Aesthete Le Galion 2015

With its noble, gently fruity-spicy start, I won't delve further. Nor will I discuss the slight cumin sweat that transitions into a leathery, yet by no means inelegant animalic note, quickly complemented by violet-leather with an initially distinctly gasoline-like undertone.

The fine inner tension between the noble-floral, bright violet-leather, which gives jasmine a charmingly feminine twist, and its animalic-sour counterpart, which is in turn cushioned by a balsamic touch, should also be mentioned briefly - albeit with great praise! - as it seems to be more stable than in some of Ellena's works.

For the sake of good order, it should be quickly added that 'Aesthete' unfortunately becomes increasingly dominated by bright wood (as from the 'Shams' corner) from early afternoon onwards, while the floral aspect recedes, although it remains perceptible until the end, ultimately accompanied by a hint of clean musk.

All of this is only a side note today; in any case, 'Aesthete' is not a fragrance that wants or needs to be dissected.

I prefer to focus solely on the transition from top to heart note. How the spice brews from the opening and then suddenly sends us on a journey towards leather with momentum is simply sensational. Like the moment after the highest point of a roller coaster or the second when the pilot accelerates. Or the moment when dad speeds up the swing or carousel at the playground. Nochmaaaaaaal!

The latter is, of course, fundamentally an inappropriate image; nothing about the fragrance is childish. 'Aesthete' is a perfume for the gentleman (or lady!) who perhaps reached for Heeleys' 'Cuir Pleine Fleur' during his storm-and-stress period and has now become more composed. Yet none of the lived experiences are forgotten; they have all deeply etched into the personality.

Great.

I thank Serenissima for the sample.