Iso E Super is a tricky thing. You either love it or hate it - and sometimes you end up stuck somewhere in between. That's exactly where I land with Skrik.
The fragrance opens dry, woody and somewhat cool. Iso E Super is very present for me from the very beginning, lending everything that typical, slightly abstract woodiness. Lavender joins in relatively quickly, and later the tonka bean and vanilla make it noticeably sweeter and softer.
And actually, none of that sounds bad at all.
My problem is simply this: On my skin, it never really comes together. I get the lavender, I get the sweetness and, of course, that dry Iso E Super base. But the individual parts never form that rounded overall picture for me, where I eventually think: Now the fragrance has arrived.
As it develops, Skrik remains somewhat oddly suspended between dry-woody, spicy and sweet. Not unpleasant, not really boring - but also not particularly compelling.
I do understand what Lengling is trying to achieve with the contrast between rough woodiness and soft vanilla. For me, however, it remains more of a contrast than a genuine connection.
An interesting fragrance that I certainly don't find bad. But one where I keep waiting until something finally clicks.
