I've been very curious about this perfume from the very beginning as I am a big fan of birch tar. However, this is not the tar we are talking about here. Matos' Tar is certainly in the league of its own. As the perfumer explains, it is supposed to be the smell of tar in his imaginary world, thus, I will try to capture my own experience that was unleashed by the smell of this magnificent creation.
This is a dark fragrance with a piercing sweetness and spiciness that comes from licorice, star anise, and oregano. While this combination might deter some of the perfume lovers here, it is well worth trying—in my subjective opinion. The scent evokes an image of a campfire in the woods. But instead of burnt marshmallows, you smell burnt licorice, sweetened by caramel. You dip each piece of this black solid substance into a cup of rum and feed it to the hungry tongues of burning flames. The process is captivating; the black solid is transformed into a gooey, latex-like liquid that is slowly dripping into the flames. This hypnotic sweet and spicey smell is joined by animalic notes and deepened by the earthy patchouli and wafts of tobacco. The woody notes provide depth to the scent without taking the center stage, with the burning licorice remaining the protagonist. Overall, the scent is warm, addictive, smoky and edgy with a great balance of sweetness and spice.
This is not a scent that should be judged from the first sniff. Here the patience pays off in the long run. It is bold and provocative—perhaps even addictive and enticing! The performance is outstanding—some ten hours on my skin. The projection starts strong and remains strong during the first two to three hours. Another very interesting, edgy, unexpected offering.
Disclosure: My Tar perfume was purchased from Matos' website.
