Palissandre d'Or Aedes de Venustas 2015

This really is an unusual beauty, but too shy for its own good. I continue to be tempted to buy the occasionally appearing discounted bottles, but there’s still a sizeable decant sitting on my shelf that I need to get through, and, more importantly, there’s also a new bottle of Genie de Bois by Keiko Mecheri, which to my nose smells like the accidental out of wedlock child between Palissandre and Guerlain’s tender forest violets from Apres L’Ondee. It’s also way more assertive and more long lived on both skin and clothing. And yet, here I sit, with my nose deep diving into the notes, and I cannot get over how lovely this is. Subtle and restrained, yes. But still remarkable.

If you love woody notes but don’t care for sweetness, this is very elegant and exquisitely done. I’m noticing that some Aedes de Venustas perfumes got new bottles and maybe there’s a chance this hidden little gem will also be polished to shine a little brighter and longer? Who knows.