10/23/2023
DrB1414
148 Reviews
DrB1414
3
The Savory one
My review is based on the previous (2nd version) iteration of Vientiane, which to my nose differs greatly from the current version (May 2022).
This one is among the very best displays of a natural sandalwood-based perfume in my books, alongside offerings from other artisanal houses like Ensar Oud, Areej le Dore, TRNP, and Bogue Profumo. It is also all-natural, and the overall experience is just soul-touching. At first, I had acquired several samples of this perfume around 2019 and loved it immediately, but for whatever reason, never purchased a full bottle. I just used my samples, one by one, until they announced a new version would be made available, using a different sandalwood provider. Gulp! I knew I waited for too long, but was still optimistic about it, so I immediately purchased a sample of the new one to compare. Unfortunately, my hopes were crushed, as the new one differed greatly from the one I had. and to my taste, not for the better. I had searched all over and barely managed to grab a previous version. Funny, as this house seems to fly under the radar.
Natural Sandalwood, and especially good quality stuff, is really not real with commercial perfumes. Basically, everything that sells in large amounts. There are very few exceptions(Santal de Mysore, Trayee), but the general rule is, if you LOVE Sandalwood as I do, you need to go down the artisanal path, and the pure oil path. The oil will teach you to understand this marvelous material, and then you can use your nose to spot the hundreds of fake Sandalwood perfumes out there, much like with Oud.
Vientiane is one of the loveliest and most unique uses of this wood that I've come across in spray perfumes. Doing a proper, good Sandalwood perfume, is very difficult. Finding one, even more so. Vientiane does that. It uses three types of Sandalwood, and the overall profile here is buttery, creamy, milky, powdery, and woody. Not really akin to the Mysore profile, as it is not as spicy and sweet. But just as good, trust me. Now, Charna has decided to use in this composition several very interesting notes and accords that perfectly complement the main ingredient's profile. To my nose, the main players alongside the Sandalwwod, are the Silk Vine, and the Jasmine Rice accord. The Silk Vine provides a beautiful green quality, as well as a noticeable milky facet, further enhancing the savory aspects of this perfume. Speaking of savory facets, the Jasmine Rice Accord is very vivid and true to life, perfectly placed alongside the powdery facets of the Sandalwood. These are the main three players throughout the life of the perfume to my nose. There are some minor other ones like Jasmine and Vanilla, but they are barely noticeable. This is all about the Sandalwood, Silk Vine, and Jasmine Rice trio. It has a clear savory quality but it doesn't feel edible or by no means gourmand. It is soothing, calming, soul touching. The creamiest Sandalwood served with Jasmine Rice and Fresh Milk. Woody, buttery, milky, powdery, savory, and just a tad bit sweet. As with all perfumes from this house, all-natural. One of the best Sandalwood forward perfumes out there, and one of the most relaxing perfumes to wear.
The current batch differs greatly from the previous one to my nose. The Vanilla is much stronger, it is much sweeter and almost has this burnt sugar quality to it. The green-milky qualities of the silk Vine are not there anymore, and the Jasmine Rice accord barely surfaces. I can see how it might bear more commercial success, as it does feel more mass appealing, but to someone like myself who's not into that, it lacks the originality, the raw nature-like feel, and the soothing properties that made me fall in love with the previous one.
This one is among the very best displays of a natural sandalwood-based perfume in my books, alongside offerings from other artisanal houses like Ensar Oud, Areej le Dore, TRNP, and Bogue Profumo. It is also all-natural, and the overall experience is just soul-touching. At first, I had acquired several samples of this perfume around 2019 and loved it immediately, but for whatever reason, never purchased a full bottle. I just used my samples, one by one, until they announced a new version would be made available, using a different sandalwood provider. Gulp! I knew I waited for too long, but was still optimistic about it, so I immediately purchased a sample of the new one to compare. Unfortunately, my hopes were crushed, as the new one differed greatly from the one I had. and to my taste, not for the better. I had searched all over and barely managed to grab a previous version. Funny, as this house seems to fly under the radar.
Natural Sandalwood, and especially good quality stuff, is really not real with commercial perfumes. Basically, everything that sells in large amounts. There are very few exceptions(Santal de Mysore, Trayee), but the general rule is, if you LOVE Sandalwood as I do, you need to go down the artisanal path, and the pure oil path. The oil will teach you to understand this marvelous material, and then you can use your nose to spot the hundreds of fake Sandalwood perfumes out there, much like with Oud.
Vientiane is one of the loveliest and most unique uses of this wood that I've come across in spray perfumes. Doing a proper, good Sandalwood perfume, is very difficult. Finding one, even more so. Vientiane does that. It uses three types of Sandalwood, and the overall profile here is buttery, creamy, milky, powdery, and woody. Not really akin to the Mysore profile, as it is not as spicy and sweet. But just as good, trust me. Now, Charna has decided to use in this composition several very interesting notes and accords that perfectly complement the main ingredient's profile. To my nose, the main players alongside the Sandalwwod, are the Silk Vine, and the Jasmine Rice accord. The Silk Vine provides a beautiful green quality, as well as a noticeable milky facet, further enhancing the savory aspects of this perfume. Speaking of savory facets, the Jasmine Rice Accord is very vivid and true to life, perfectly placed alongside the powdery facets of the Sandalwood. These are the main three players throughout the life of the perfume to my nose. There are some minor other ones like Jasmine and Vanilla, but they are barely noticeable. This is all about the Sandalwood, Silk Vine, and Jasmine Rice trio. It has a clear savory quality but it doesn't feel edible or by no means gourmand. It is soothing, calming, soul touching. The creamiest Sandalwood served with Jasmine Rice and Fresh Milk. Woody, buttery, milky, powdery, savory, and just a tad bit sweet. As with all perfumes from this house, all-natural. One of the best Sandalwood forward perfumes out there, and one of the most relaxing perfumes to wear.
The current batch differs greatly from the previous one to my nose. The Vanilla is much stronger, it is much sweeter and almost has this burnt sugar quality to it. The green-milky qualities of the silk Vine are not there anymore, and the Jasmine Rice accord barely surfaces. I can see how it might bear more commercial success, as it does feel more mass appealing, but to someone like myself who's not into that, it lacks the originality, the raw nature-like feel, and the soothing properties that made me fall in love with the previous one.
