Patchouly Indonesiano Farmacia SS. Annunziata

I am still debating between this and the Patchouli from Santa Maria Novella. I love the smell of Patchouly Indonesiano more, but the Santa Maria slightly takes the edge because it performs better on my skin. However, I think that Patchouly Inodnesiano is meant for colder weather. This stuff is no joke - the purest, darkest, earthiest, and most straightforward Patchouli perfume you'll ever find. I'm not sure on the formula, but I wouldn't be surprised if they used just patchouli oil at a very high concentration. The fragrance is so oily and sticky that it clogs the atomizer. When sprayed, it leaves an oily sheen, and it behaves much like an essential oil. I'd love it to push out just a tad more because I adore the smell, and I'd like to get more wafts through the day. It lasts for a long time, though, and it is lingering beautifully on the skin. But the smell, oh my, to me, it is Patchouli perfection. There are no fillers here; no spices, no woods, no resins, and no florals. This is like pressing your nose against the shrub and then pulling it barehanded from the ground and smelling the dusty earth on the leaves as well as the soil clinging to the roots. It feels like being buried alive beneath a patchouli bush.

It doesn't evolve much throughout the wear, but its profile is so complex that you'll always experience different facets and never get bored. It opens up like a shot of warm liquor made of earth. Boozy, spicy, warm, and with a dark cocoa-like undertone. This is the darkest, least sweet cocoa you can imagine. Then it emits bits of camphor, earthy facets, and progressively becomes dustier as it develops. When I say dusty, I mean earth dust. The scent of earth when it's hot outside and gets hit by the rain, but not as diffusive, rather thick that you could chew it. So perhaps, earth dust that has collected on the leaves of the shrub, and you take a bite without washing it beforehand (I do that with mint leaves). A scent that most likely won't find appeal in today's market, but if you like earthy perfumes, patchouli, and dark-themed fragrances, it should be on the list to try. It also reminds me of a dusty attic that hasn't been entered for decades. Impressive stuff from Farmacia SS. Annunziata. Unexpectedly bold and high quality.

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