Chaleur Gitane Paul Emilien 2015

Here, I can hardly smell anything that is indicated in the pyramid. Neither patchouli, pepper, chocolate, nor (thankfully) cumin. I can detect something fruity, but I wouldn't have thought of raspberry; rather, I think of dried, sweet citrus peels.

However, my comparison with the burning candle in the title fits in two ways. First, this perfume does have something slightly resinous-waxy on my skin, probably coming from the Siam benzoin, and I think I can also perceive the faintly burnt smell of the match with which it was ignited (I love that smell! I only use lighters in exceptional cases). This slightly smoky impression is strangely intensified when I sniff through my cardigan on my upper arm, where I sprayed it on my skin for testing.

Secondly, the image of the burning candle (of course made of beeswax!) also describes the mood that this perfume conveys to me: warmth, light, and security. Because unlike some of my predecessors, I do not perceive the scent as dark at all; it is not the brightness of the sun, but that of a flame in the darkness of autumn or winter.

Along with "Pure Addiction," my favorite in the Paul-Emilien hiking package!

Addendum (28.01.2020): Yes, a little cumin is indeed recognizable, but subtle. Minimal cocoa, only at the beginning. I would still not classify this perfume as a typical patchouli scent.