dark wood and wet spice
wow I love this stuff
Bought a sample on a whim and at first it gave me an old-fashioned 70s-80s spice note. My impression was retro in the same way armoise oil is of that era. It makes me think of my grandfather, and visiting him in his library-study as a child.
Definitely masculine leaning in a similar vein, but forms the most entrancing combinations with rose!
I have come to love it so much I started wearing it neat. It has a rich woodiness, deep and rich like polished dark wood. Strong and rigid, more like ebony or mahogany than any creaminess from a santal type wood.
The dominant notes to my nose are full, warm spices. Peppery without being sharp (something like a softer long pepper, not so much black pepper). A deep brown spice note which is warm rather than hot. Think aged crystallised ginger, a softened and matured deep note, not at all like fresh ginger, but the gorgeous golden embrace left after all the heat and sharpness has aged out.
The spice note is quite indistinct to my nose - strong, definitely, but nonspecifically rich, soft, warm, tenacious, and persists surprisingly well in the drydown. Spice aspect to my nose is allspice-dominant, woody and clean, rounded and spicy without being too specifically representative of any particular baking spice.
The drydown to my nose is one of the most fun parts - it softens, sweetens, and most interestingly develops a damp soil/petrichor note. The gorgeous spice gains this coolness which meshes so nicely with the warmth of the spice. To me, it reminds me of the way a great patchouli can have the coolness of forest earth while still maintaining clean and clear golden notes above it.
Despite the cool-damp streak in the drydown, the overall impression throughout is a dry-polish warm spice cabinet to my nose. Something like how powdered ginger takes on a powdery and desiccated aspect in comparison to fresh. More tenacious than other spice oils - more like a wood oil in its persistence.
This glorious oil is somehow dry and powdery, and rich and warm, and spicy and crisply cool, all at once... very special!
I came here specifically to buy more - I hope the restock is soon, because I do not want to run out. I can see this being my go-to spice note from now on. Truly gorgeous.
