Love at your Darkest Gucci 2022

Whoever names Gucci's fragrances may be a true poet, but the copywriters trample him underfoot. Like an overanalyzed poem in sixth-grade German class, the author has been silenced, and you can't convince me otherwise.

I Loved You At Your Darkest is not only a magnificent album by the Polish death metal band Behemoth, but also a phrase that stems from the Bible. Now, despite numerous quotes on embroidered pillows, the phrase does not actually appear in the holy scripture, but it summarizes Romans 5:8. A dark passage about the death of Jesus Christ, who did not die for humanity because it is worthy, but because it sins. Thus, humanity was at its lowest point and was nevertheless showered with love. The incarnate absolution, if one believes in such a thing. The sacrifice for the unworthy.

It would be a wonderful sacred analogy for the fragrance. The ceremonial incense, the blasphemous pepper, and the wooden cross. My German teacher would be proud of how much meaning I could extract from my nose. Whether the cross was made of cedar is another question. But what does Gucci write on their website? Love seems to shine through the darkness, like a falcon cutting through the sky? Someone really tried hard to invent something profound for the name of the perfume, and I am not a fan. Thank God the scent is better than the missed opportunity for impressive storytelling.

After receiving my sample, I sprayed heretical amounts on my left forearm. Seeing a whole milliliter missing hurt like nails through hands and feet. When I pressed my oversized Silesian nose against my skin, the pepper first revealed itself. Unfortunately, it is by no means as authentic as I know it from "Armani Privé - Bois d'Encens | Giorgio Armani." The pepper is very shy and mild, showing rather the minty facets it can have when freshly ground and is blunt. The incense quickly joins with its ethereal smoke, as if it followed a shining star to the manger. So light and cool that it fits every season and strongly reminds me of "Series 3: Incense - Kyoto | Comme des Garçons." The pepper gives everything a certain depth but remains in the background.
A fleeting sweet side appears briefly, presenting a fleeting floral accord before it suddenly turns into soap, fabric softener, and freshly washed laundry, which I never expected. The perfume seemingly does not know what it wants to be, constantly changing its shape, yet keeps my nose intrigued on the skin. An exciting olfactory cinema, and that was just the first hour!
The actual expectation of the fragrance pyramid only reveals itself with the passage of time. The pepper becomes noticeably sharper, the cedarwood finally shows itself, and out of nowhere comes burnt butter, but probably only because I associate pepper so much with food. Every time I inhale this scent, I smell something new, but it remains consistently smoky-spicy.

If I had to describe it visually, it would be a small stone chapel in the Italian mountains with wooden benches. The door is open, the cold memory of incense lingers in the air. The pastor has hung laundry outside and is grinding black pepper in a mortar because he is making Cacio e Pepe for himself and a few villagers later. Sorry, that's all I can write at the moment.

The fragrance can ideally be worn to confession because it is very close to the skin and, with a bit of luck and God's blessing, would only fill the claustrophobia-inducing confessional. After 5 hours, it is no longer really perceptible, but that should cover a fruitful year of sins until the priest sends us home with forgiveness. Thus, the price of the beautiful bottle is a slap in the face, but I turn the other cheek. Love at Your Darkest is a stunning composition, but will be deemed unworthy for the general public due to its longevity and sillage. I love it nonetheless, because I am so kind.