Albatross House of Matriarch 2015

The first spray. A wave crashing into my face wakes me from my morning trance, which usually smells more like coffee. Phew, salt, a lot of salt. I am definitely awake now.

After the initial shock, I gradually get used to the scent. The name fits perfectly, as the albatross is a seabird that either flies through the stormy winds of the sea or lets itself be rocked by the waves. The diet of this bird mainly consists of sea creatures, including squids, sardines, jellyfish, and other slippery sea dwellers.

So the fragrance fits excellently. One has the feeling of standing on a cliff above the sea, scanning for prey. The scent is not loud; after all, a true hunter is not either. The fragrance is very calm, it does not really bring out any of the individual notes. Instead, it emphasizes what is described here as a 'marine accord.' Like in a painting by Caspar David Friedrich, the albatross stands on this rock, looking towards the sea. It has become one with it and now meditates, part storm, part sea, and part... bird. Yes, the scent also has something dirty about it. This dirtiness, probably more the 'driftwood' than the bird's droppings, intensifies over the course of the fragrance and quickly replaces the salty start. Additionally, it has a very mineral scent overall, similar to Tom Ford's "Oud Minérale." I can find many parallels between the two fragrances.

Overall, the fragrance is very artistic. I'm not saying I would never wear it, but there aren't many occasions that come to mind right away. I'm not against the scent direction, as I really enjoyed wearing the aforementioned "Oud Minérale" last summer. However, this fragrance also has somewhat weak performance. Quickly, the roaring wave that knocked the coffee cup out of my hand turns into a fading sound of waves, as if I were walking straight ahead with my back to the sea, trying to leave those memories behind.

An interesting fragrance, a work of art, yes, but after this test, I will also seek out other shores.