Askew Humięcki & Graef 2008

What does one do when vacationing in the high mountains and winter weather makes hiking in the great outdoors impossible? Right, you drive to one of the picturesque Alpine towns and try to make the dreary weather a little better by shopping.
So it happened that we planned a trip to Innsbruck, Austria, on a Saturday.

The drive there was already great, thanks in part to the clearing weather, the impressive scenery, and the winding road.

I didn't have high hopes of buying any fragrances, as I hadn't taken the time beforehand to find out about the local perfumeries.

Just before we were about to head back home, I stumbled upon an offer in a small perfumery that I couldn't ignore.
The brand Humiecki & Graef was being discontinued, and the fragrances were offered at half price.

I only intended to buy Bosque, but then I had Askew sprayed first on a fabric strip and then on my skin, and I was instantly hooked.

When my husband also expressed his enthusiasm, it was clear that Askew had to come home with us too.

Once we were back home, I checked what Parfumo had to say about my new treasure and was quite surprised.
The fragrance name means "askew" and is supposed to be the olfactory representation of anger. Aha! There were also two rather unflattering comments.

Well, I have always had my own taste, and the quirky often fits well into my concept.

Although, I don't find Askew to be that quirky at all.

Sure, it doesn't exactly fall into the crowd-pleaser category, but I've tested much quirkier and angrier fragrances since I've been here at Parfumo.

The fragrance concept of Askew feels cohesive to me overall.

To my nose, the scent doesn't start off really citrusy, but rather herbally green. I can only detect a hint of bitter acidity from the grapefruit. This top note isn't silky smooth, but somehow it has its charm.

After a short while, a spicy leather note joins the herbal green, and the bitterness then subtly recedes into the background.

In the base, the herbal aspect diminishes a bit, and now I perceive the leather scent as more waxy and creamy, as if one had just applied leather conditioner.

The longevity is excellent, as with most fragrances from this brand, and the sillage is also noteworthy. A steady hand is required when dosing, or else the surroundings might feel compelled to express their displeasure.

By the way, the theme of anger still doesn't resonate with me even after wearing it multiple times, especially since I've received positive comments about Askew. Well, that's something everyone has to figure out for themselves.

As for the quirkiness, it probably does require a certain preference for the more experimental side of perfumery to warm up to Askew, but that's ultimately the point of a niche fragrance.