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Base Notes 
03/13/2020
Eisbaer
8 Reviews
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Eisbaer
5
Michigan's in the rear view now.
In 2014 it began - my great journey into the land of niche fragrances. At that time I was still a student librarian (not poor, but much poorer than today) and without any really noteworthy knowledge about fragrances. Not to mention the ability to identify individual fragrance components. No, at that time there was only one thing that really counted in the field of perfume: my curiosity. If I was interested in the appearance of a bottle, I had a bottling line created - completely independent of the components and scents it contained. As a result, of course, a considerable number of the fragrances tested did not make it back onto my wish list. Not that they smelled bad - God forbid - but they just unfortunately could only pick me up very rarely, especially compared to very well known designer fragrance classics such as the "Dior Homme", which I loved then and still love today.
But one copy stood out from the crowd from the very beginning: Mark Birley's "Charles Street". A quiet eau de parfum in the truest sense of the word. But for my feeling at that time (and partly still today) it was simply incredibly elegant, high-class, adult, noble... and soothing. And even at that time a 125ml bottle was fortunately even affordable for me. It was never expensive as far as I know. And even today, when it doesn't really exist anymore, there are still a few left over bottles that are offered for small money. The scent was too unknown then and still is today. Maybe it's because its composition wasn't really groundbreaking - Tom Ford and Parfums de Marly have very similar fragrances, but they are still successful on the market today. I think Tom Ford's "Tuscan Leather" is probably the original scent. Well then, I'm an old representative of the "Charles Street" fraction, because I like the bottle best by far, and of course not least, because my heart connects very fond memories with "Charles Street"
The fragrance is a flawless blend of leather, raspberry and coffee. It doesn't really go through a major development, but as I said, it's also generally a quiet contemporary. It only radiates at the beginning and after only a few hours it becomes absolutely skin-tight. On clothes it lasts much longer, like any perfume. A shy Mark Birley. Since I wear fragrances mostly for myself, I don't mind that much. Many people even like that certain "office suitability" and reserve. And as a rather shy person, I'd prefer quieter fragrances anyway, both in my leisure time and for going out in a suit and tie. In my opinion, "Charles Street" is not for the summer and doesn't really want to go with T-shirt and capri pants - but of course that's a matter of taste and everyone should wear his or her fragrance in a way that makes him or her feel comfortable.
At this point, a little question for the community: Do you know when a fragrance immediately awakens in you associations with a certain place? When I smell "Charles Street", I keep thinking of London. I see a man in his mid-40s with a full beard in front of me, his hair on the side with a slight grey shadow. He's wearing a coat and a Burberry scarf and a flat cap. In the early evening hours, this gentleman is standing on Westminster Bridge, leaning against a railing and looking over to Elizabeth Tower. Big Ben is just beating with his characteristic sound and announcing the full hour. The man listens to the sounds of the bells. And he's wearing Mark Birley's "Charles Street." I share this association with you because I have often observed this fascinating quality in various fragrances: ...this ability to cause instantaneous head movements in relation to specific locations. Now London is also a city that I like very much. Unfortunately, it has been far too long since I visited it.
As for me personally: Mark Birley's "Charles Street" was and is a fragrance that I have been wearing since 2014, preferably in the winter months. I particularly like the spicy leather component, it harmonizes perfectly with the raspberry and comes to the fore a bit more after about an hour. The coffee remains rather subdued, but is subliminally perceptible and rounds off the composition wonderfully (perhaps otherwise it would have added a bit too much bitterness to the overall concept). I especially liked to wear the perfume during my studies when I was walking around on foot. Early in the morning on my way to the university, when it was still dark and the cold wind was blowing around my coat, I buried my face deeply in my scarf and breathed "Charles Street" while I devoutly listened to the Milk Carton Kids on my music player. Even during the regular evening walks, "Charles Street" was, and still is, a very faithful companion of mine
One small point of criticism at the end: the bottle, with its tasteful simplicity and unfair colouring, is without doubt one of the most beautiful I have in my collection. Unfortunately, it is relatively massive due to its cube shape and lies a bit bulky in the hand. But this could also be due to the filling quantity of 125ml. It is or was still available in the Traveller's Edition with 75ml capacity. They certainly grip better, but unfortunately they are not nearly as beautiful as the glass flacon. Furthermore, the pump system is not quite optimal, because on the one hand it is a bit stingy and on the other hand it leaks quite often. Due to the discontinued production I will get some more Traveller-Flacons soon and I will be happy to check if they can be sprayed better.
By and large, "Charles Street" remains an integral part of my collection and has become a very important companion for me. In late summer 2019 my beloved grandfather died and left me his leather coat. I always feel very warm and also a little comforted when I put on a comfortable sweater after a long hot shower, wear the leather coat over it and, after a few sprays of "Charles Street", walk out the door and meet the world outside. I love it when fragrances manage to give me a sense of calm and give me a feeling of security and confidence. I am always on the lookout for such examples. With "Charles Street," Mark Birley has virtually created my first "adult" fragrance. I'm grateful for that
If "Mark Birley Charles Street" were music:
"Michigan" by The Milk Carton Kids
"Love Of Mine" by Nickel Creek "Great Lakes" by John Smith
But one copy stood out from the crowd from the very beginning: Mark Birley's "Charles Street". A quiet eau de parfum in the truest sense of the word. But for my feeling at that time (and partly still today) it was simply incredibly elegant, high-class, adult, noble... and soothing. And even at that time a 125ml bottle was fortunately even affordable for me. It was never expensive as far as I know. And even today, when it doesn't really exist anymore, there are still a few left over bottles that are offered for small money. The scent was too unknown then and still is today. Maybe it's because its composition wasn't really groundbreaking - Tom Ford and Parfums de Marly have very similar fragrances, but they are still successful on the market today. I think Tom Ford's "Tuscan Leather" is probably the original scent. Well then, I'm an old representative of the "Charles Street" fraction, because I like the bottle best by far, and of course not least, because my heart connects very fond memories with "Charles Street"
The fragrance is a flawless blend of leather, raspberry and coffee. It doesn't really go through a major development, but as I said, it's also generally a quiet contemporary. It only radiates at the beginning and after only a few hours it becomes absolutely skin-tight. On clothes it lasts much longer, like any perfume. A shy Mark Birley. Since I wear fragrances mostly for myself, I don't mind that much. Many people even like that certain "office suitability" and reserve. And as a rather shy person, I'd prefer quieter fragrances anyway, both in my leisure time and for going out in a suit and tie. In my opinion, "Charles Street" is not for the summer and doesn't really want to go with T-shirt and capri pants - but of course that's a matter of taste and everyone should wear his or her fragrance in a way that makes him or her feel comfortable.
At this point, a little question for the community: Do you know when a fragrance immediately awakens in you associations with a certain place? When I smell "Charles Street", I keep thinking of London. I see a man in his mid-40s with a full beard in front of me, his hair on the side with a slight grey shadow. He's wearing a coat and a Burberry scarf and a flat cap. In the early evening hours, this gentleman is standing on Westminster Bridge, leaning against a railing and looking over to Elizabeth Tower. Big Ben is just beating with his characteristic sound and announcing the full hour. The man listens to the sounds of the bells. And he's wearing Mark Birley's "Charles Street." I share this association with you because I have often observed this fascinating quality in various fragrances: ...this ability to cause instantaneous head movements in relation to specific locations. Now London is also a city that I like very much. Unfortunately, it has been far too long since I visited it.
As for me personally: Mark Birley's "Charles Street" was and is a fragrance that I have been wearing since 2014, preferably in the winter months. I particularly like the spicy leather component, it harmonizes perfectly with the raspberry and comes to the fore a bit more after about an hour. The coffee remains rather subdued, but is subliminally perceptible and rounds off the composition wonderfully (perhaps otherwise it would have added a bit too much bitterness to the overall concept). I especially liked to wear the perfume during my studies when I was walking around on foot. Early in the morning on my way to the university, when it was still dark and the cold wind was blowing around my coat, I buried my face deeply in my scarf and breathed "Charles Street" while I devoutly listened to the Milk Carton Kids on my music player. Even during the regular evening walks, "Charles Street" was, and still is, a very faithful companion of mine
One small point of criticism at the end: the bottle, with its tasteful simplicity and unfair colouring, is without doubt one of the most beautiful I have in my collection. Unfortunately, it is relatively massive due to its cube shape and lies a bit bulky in the hand. But this could also be due to the filling quantity of 125ml. It is or was still available in the Traveller's Edition with 75ml capacity. They certainly grip better, but unfortunately they are not nearly as beautiful as the glass flacon. Furthermore, the pump system is not quite optimal, because on the one hand it is a bit stingy and on the other hand it leaks quite often. Due to the discontinued production I will get some more Traveller-Flacons soon and I will be happy to check if they can be sprayed better.
By and large, "Charles Street" remains an integral part of my collection and has become a very important companion for me. In late summer 2019 my beloved grandfather died and left me his leather coat. I always feel very warm and also a little comforted when I put on a comfortable sweater after a long hot shower, wear the leather coat over it and, after a few sprays of "Charles Street", walk out the door and meet the world outside. I love it when fragrances manage to give me a sense of calm and give me a feeling of security and confidence. I am always on the lookout for such examples. With "Charles Street," Mark Birley has virtually created my first "adult" fragrance. I'm grateful for that
If "Mark Birley Charles Street" were music:
"Michigan" by The Milk Carton Kids
"Love Of Mine" by Nickel Creek "Great Lakes" by John Smith
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