Black Goti Essenze 2008

Here we go again.
Since I have been active on Parfumo and especially in a neighboring forum, I keep getting new fragrances at home that, due to their popularity, can no longer be attributed to any dispenser after a short time - and so I find myself in the predicament of not being able to reconstruct who deserves the kneeling for having generously left me this abundant sample.
Because this fragrance truly brings me to my knees - it doesn’t knock me out, it doesn’t rob me of my senses, but it commands a considerable amount of respect, not to say: reverence.
I often struggle a bit with orientals - the loud bombshells usually overwhelm me, cause headaches and other troubles, or simply get on my nerves quickly, so that I prefer to smell them on others, but please not on myself.
Thus, my expectations after glancing at the fragrance pyramid of "Black Essence" were rather restrained, and the first spray was correspondingly cautiously dosed.
But that was completely unnecessary, because what wafts into my nose from the very first moment is nothing short of enchanting.
Even the opening with a distinct peppermint note in a floral-spicy cloak makes me take a deep breath, so as not to miss a hint of this treat.
I hardly perceive bergamot at all; it seems to serve merely to support and refresh the otherwise warmer garden mint, and instead of the expected mandarin, I think I detect licorice.
Gradually, spicy-herbaceous lavender and a hint of pepper blend with the mint and transition as continuously as harmoniously to the base, which bears a certain resemblance to Goutal's "Ambre Fétiche," but appears much softer and quieter, remaining significantly closer to me.
Here, all green and fresh notes bid farewell and make way for a depth and almost heat that is astonishing given the softness of the fragrance - on my skin, a balsamic, slightly sweet yet lightly bitter-crisp scent has unfolded, compelling me to the aforementioned kneeling.
Even the patchouli, which often becomes musty and grave-like on me, does not stand out unpleasantly here - I suspect that together with the pepper, it is responsible for that slight severity that prevents the development from becoming too fluffy and thus makes the composition, in my opinion, also wearable for a man.
Provided, of course, that a bottle can actually be found - the sources seem to be rather sparse according to my previous research...