminiscent of Jo Malone vetyver, or 154. I think it's common knowledge that I like a good perfume like this when it's well done. I'm not sure what this retails for but I'd imagine it's expensive so in that case I'd say go with an alternative. I will say this... it has good longevity. Update: 31/01/23 Wow Nearly ten years since I reviewed this one. Have I got much more to say on this? Nothing earth shattering to add but I like the use of vetiver here, it's very functional in that if you like root like, dry, smoky vetiver this is perhaps not for you, but paired with citrus in this context it shines beneath all the fresh stuff making a woody, musky, wooly sort of feel. It's paired back, understated but has a certain quality and power to it, and not a trace of ....oh ISO E SUPER or Ambroxan...yada yada is propping it all up, at no time does it retreat into a single aroma chemical or boring base, it's blended right to the bitter end. Underappreciated I'd say. Thoroughly enjoyed wearing it today.
Right!!! So for the authentic effect, I decanted some onto a bent spoon and burned it a little before injecting and let me tell you it smelled awful! Okay what's with everyone going on about the name? If you think about it most china (ceramic) is white and paint hues are named 'China White' without any intended drug references to street names for smack! Where do you think that came from anyway? What would people rather it be called....'Snow White'? Which would have ridiculous fairytale and still further drug connotations! RANT OVER! As for the smell of this it's BIG and BOLD! Nasomatto don't know how to do anything else. Even with a scent like this which is powdery and floral it's an industrial Iron fist in a velvet glove. I get lots of animalistic musk from this which under normal circumstances I wouldn't like especially in a floral scent but this is intriguing to me. I have to say I quite like china white not for me to wear but I can definitely appreciate it. It has a unique edge and I can't think of many scents like it.
Again the name is very deceptive here...not a Oud centric fragrance at all but hey I think you've got to look past a simplistic name like simply 'Oud' as a creation with a base in Oud. (I'm sure it's in there somewhere?) I love saffron, styrax and Myrrh and was hoping this would deliver something special and it kinda does? I truly haven't made my mind up on this yet. I hate to label things with a sex but I'm going to anyway haha! Something about this leans slightly more toward the feminine as I felt with Casbah. I know, I know it's strange but that's the impression I got. This being said It's not too feminine to dismiss me wearing it and that is the usual gauge I use to determine how much I like it. The fir and saffron in top of this fragrance make for a bewildering opening that soon subsides to reveal an almost rusty, very dry resinous vibe. Although I quipped about the oud at the top of this review it is present but lends a harder quality possibly from the combo with guaiac wood. This is a strange one for me didn't hit me as instantly as Bois noir as a keeper but definitely worth another sniff especially if like me, you love Myrrh.
Something I left out of my review below is that this fragrance opens with masses of balsam fir which comes across very menthol and strong then the resins kick. I like this fragrance still not for me though.
I don't know what it is about me a fig based scents but we seem to be drawn to each other like some sort of fatal attraction. Strange really despite the usual feminine association. Interesting that the review below compares this to Fico di amalfi and naturally who wouldn't make the connection. However as somebody who has the ADP and loves it I must admit Figuier Eden is better. Not that I see this as 'high end' compared to the Fico in truth most of the Armani Prive line are pretty lackluster for the price. The opening of this scent is really good, fresh, juicy and bursting out of the bottle, with the addition of iris which to me really makes the fig pop! Fico is a little watery and subdued in comparison, to me more suited to summer, where as I see the Armani as being a little more versatile. The drydown of Figuier is more powdery and you definitely get the iris contributing to a longer lasting scent on the skin. The verdict is good...very good if you like figs you could do a lot worse than this but arguably better too.
Okay so I'll comment briefly on this as I didn't consider it for myself but rather my girlfriend for her birthday. Now that I've bought this and peony blush I have decided to give them to my mum for Christmas instead as they're probably more up her street. I had a discussion with the lady in the Jo Malone boutique and she said this was not a big seller and judging by the comments here I'm not surprised. Personally I thought it was lovely. For me it doesn't have the sweetness of jasmine or the waxy, soapiness of white florals like tuberose or orange blossom but something about it was really gentle and soothing. Perhaps it's the freshness of the mint which is easy to perceive without being too minty and makes this fragrance pleasant. I like it for a woman and even a man could pull this off if he wanted...not me though. Great scent and underated in the Jo Malone collection in my opinion.
Oh Lanvin Avant Garde how you've ducked under my radar all this time. I've been aware of this fragrance for ages now and I've had the opportunity to try it on a couple of occassions and passed it by. At this point I'd just like to add that I'm not sure why I didn't want to try it because I love to shoehorn in the words/phase(?)"Avant Garde" into conversation and the presentation of the product is very good so you'd have thought it would be of interest to me? Anyway... Thought I'd check out the notes on here and when I did, I didn't hold out much hope...beeswax and tobacco...hmmmm? I love tobacco but there's many variables within that accord and I straight just don't like beeswax unless in some very special circumstances. Well... These are very special circumstances indeed! Love this fragrance it's a smooth, dark, resinous masculine juice which combines a very good rich tobacco with the quality of beeswax and the combination is such that I actually like the beeswax! It just works this one, very warming and great for winter. Avante Garde is a stand out juice at a great price can't recommend this stuff highly enough.
Ambre Nuit is an absolute knockout! The opening is wonderful and then it just gets better and better in the dry down. I adore it! I've sniffed many amber scents in my time and this one is an instant favourite...surpassing the likes of Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan, Annick Goutal Ambre Fetiche and Tom Ford Ambre Absolute. Ambre nuit is so well put together it genuinely had me hooked and constantly smelling myself because it's so divine. Really unexpected from Dior too. I was honestly thinking...'Here we go again...I'll probably like it but it's yet another amber...' boy was I wrong! The nostril stinging sensation that I usually get from potent niche amber's is just not apparent with this creation, it's smooth from start to finish. A very subdued and gentle amber which has the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. The rose is so well blended it offers up beautiful qualities without once smelling like rose...if that makes sense? It's no projection or sillage monster but the longevity is pretty good. This scent stays close to the skin and is so natural it's almost a skin enhancer...if that makes sense? Although if I knew anyone who smelled like this naturally they'd probably have a perminent harem of folks following them around trying to sniff them. Great fragrance...well done Dior.
At first when sprayed this had me excited a dank, mouldy Oud woodiness with almost sweet top notes that are perfectly complimentary. I thought this had the quality and balance of MFK Oud but sadly as it develops past the opening couple of minutes or so, it shows it's true colours. It's not bad as such but just very weak and longevity is poor. This is odd because I would've thought they'd use the same quality of Agarwood for all this collection (with the gold stoppers) and Oud royal is good and Myrrhe imperiale (although doesn't have Oud) is a favourite of mine. The leather in this is there but not very pleasant and luckily not very strong when it emerges, nor does it stick around for long. Cuir noir is certainly not smooth or luxurious and does evoke more of a rough tanning vibe which is supposed to be Armani's intention. This fragrance is not bad just lacking in originality and strength at this price point. The dry down is subtle but pleasant if you like Oud...That's all I can say really.
Okay brief re-review as I've started on my second sample. I pretty much agree with my original sentiments a great smelling, resiny, Oud opening, quite sweet actually, which matures to a rough leather and vanilla this could be so fantastic if only it lasted. I must say I'm really enjoying the second wear this sent is right up my street and I'd even put up with the longevity & projection issues if it was significantly cheaper.
Great, great opening on this one I was drawn in from the very first sniff, strange really as I like patch (I mean who doesn't?) (Ps I am aware some people don't I was being rhetorical.) But I'm not crazy about it and don't often consider fragrances with patchouli in the name. Also, this is my first delve into this collection from Dior and it's off to a good start let me tell you. It has a menthol almost medicinal vibe in the opening and a little fruit not really what I expected but very pleasant. The patchouli becomes really chocolaty in the dry down like cacao & sweet leafy soil mixed with truffles or something? So not sweet gourmand chocolate just that lovely dark thing patch does when it becomes like chocolate. This is a good blend and the whole vibe puts me in mind of Tom Ford Noir or like an uncluttered black orchid...in other words...heavy on the patchouli as you'd expect. My verdict was initially this was my favourite until the amber one I tried dried down and I really how gorgeous it was. So this is no slouch its a good, extremely well made fragrance and the price is pretty reasonable considering the amount of juice you get. Oh...just one minor criticism of this line. Dior have taken a minimalist approach to the packaging on these but in my opinion they look cheap and nasty. The bottles displayed on the Dior counter are bright (crazy juice colours)and easily recognisable but they look to me like cocktail syrups or soda stream flavours or something...not high end perfumes.
Okay well this one is a strange combination of pungent Lavender, deeply spiced with pepper and nutmeg. A great fragrance and although this should be right up my street I just fail to see how I could pull off wearing it. The lavender is as accurate a lavender smell as you can get, totally natural and extremely fresh like pure lavender oil. Comparisons to Luna Rossa from Prada are obvious due to the dominance of this note along with the spicing. In my opinion though this is more traditional, medicinal and reminiscent of aromatherapy oils than the more contemporary Prada. It's not just that though, the whole look of the bottle and branding give the impression of a old apothecary style product. As it dries down it mellows slightly but you do get a strength from this juice that is unrelenting then disappears. I get this fragrance I really do, unfortunately as I mentioned I just couldn't wear it myself. Very good though.
I'm not going to criticize Tom Ford (or Fraud) for this this creation due to it's name. I'm no Arab but I don't think it's takes one to tell that the note breakdown at least is not evocative enough of Arabian purfume...one would think. Yes we all think of Oud and Incense but are they really such authentic Arabic ingredients? What's wrong or not authentic about Oakmoss, Rose, sandalwood? I really don't know? Like I said I'm no expert so I will give Tom Ford the benefit of the doubt on this one. Anybody else who's not an expert should too! The more pertinent problem I have with Arabian Wood is that I simply don't like it all that much. I get Cedar, oakmoss a hint of rose and just lots of masculine woods. This fragrance is nothing special at all and to me is very ordinary male oriented and a real let down for the private blend.
Reading my review below...What an idiotic boob I was some 5 years ago. I've dug out an old sample of this and I'm wearing it today, maybe (definitely) my tastes have changed over that time. I still kinda see what I meant but I'm probably more nostalgic about Arabian wood because it's discontinued in a forbidden fruit kinda way? That is a bit of a stupid reason because I think it's due to the sheer quality of this fragrance. As for my criticism of exactly how Arabic is AW, Well what could be more middle eastern than roses, jasmine, precious woods and resin? That's what this is, a primarily floral perfume with a healthy dose of oakmoss and woods to keep it honest. I think it's clean & beautiful but at the same time has that velvety smooth and sexy, Turkish delight darkness of TF Noir de Noir. Sometimes you have to stand back to appreciate great art and that's what I've done here. It's strong and projecting like mad. Rose and floral perfumes, however nice initially, usually start to get on my nerves after a while and this hasn't. AW is decent and makes me feel a bit special wearing it too, because of the perfect mixture of care free flamboyance and masculinity. I think what I expected in my original review was more sandalwood or oud because of the name but this has a much more refined and subtle edge than many arabic perfumes.
I've tried this about 3 times on my skin, over a number of months and I've got a feeling Eau Duelle could grow on me through further investigation. It's very unique I can't think of anything I've smelled that resembles this, almost like a combination of notes that shouldn't work but somehow just do. Resinous spice, tea, juniper, cardamom, ambergris, musk and then vanilla! It sounds like a 'shitmix' as I affectionately called a plastic bottle mixture of whatever booze I could steal from my parents spirit cabinet when I was a kid. Needless to say these concoctions (usually a dark brownish hue) were not a smooth carefully blended cocktail, more of a burning firewater with no discernible genus. Anyway...that's exactly what I'd expect from this especially with the vanilla being so integral in its make up but its not at all confused. Eau Duelle has a lightness of touch which really lets the spices play around without being able to pick out the notes as such. The frankincense and elemi are present and surprisingly work well with the vanilla. Without further testing I'm at a bit of loss. I know I like it or I wouldn't keep returning to it and this could potentially be one of my favourites from this house.
I'm not surprised the notes in this rhyme... Lavender, Lemon and Lime, Pepper, Musk and Pine. It strikes a great balance similar to all the Penhaligon's I've sniffed out. Perfectly natural sharp citrus of Lemon and Lime(you can really smell both) with calming Lavender. The drydown yields a little pepper and gentle musk. My only criticism is that the combination of top notes give this a cleaning product type of vibe and I'm not one who usually says that about overly lemony or lavender fragrances because it's too easy to go there. At the end of the day I like and accurate citrus also love lavender and I like the subtle pinch of pepper, just works. This still has an elegance about it, Penhaligon's just pulls it off and Blenheim Bouquet has a clean feel but it's not the best offering from them although inoffensive and wearable.
At last!!! I finally have '...the Butt Plug of male perfume' as Mark (Robes08) called it on one of his videos. I blind bought it as it's one of those ones that comes up again and again and I figured it sounded like a safe bet. Firstly, the comparisons with Givenchy play intense alone made me want this juice as if it's anything remotely like it then it's in very good territory. As soon as I sprayed Rochas man I realised how soft it was the smell really takes time to settle and I actually get a great deal of fresh citrus in those first few seconds, then it becomes more apparent what this fragrance is all about. A very subtle vanilla, milky coffee and lavender comes through and to me it seems iced and refreshing not warm and decadent. Without referencing Givenchy Play Intense I was immediately reminded of it as this dries down and understandably so. If you then try Givenchy Play Intense side by side with this you realise there's big differences in notes. To me this is less sweet and more coffee like, it also is softer and stays closer to the skin. Anyone who has this and doesn't have Play Intense don't make the mistake of thinking you don't need it. My personal taste dictates that if you like this (which I do) you will love The Givenchy as it's an amped up, more gourmand, sexier, sweeter, stronger, more complex and longer lasting fragrance than this one. That's my view... but Rochas man has it's merits as a close skin scent which I must say, I really enjoy. Talk of the sweetness here is not that accurate, sure its sweet but the coffee (although really subtle) gives it a bitterness and reminds me of Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin as much as it does of Play intense. Anyway...my verdict is that It's worth a go for a blind buy and the kind of scent I will wear pretty regularly. My inital thoughts were it's a winter scent but actually that soft, cooling, calming vibe might be more suited to a summer evening in hindsight. This is a great juice and right up my street.
From a fragrance collectors point of view I want one of these He Wood bottles so bad just to have in my collection. I love woody fragrances but there's just something really wrong with the opening of these fragrances. To be fair they're all about the base notes and how they dry down but if the opening and first hour or two is awful then it just puts me off. This one is a real offender in this department, an astringently harsh paint thinner, turpentine type of a vibe in the opening. I love violet accords in various guises but this is all wrong! My girlfriend said it reminded her of ..."a damp wood working tool shed." and I thought...I wish it reminded me of that! I'd take that over what I got from it...I surpose you keep turps in your shed so maybe that was it? Anyway...gets woodier and better in the dry down and I get the wetness of wood that it's supposed to have but it's not sexy or weird like an Encre Noire. Don't like it...such a shame.
Okay....So I've revised my opinion on the He Wood range of fragrances especially this one as the others didn't irk me as much as Ocean wet wood. I just generally had a problem with the harsh, unnatural opening which to me went against what I considered to be the aim of the brand, I mean what could be more natural than wood? I don't like the misuse of the word 'synthetic' particularly as it displays a lack of understanding about modern perfumery but when used convey a 'cheapness' I understand the sentiment and to me this used to apply to this fragrance. However, I've changed my mind somewhat and the drydown and base notes of these woody fragrances are what they're all about. Wet wood is the most mellow and aquatic of the lot in actual fact with a milder violet accord from the original. I've taken it off my hate list anyway can't believe I was so offended by it in the first place? I put it down to olfactory fatigue and a badnoseday!
I have to reflect the sentiment of other reviews on this, truth is I'm not sure what the notes listed here are all about...dried fruit etc? Granted some notes are just evoked by others without actually containing those ingredients. I get a tobacco type accord with honey and Iris but this is not one of the better more distinctive Diptyques for me...and if you like these notes there's probably stronger choices out there. Having said that it really ain't bad either and will require more investigation to make a final decision.
My oh my oh my!!! I'd read and watched every review I could on this one before I got it as a blind buy. The amount of respected reviewers I'd listened to saying how amazing this fragrance was and how it surpassed expectations at this price point etc... I still had reservations until I got my nose on it. To be honest all those glowing reviews don't even come close to doing it justice this is a phenomenal fragrance and I don't say it lightly... a true MASTERPIECE. It's blown me away...I couldn't wait to unbox it and when I sprayed it on my hand I waited for a few moments before smelling it, all the while my mind racing at this exciting prospect. Before I could get my nose on it I was treated to a sneak peek, a waft emanating from my hand at about waist height...It was instant love at first sniff! The moment it entered my nostrils my first thoughts were disbelief at how expensive and opulent this smells, although the reviews I'd seen had warned me of exactly that, nothing prepared me for it. 24 Gold is such a magnificent blend of notes that you get everything in the opening a very, sweet amber, jasmine, ylang ylang and anise which create a kind of spicy, middle eastern incense vibe with the sandalwood in there too. This must be contributing to the sweetness and it's almost edibile sweet. The opening is so hardhitting... an epic bombardment, it reminds me of something from Amouage. The Oud is very evident to my nose it the first hour or so it has exactly the strange quality that lots of 'Oud based' fragrances lack (It actual smells of oud!)and that's not even what this scent is all about. It has a vanilla through it too which keeps it creamy and rounds off any sharp edges the vanilla gets more and more apparent into the drydown. It's a strange reminder of elements from lots of high quality niche fragrances I love...Clive Christian C, Amouage Interlude man, Armani Prive Royal Oud/Myrrhe Imperiale and MFK Oud...without being like any of them! So fairly complex you would think? Not really. It's because when a scent is this good you can just take it at face value and you don't dissect the notes just sit back and enjoy the experience. As for the image... a sweet scent with strong branding and massive projection and silage in a gold bottle...sounds familiar huh? Don't get me wrong and no offense to 1 million but this is in another galaxy. Finally, I've been aware of this line of frags for sometime and heard people mention the Jack Bauer connection I thought jokingly...even when I saw the digitally displayed letters on the box I never thought it was actually a concept based on the hit TV series. I never really watched 24 to be honest but if Jack Bauer smelled like this no wonder he was so effective at counter terrorism. The terrorists must've been mesmerized by his princely aroma, like a deer in the headlights. I'd have told him whatever he wanted to know, with no torture necessary. This fragrance has everything going for it and is an instant favourite.
Wearing this today and it's really good, fresh but not too fly away and with a definite masculine edge. The citrus opening is all too familiar to the majority of the ADP's I've tried. It's a very natural fruity smell that is sharp and bracing then becomes slightly spiced. I think this is a really well put together fragrance and oozes easy going sophistication without being anything special. After the initial citrus, there's a touch of soapy blossomy neroli but not too much. Then the ginger, benzoin and myrrh become apparent and I for one am happy with the way this fragrance is going. The drydown is amazing frankly...I love how that freshness and citrus beginning can mask all those subtle base notes underneath. I never imagined it would drydown with a deep spicy, leathery, warm skin type aroma that's incredibly masculine. This is the complete opposite of Essenza di Colonia which has a even more pleasant fruity/citrus opening then the base is totally aloof! Intensa is really good juice and the ideal gift for a man who likes to smell good but doesn't want to make a huge statement.
So...Zen at last I found you and I was not at all disappointed. A great fragrance, has a fresh sparkling feel with a fruity musk vibe. Definite nashi pear note in the top, vague florals (which is a good thing) and a soft musky suede drydown. What's great about this scent is it seems familiar but is actually quite unique as it goes and I'd rather wear this than some of the fresh designer scents out there. I have to say I really love the white heat edition version but I suspect this will have better performance in projection terms as it is a bit stronger and less subtle. Shiseido Zen is a casual scent that could be worn everyday and has a clean non intrusive vibe...great contemporary bottle design too! I enjoy it.
Been looking for somewhere that stocked this and the original Zen for a long long time. I've even tracked down rarer niche fragrances faster than this one but I was determined not to blind buy it even though I kind of knew what to expect. Was I right though? Absolutely! I'd have been happy with this as a blind buy. What a great smell! It opens with angel chorus, flourishing harps and birdsong! Nah... not really but it might as well do. It opens with a freshly squeezed, sweet, juicy tangerine and citrus note(well hassaku anyway) and a slightly floral vibe but very very soft with a minimal sandalwood. It's only the creamy element of the sandalwood and as I mentioned, very subtle indeed. I don't get much mint but I do get an Ice cold, refreshing vibe that for me makes Zen white heat edition a great achievement. If you can find it (I had to go to a Shiseido make up counter) get it! You won't find many better fresh fragrances, really the smell of this is excellent and a welcome alternative to the usual designer fodder. It's very soft, I only tried it on my hand but I could imagine the longevity to be avaerage and the scent will stay close to the skin. So soft in fact it could be considered feminine but not at all to me I'm definitely going to get this one.
No! Not for me this one. Too feminine and has the dominant white florals which to me are right on a crucial borderline between uplifting and headache inducing. Smells more like a room scent than for human consumption (so to speak) and I can't understand why anyone male or female would enjoy smelling like this? each to there own though huh? As with all the MFK scents it's well blended and the citrus opening works well with the soapy, waxy blossom smell. I love jasmine and it's definitely here sweetening up a neroli type floral fragrance but I never seem to find a TRUE jasmine especially in a male fragrance or even failing that, a unisex. I remember trying Aqua Universalis and quite liking that but I'll have to try it again to be sure. I seem to remember it being more citrus and watery notes than white florals and as such maybe less intrusive and more wearable than this. Update: I think I've been a little unfair above. I understand why someone would want to smell like this it's very nice and actually evolves, constantly changing and making you think. It's certainly more than just a white floral scent I can really smell the musk too. The flowers are so accurate and natural I'd go as far as to say this is the best white floral I've ever smelled but it's still not for me to wear. (although I am today.)
Having worn this fragrance today despite my initial skepticism about it not being manly enough for me...the quality and skilled composition of aqua universalis simply shines though and over 18 hours of pure delight on my skin. This white floral is well worth the price tag, I wouldn't wear it regularly but it's still an excellent fragrance.
Brave stuff! Full to the brim with spices, I thought I was going to love this one unconditionally but sadly I don't. It puts me in mind of a dry, sandy, beige colour landscape because of the association perhaps? I don't know why it kind of reminds me of sandpaper not the smell as such but it just creates a sensory, olfactory texture...if that's not too pretentious a comment? It's a pungent opening for me quite peppery which I usually like but not here as it's a little sneezey. The spices are hard and rough at first and as it dries down it starts to produce a really lovely incense vibe. I kinda love this fragrance but I couldn't wear it myself. Although this is a 100% straight down the middle unisex, I personally get a more of a feminine feel from it... like something a belly dancer would wear. It's certainly not because this is light or breezy it's pretty hardcore to be honest and far spicier and smokier than CDG series 3 Avignon to which I've seen some comparisons. My verdict is that this is a cracking fragrance...just not for me. I would recommend anyone who likes orientals or spicy, incense fragrances to try this one as it's very interesting.
