Free Mark Buxton Perfumes 2020

Before we answer that, it should be stated: It is released amidst five extravagant contenders from Mark Buxton's "Freedom Collection," preferably in a state of artistic suspension after the will has been expressed through the Chypre I Want and the break has been executed through the animalic To Break; we are finally presented with the opportunity Free! to choose between the Fougère "Why Not A Fougère | Mark Buxton Perfumes," Eau de Cologne "Why Not A Cologne | Mark Buxton Perfumes," or memories of lost time "Mi Confesión | Mark Buxton Perfumes." So much for marketing ideology, which is not meant to impress our noses. Yes, yes! After all, we are not here for fun on Parfumo! That's how it is.

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A first spray reveals initially sharp, bitter spice, from which juicy bergamot soon emerges. That fruitiness (actually comparable to that of a pineapple) transforms in the freesia accord into a floral-fresh note, which smooths out the intense, fundamentally dry smoke of the resins, taking away their biting edges. The voluminously composed amber base continuously offers the wearer its spicy sweetness (vanilla and benzoin), its citrus-woody balm (labdanum and olibanum), while the incense used does not remotely seem sacred: We find ourselves in the profane, in the confessional-free fog of freedom.

In short: How does it smell?

C.: It smells damn good!

Surprisingly still uncommented, even though the fragrance has been around for a few months and Mark Buxton enjoys a certain prominence.
Mark Buxton is definitely no stranger; in his own line, he is primarily known for the prominent use of incense in his fragrances. This is also the case here. However, the scent does not actually come from him, but from David Chieze. He is still quite young in the business and has probably also worked with Bertrand Duchafour. On Mark Buxton's homepage, he appears as the only second perfumer.
Nevertheless, with Free, one gets the impression that the fragrance could very well have come from Mark Buxton himself. The direction fits very well with the creations of the mastermind. He certainly must have had some say in it.

So how does this creation smell? In my view, the fragrance works differently than what one might expect from the pyramid, but one finds a lot of the pyramid reflected.
The opening is relatively fruity, with pineapple clearly present but not the only fruit. Overall fresh, not sweet, certainly not sticky, quite peppery. The fruit remains and intends to last a while longer. The freshness is directly accompanied by a bitter note. Even though one can sense the spice component, the second main role is quickly taken over by the incense.
And that lingers for a long time. Fruit and incense. Both in astonishing clarity, the fruit perhaps even as a kind of essence. Practically no acidity, no sweetness, just fruit. Just like one finds fruit in a really good fruit brandy. The incense cheerfully and brightly resinous. If someone thinks of a well-known fragrance when combining pineapple and smoke and is looking for an alternative, they should keep searching. The big A and Free have little to do with each other. Here, it only tars a little; it resins more. Beautiful clear incense.

As already mentioned: Incense and fruit dominate. The development of the fragrance is unspectacular after the short top note and naturally shifts more towards the incense. Even though the fragrances don’t have too much in common, the development is quite similar to Oud Wood. That also lingers for a long time and changes only imperceptibly.

Now I always emphasize "fruit and incense," and one must be careful. While the fragrance appears unspectacular on the surface, one can discover much more with a conscious engagement with the scent. The vetiver supports throughout most of the duration, and in the later development, one can even discern very soft tones. The base notes then come into play for a somewhat trained nose, allowing one to sniff out a slight sweetness and creaminess. However, these notes manage to play a supporting role, letting the two main actors shine, which makes the fragrance particularly special and exciting in my view. On the surface, not much seems to happen, but actually, it does through the diligently perfectly coordinated additional notes.

The fragrance is a great choice for incense lovers, and I even think it's suitable for the office. Not nervous, not overwhelming. I am still skeptical about the sillage. With 2 1/2 sprays, I seemed to be cautiously covered. However, when I returned to my office after some time, I could perceive the fragrance surprisingly clearly. So it could be a classic case of "I don't notice it, but the surroundings do." There were no comments.
A great fragrance that follows a clear line and where one must discover the subtle depths.

Edit: Typo