Orientalissime Esteban 2008

When does a perfume smell oriental? For me, such a perfume must burst with spices, exude a balsamic sweetness, and ideally have a wooden star in front of the tent. My reference scents include Opium, Cinnabar/JHL, or Obsession.

I am of course aware that there are also spice-free variants, but I stubbornly classify them, as I can sometimes be, not under this category.

Such a unspiced creation is Orientalissime by Esteban. Although the spice stand is missing from the bazaar, I find this scent very successful.

The top note opens the perfume with a herbaceous-aromatic accord that has not a hint of citrus attached.

The heart note is spicy-soft, the incorporated oud does not give off a whiff of medicine, and the patchouli presents itself more sweetly than earthy.

The base rounds off the scent with a soft vanilla and a few balsamic wood shavings.

The longevity could be a bit better for a perfume with such a theme, but it makes it predestined as a daytime scent for the cold season. I am not sure if Orientalissime is also available as an EdP? If so, I would opt for this variant, as I like such scents to be loud.

All in all, a fine representative of its kind.