01/21/2022
Elysium
843 Reviews
Elysium
Helpful Review
6
Arabian Horses at Versailles
Those more informed will surely know that the perfumes of the Parfums de Marly house take their name from the horses of the royal stable of King Louis XV. Hence, Godolphin is one of them, named after the renowned Arabic stallion. The Godolphin Arabian, also known as the Godolphin Barb, was one of three stallions that founded the modern Thoroughbred—the others were the Darley Arabian and the Byerley Turk. They named it after its best-known owner, Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin. Born in Yemen, they gave it to Louis XV of France in 1730. It seems as it was a present from monarch to monarch.
On Godolphin, Parfums de Marly put the accents on smoky, leathery chords that remind me of a beloved smoky suede jacket - which was a custom after leaving a pub or club in the last millennium when smoking inside wasn't a problem. It comes out with fresh notes of herbaceous thyme, here extremely prominent, spiced black saffron and woody cypress, which create a pine-like sensation with a slightly dry and smoky tone. It oozes a solid, leathery scent because of saffron. I can't help but observe an ashy tinge kicking off after the initial blast, fading a bit, with a pinch of moss added to it all. I don't perceive any of the passionate fruity undertones that others are talking about. The whole initial blast gives it that exclamation "Damn!" at the first sniff, but then it will blow anyone's mind. I really love the saffron note in here. It's such an underutilized ingredient outside of these more niche designers, but it's fantastic.
A floral trio of jasmine rose and iris anchors the aroma. While the first two flowers seem muted to my nose, they are in the back seat and not too prominent on my skin. I clearly capture the dusty iris, which adds a touch of dustiness to the middle phase. Indeed, the protagonist in the heart is still a glamorous suede, which grows after an hour. The scent becomes darker and denser. Rather than the horse, Godolphin reminds me of the smell of its saddle.
Then, it veers towards a woody edge and leather in the background with the seductive tones of white cedarwood that carries the aroma of pencil shavings. The bitter vetiver here takes on an inky and gummy vibe and occasionally reminds me of Encre Noire Eau de Toilette with that dark, smoky shade. There is a bed of animalic musk, which stands out with a slight hint of vanilla and amber, almost imperceptible, but in a balanced and well-blended way. Reveals the vetiver note deep in the base with cedar and cypress undertones serving as an aromatic.
Godolphin is definitely a cologne with a masculine and robust cut. Of course, women with a penchant for fragrances like this might wear it, but there are no fruity, sweet, and floral tones in the overall performance. In my experience, I don't get the smooth rose, mellow vanilla, and welcoming amber. Instead, I get an imitation of the leather from a well-crafted blend of dry saffron and wild vetiver, darkened by thyme leaves and cypress shavings. As for the projection, it is strong enough for the first few hours but then becomes much more moderate. It has good longevity and lasts longer when sprayed on clothes. Since no one around me complained, I bet it wears well during the day as it doesn't overwhelm others. At the same time, it suits late autumn when the days get colder, and the winter months, it's perfect for special occasions, formal events, and a night out. It has a sense of intrigue and sensuality that will attract compliments. It will surely attract everyone's attention. You will get compliments on this.
I base the review on a decant I have owned since January 2022.
-Elysium
On Godolphin, Parfums de Marly put the accents on smoky, leathery chords that remind me of a beloved smoky suede jacket - which was a custom after leaving a pub or club in the last millennium when smoking inside wasn't a problem. It comes out with fresh notes of herbaceous thyme, here extremely prominent, spiced black saffron and woody cypress, which create a pine-like sensation with a slightly dry and smoky tone. It oozes a solid, leathery scent because of saffron. I can't help but observe an ashy tinge kicking off after the initial blast, fading a bit, with a pinch of moss added to it all. I don't perceive any of the passionate fruity undertones that others are talking about. The whole initial blast gives it that exclamation "Damn!" at the first sniff, but then it will blow anyone's mind. I really love the saffron note in here. It's such an underutilized ingredient outside of these more niche designers, but it's fantastic.
A floral trio of jasmine rose and iris anchors the aroma. While the first two flowers seem muted to my nose, they are in the back seat and not too prominent on my skin. I clearly capture the dusty iris, which adds a touch of dustiness to the middle phase. Indeed, the protagonist in the heart is still a glamorous suede, which grows after an hour. The scent becomes darker and denser. Rather than the horse, Godolphin reminds me of the smell of its saddle.
Then, it veers towards a woody edge and leather in the background with the seductive tones of white cedarwood that carries the aroma of pencil shavings. The bitter vetiver here takes on an inky and gummy vibe and occasionally reminds me of Encre Noire Eau de Toilette with that dark, smoky shade. There is a bed of animalic musk, which stands out with a slight hint of vanilla and amber, almost imperceptible, but in a balanced and well-blended way. Reveals the vetiver note deep in the base with cedar and cypress undertones serving as an aromatic.
Godolphin is definitely a cologne with a masculine and robust cut. Of course, women with a penchant for fragrances like this might wear it, but there are no fruity, sweet, and floral tones in the overall performance. In my experience, I don't get the smooth rose, mellow vanilla, and welcoming amber. Instead, I get an imitation of the leather from a well-crafted blend of dry saffron and wild vetiver, darkened by thyme leaves and cypress shavings. As for the projection, it is strong enough for the first few hours but then becomes much more moderate. It has good longevity and lasts longer when sprayed on clothes. Since no one around me complained, I bet it wears well during the day as it doesn't overwhelm others. At the same time, it suits late autumn when the days get colder, and the winter months, it's perfect for special occasions, formal events, and a night out. It has a sense of intrigue and sensuality that will attract compliments. It will surely attract everyone's attention. You will get compliments on this.
I base the review on a decant I have owned since January 2022.
-Elysium