FullChoke Francesco Smalto 2004 Eau de Toilette

I admit that I also wanted to sniff the gunpowder note.

Unfortunately, FullChoke seems not to have made it to the German market. But there’s always the eBay. There I was able to acquire FullChoke for a very moderate price.

Now, after the first test, I still don’t know exactly how gunpowder smells. But I am not disappointed nonetheless.

The development on my skin is linear. The scent doesn’t change much. But that’s not meant negatively. I like it just the way it is.

This is a woody-spicy Eau de Toilette. Underneath, a very light sweetness emerges. The whole thing is always accompanied by a very pleasant smoky note. I don’t know where the flowers are hiding. I can’t pick out individual scent components. The blend is very successful on its own. The longevity is good for me. However, the sillage is not very pronounced. The scent clings more to the skin.

The bottle is supposed to resemble a black powder flask for muzzle-loading rifles and pistols. Somehow, I find the shape very successful. The slightly gray-brown liquid in the transparent glass constantly reminds me of smoked glass. Even when I smell the fragrance, these smoked glass panes still come to mind. Well, I know that glass doesn’t smell. Still, the scent evokes this idea for me. It’s a mix of smooth coolness and smoky warmth, just like smoked glass. This material has long since gone out of fashion in home and room furnishings. But we know that everything eventually comes back in a modified form.

I am very satisfied with the blind purchase. So I categorize this creation under "niche" in the lower price segment.