As you enter through the door of most good coffee shops, you are greeted by an aroma that sweeps your mind away from whatever you were thinking about at that moment and carries it off with a sensation of warmth, comfort, and anticipation. Cardamom is a bit like that. Once you've experienced it, you will never forget it. It has a smoky, herbal scent with a kick of citrusy-spice to it. Black cardamom is uniquely earthy and smokey. Instead, green cardamom is remarkably balsamic and minty. If you're imagining about cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, you're in the right neighborhood, but none of them is exact replicas. Cardamom is in a league of its own.
Quintessentially British, Icon Elite swore to be a perfect spicy, woody transitional fragrance into autumn and winter with its top citrus, balsamic notes, and woody, earthy base notes. But, is Icon Elite to be consisted like an aristocrat with recent titles, who rose from the very ranks of the municipal elite? The juice, once it reaches the skin, unfolds with a zesty minty and balsamic almost cold burst, lime and cardamom are wonderfully attractive scent. The limey smell is prominent and lasts for the fragrance lifetime, which gives this more of a refreshing edge than the sweeter original Icon. Also, the cardamom intense and noticeable smell recalls the Tiger Balm pain-relieving ointment, a bit fiery, fierce, minty, and camphorous. Meanwhile, the Sicilian bigarade, here in its heady, floral almost animalic facet and the bergamot create a creamy, dusty background. The overall accord likens a bitter orange Curaçao cocktail, the bitter orange adding a chypre tone and whoosh of freshness to the opening.
A handful of smoked vetiver topped with spicy peppercorns, a few crushed juniper berries and a touch of aromatic bluish sage make up the heart. These notes blend into the blend to add a level of depth and sumptuousness. The centre has a familiar smell, and it reminds me of another fragrance that I can't match on the point. However, it is vetiver a la Natalie Lorson, quite similar to her Encre Noire masterpiece. Sandalwood appears early, before it dries down and, again, has the same effect as LeLabo Santal 33, dryness and woodiness are found in the same baseball field. I feel a lot of smoke and ISO E Super, but gorgeous and unique for what it is.
Finishing a profound dry down of black ebony wood and mild suede lasts until the end, and characterize this final phase. Ebony and sandalwood are dominant. In the background, featuring notes create some relief, but they are very light. The main actors of the fragrance are sandalwood and ebony. There is always a plank of wood and dry smell. The birch tar and ebony combine to form a mildly burnt wood accord.
Less dark than Icon original, but a bit darker than Icon Absolute flanker. While it is an original scent, it's a moderate projection, and the freshness of the citrus notes makes it a tremendous sophisticated fragrance for the office more than for nights out. It's night scent, either. You can feel the smell on your skin even after 8 hours.
Great job by Dunhill. The overall scent makes me reach for it during Spring and Fall days, and maybe even during summer evenings and nights out.
Although it is a flanker it doesn't smell like the original, it is darker than Icon, citrus is replaced with candied leathery woodiness. How anyone can say this smells like the original is beyond me, I feel the urge to smell it, like an addiction. It is not super unique, but I can't explain why I keep reaching for it.
Stay well; Stay healthy.
-Elysium
Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
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