Shiso Aftelier

I always look forward to Aftelier fragrances. With this company, I can always rely on getting something with character. And even though the powerful creations of this house often scratch at the limits of what one can endure, it is always an experience, and a purely natural one at that. Often, it feels like the ground has been pulled from under your feet, but you are filled with respect. :)
The opening is dazzling and powerful. An accord that combines exotic sharpness and mild sweetness settles on the skin. I could swear that there is pepper and cinnamon, very high quality, very vital, and of course, there is so much more. But even now, the ruthlessly radiant spice is accompanied by the faintest trace of a smoky breath that penetrates deeply even at this low concentration. Even in this early phase, you can feel how unusually deep this fragrance is, but also how much abyss it contains.
The opening accord remains dominant for quite a while, but it beautifully softens and increasingly wood aromas emerge. This combination of rounded spice and early wood can only be described with the adjective "golden." Here, in the heart, the fragrance has its most peaceful moment. However, as the spice recedes, one realizes that the Aftelier-typical massive and robust woody body will not be absent here either. And after the last soft hint of cinnamon and clove has faded, the woody aspects completely take center stage. They are rough and pitch-black and have something violent about them. And there it is, the moment when it could knock you over. I am having a very stable day today and therefore able to appreciate this fragrance without incident.
"Shiso," like all Afteliers, is truly of a very rare kind and completely unique. I cannot express how fascinating I find something like this. I am glad that such fragrance houses exist and I am full of admiration for so much courage and creativity. Until further notice, top rating!