Grand Soir Maison Francis Kurkdjian 2016

Alone the bottle of Grand Soir radiates pure opulence and with a rating of 8.5 and a (supposedly) good combinability with TdH, which is one of my absolute favorites, I had to allow myself of course a sample of the orange fragrance bomb.
At first smelling first astonishment: This should now be the insanely complex fragrance cauldron of which all rave here? At first sniff Grand Soir reminded me absurdly above all of one thing: Club Mate! Yes, I really do mean the soft drink. Sweet, slightly spicy and tartly resinous, and oddly enough, slightly refreshing, which is probably because I'm a big fan of the chilled beverage. But as a perfume? Well, I guess not then... I let the scent work for a bit and had actually already lost any appreciation intention to the fragrance. Too sweet and mate? Always like ice cold on the palate but not on the skin!
Then, however, after 30-45 min takes place why this fragrance probably meets the here quasi omnipresent enthusiasm: The for me very strange fragrance parallel in the prelude steps into the background and the fragrance finally comes with a presentation that is worthy of a "Grand Soir". Big-bodied, lush, heavy, deep and of an insane elegance (the tonka bean/amber combination I suppose). A true firework of olfactory impressions that want to be explored. Yet never overflowing (as long as you dose sparingly) but in quasi-controlled ecstasy. The "Jaw Drop" moment comes late but then right! This fragrance is truly impressive, but just not immediately as well as the big evening just only by the right program becomes great.
I therefore recommend the fragrance to test and really take your time just if you are not used to very complex fragrance combinations from the niche world yet. It is worth it! For me, a very clear fragrance for special occasions and a clear fragrance for the evening. Unless you go to work at least in a tuxedo or tailcoat ;)