Querelle Pierre Guillaume 2006

After the exciting comments here, of course, expectations were raised when I bought it. It hasn't quite fulfilled that favor for me.

Black cumin is an original ingredient, immediately recognizable, but not always easy to tolerate (just like the freshly pressed oil I have from the market, which dominates every meal, is so distinctive and exotic that it doesn't fit into any recipe - maybe that's the querulousness of the title).

Together with myrrh, moss, and incense, it is quite piercing here, somewhat metallic. Even when slightly overdosed, this sharpness gives me a headache. In the drydown, the sharpness is almost gone. Soothing tonka and amber take their time to appear, for me only after 60-90 minutes, but the really beautiful end lingers for quite a while, sometimes until the next morning. That's when Q. gets a bit slimy again.

I find the name, despite the black cumin, not really fitting; nothing here reminds me of seedy harbor pubs and shabby sailors. It comes across too clear, strict, arrogant, and clean, making it rather unsexy, but that might also be because I always feel a bit tense at the beginning and can't relax well with it.

On hot days, it performs better: a fresh, invigorating kick in the nose. It's actually not a bad office scent because it doesn't overwhelm anyone, but still brings a little unusual spice extra.

I've had it since January; we didn't have an easy start to our relationship. I had already sent Monsieur into the souk desert, but I keep trying again, especially currently due to the heat.
And as Evje van Dampen says: relationships are work, work, work.

So I'm still working on us a bit - because he is a really cool guy.