Vi Et Armis

East India

Beaufort 2015

When a brand advertises with a slogan like "In Smoke We Trust," it has my attention. I'm quite simple that way. I read smoke, I smell it.

Beaufort London is the brand founded by Prodigy drummer Leo Crabtree, which, in addition to fragrances, also focuses on spirits. In both cases, they do not take the easy route.

Vi et Armis (Latin for "by force of arms") was previously called "East India," thus referencing the British trading company, the East India Company, founded in 1600. This company shipped all conceivable goods. Apparently, Beaufort had to part ways with this name relatively quickly for legal reasons. However, it couldn't have been more fitting.

For Beaufort fragrances (with exceptions), we have the typical smoke in the foreground. While other brands use it as a supporting actor, smoke acts as the main character in Vi et Armis. The first breath fills the lungs with piercing smoke. There are no compromises here. Dominating the opening is a hefty portion of black pepper, which also bites in the nose and complements the warm spice of cardamom. The smoke covers the remaining notes in this phase of the fragrance like a cloak, making it difficult to discern the individual notes in this thick haze. But that is precisely what makes the allure of Beaufort fragrances for me. It doesn't make it easy; the nose is challenged, and it takes some time to "see" through this dense smoke. Deep in the background, beneath all this smoke, we find a tea note that becomes increasingly present over time and works its way to the forefront. To me personally, it smells like a tea with a citrusy touch. As the scent develops, a slightly alcoholic note is added, refining the tea and creating a subtly sweet symbiosis with the smoke. Personally, I sometimes have trouble distinguishing a tea note from a dry tobacco leaf. However, in the late drydown, I perceive a note that differs from the previous tea note, which is why I would lean towards a drier tobacco here. The oud, as such, cannot be deciphered individually in this entire construct. It likely helps to connect with the smoky aspects of birch and frankincense.

The genius of Vi et Armis lies in the conceptual design of the fragrance. In my opinion, this is an olfactory masterpiece. The basic idea was evidently to recreate the scent of a ship transporting various goods (tea, spices, alcohol) that gets caught in a battle at sea. And that is masterfully staged.

When it comes to longevity, you don't have to worry with Beaufort fragrances. I can easily perceive Vi et Armis with 2 sprays throughout a complete workday.

Due to the pleasant tea note, the fragrance is, in my eyes, more wearable than, for example, a Tonnerre from the same house. However, you do need a pronounced fondness for smoky or more extreme fragrances to enjoy Vi et Armis.

With "In Smoke We Trust," they made bold claims, but ultimately delivered. Vi et Armis is a conceptually masterfully balanced fragrance that brings together many extremes as well as its opposites and invites you on an exciting ship journey olfactorily.