Top Notes 
Bergamot
Elemi resin
Grapefruit
Pink pepper
Heart Notes 
Bell pepper
Cinnamon
Saffron
Base Notes 
Leather
Tobacco
Vetiver
11/25/2017
Elysium
890 Reviews
Elysium
Very helpful Review
4
A Mistaken Identity, or Just Pure Dark Magic
The Reyane Tradition Insurrection II trilogy just landed yesterday—Pure, Wild, and Dark. Along with them came some of the Acqua di Parisis gems like Musk Sultan, Oud Wild, and Oud Dark. But today, I rolled the dice and went with Insurrection II Dark, and here we go with my first impression.
Let’s start off with this: I don’t know what other reviewers were smelling, but anyone comparing this to Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb must’ve had their noses somewhere else. I love Spicebomb. I’m borderline obsessed with Spicebomb and all its flankers. This? This is not even in the same galaxy. And that’s not a bad thing. Insurrection II Dark is its own beast, and a stunning one, especially for colder days.
To me, it opens with something that feels oddly familiar—pineapple, just like Insurrection II Pure (the Aventus clone). For a hot second, I thought they'd poured the wrong juice in the wrong bottle. But hang tight, because the overlap doesn’t last long. Where Pure heads into bright citrus territory, Dark detours into a much more shadowy lane.
There’s no cinnamon, no Spicebomb-style spice blast, and definitely no citrus sweetness. What you get instead is a cherry-ish, red-fruit depth layered over what feels like sweet bakery spice. It's subtle but intriguing. No fireworks—more like glowing embers. I get hints of cinnamon, mace, cardamom, maybe even coriander and pepper—but everything is dialed into this dark, mellow frequency.
Then comes the leather—modern, soft suede leather. It doesn’t scream leather, but it brings that rich, warm, polished weight that makes the fragrance feel grounded and sophisticated. If it’s leather, it’s been refined, tamed, and dressed up. That note gives the scent body and elegance. Love that treatment.
In short, Insurrection II Dark is not a Spicebomb alternative. It’s more like a cousin of Aventus that ran off with a fruit tart and a vintage leather jacket. Fruity, spicy, leathery, sweet—but all handled with restraint and style. And it projects beautifully. There's an easy-going confidence here.
We’re deep in autumn now, the air's cold and damp, and this scent is just right. Cozy enough for mornings, rich enough for afternoons. I can totally see this carrying me through winter as well. And performance? For this price, it punches way above its weight. Longevity is solid, and the sillage is tasteful—neither too shy nor too loud.
And let me just say—the packaging is insane. These bottles come in cases that open like mystical grimoires. Heavy caps, smooth sprayers, gorgeous presentation—and all this for under thirty bucks? Reyane Tradition, how do you do it?
A truly underrated scent. If you’re into something different that doesn’t follow the hype trail, give this one a go.
Owned since April 2025.
—Elysium
Let’s start off with this: I don’t know what other reviewers were smelling, but anyone comparing this to Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb must’ve had their noses somewhere else. I love Spicebomb. I’m borderline obsessed with Spicebomb and all its flankers. This? This is not even in the same galaxy. And that’s not a bad thing. Insurrection II Dark is its own beast, and a stunning one, especially for colder days.
To me, it opens with something that feels oddly familiar—pineapple, just like Insurrection II Pure (the Aventus clone). For a hot second, I thought they'd poured the wrong juice in the wrong bottle. But hang tight, because the overlap doesn’t last long. Where Pure heads into bright citrus territory, Dark detours into a much more shadowy lane.
There’s no cinnamon, no Spicebomb-style spice blast, and definitely no citrus sweetness. What you get instead is a cherry-ish, red-fruit depth layered over what feels like sweet bakery spice. It's subtle but intriguing. No fireworks—more like glowing embers. I get hints of cinnamon, mace, cardamom, maybe even coriander and pepper—but everything is dialed into this dark, mellow frequency.
Then comes the leather—modern, soft suede leather. It doesn’t scream leather, but it brings that rich, warm, polished weight that makes the fragrance feel grounded and sophisticated. If it’s leather, it’s been refined, tamed, and dressed up. That note gives the scent body and elegance. Love that treatment.
In short, Insurrection II Dark is not a Spicebomb alternative. It’s more like a cousin of Aventus that ran off with a fruit tart and a vintage leather jacket. Fruity, spicy, leathery, sweet—but all handled with restraint and style. And it projects beautifully. There's an easy-going confidence here.
We’re deep in autumn now, the air's cold and damp, and this scent is just right. Cozy enough for mornings, rich enough for afternoons. I can totally see this carrying me through winter as well. And performance? For this price, it punches way above its weight. Longevity is solid, and the sillage is tasteful—neither too shy nor too loud.
And let me just say—the packaging is insane. These bottles come in cases that open like mystical grimoires. Heavy caps, smooth sprayers, gorgeous presentation—and all this for under thirty bucks? Reyane Tradition, how do you do it?
A truly underrated scent. If you’re into something different that doesn’t follow the hype trail, give this one a go.
Owned since April 2025.
—Elysium
Elysium
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