O lala … My colleague “Minigolf” has done something to me! As soon as I sprayed my freshly purchased Oud from Réminiscence for the first time, my head music player started to play. And what? Of course, “Samba Pa Ti” (“Samba for you”) from the album “Abraxas” (1970) by Carlos Santana! That’s what colleague “Minigolf” associated with this fragrance. And it has evidently stuck with me.
Not that I don’t like Carlos Santana. I even attended one of his concerts. Voluntarily. It was back then at the Vienna Stadthalle. Carlos stepped onto the stage with academic delay. He was, as usual at that time, dressed in white. Despite the already delayed start of his performance, he breathed into the microphone - I still remember it like it was yesterday: “Give me one minute of meditation …” He made it suspenseful. He stood still and meditated - however that may be. It was a time when many began to engage with Asian religions and esotericism. Carlos was known to be a student of the Hindu guru Sri Chinmoy. But since such trends seem to arrive in Austria a bit late, if at all, the audience showed little understanding for Carlos’s meditative desire. Whistles became loud. First sporadically, then more frequently. I felt ashamed for my uncomprehending compatriots and thought: “Let Carlos meditate for one minute …” But the audience remained relentless. Well, after all, they had all paid to hear “Black Magic Woman,” “Maria, Mariaaah,” and - of course - “Samba Pa Ti” - everything that the mainstream loves …
And the charismatic Mexican guitarist did not disappoint his fans. They got what they wanted. Would he dare to play something from his more ambitious compositions like “Caravanserai” beyond "Oye Como Va"? I think so. Because I don’t have a bad memory of the concert.
I wasn’t very “mainstream” back then, and I’m not today either. And here we are again with the Oud from Réminiscence. I bought it because the predominantly positive comments convinced me, and I love Oud. I now have 4 Ouds in my collection. I also already own a fragrance from Réminiscence, namely the graceful Patchouli N‘ Roses, which was also created by Fabrice Pellegrin.
Réminiscence delivers good, solid quality. You can’t say anything against that. But the Oud is, to put it bluntly, more “Samba Pa Ti” than “Caravanserai.” In Vienna, “Samba Pa Ti” would be referred to as a “Schmachtfetzen.” I don’t think that needs to be translated.
The Oud from Réminiscence has similar qualities. I would call it Oud for beginners, who may have a bit of respect or even fear of the trendy scent of agarwood because they fear it might smell “too something” - too animalistic, medicinal, fecal, musty, smoky … What fans of niche fragrances may find interesting, newcomers to Oud need not fear here. This Oud is, so to speak, softened, caressingly gentle, foam-dampened, pleasing, and charming. Why not? Oud doesn’t always have to smell irritating. Right?
From the very beginning, one feels enveloped in a - I would say noble, woody sweetness like a cocoon that surrounds you with a soft, gentle, dreamy, comforting aura - or better said, tries to protect you from the harsh environment.
The fragrance has something pleasantly spicy at the beginning, which is likely due to the cardamom and pink pepper. But soon saffron announces itself with its slightly bitter, warm-sweet aroma. And transports us to the Orient - initially with the floral accents of rose and jasmine. Soon also with balsamic creamy wood notes, to which a fine Oud adds elegance and a touch of luxury. Caressing like “Samba Pa Ti.”
The fragrance doesn’t undergo a significant transformation. It remains more or less as it is.
I only catch a brief whiff of bergamot at the very beginning. It never takes center stage.
Saffron always pairs well with Oud. Especially when it is such a “tamed” one.
Only the wood nuances and the Oud of the base note give the fragrance its actual theme - the Oriental. But the Orient presents itself in a tourist-friendly manner: caressing, silky, warm, and soft. The base note is reached quickly and comes to stay. At least for a while. Yes, the longevity is not bad. The sillage could be better. After three or four hours, the fragrance slowly fades, but even in its decline, it remains very pleasant for a long time. Like a delicate veil.
For me, the fragrance radiates something like autumn romance. Sometimes it reminds me of candied fruits. It is a pleasing bouquet that master Fabrice Pellegrin has put together here from gentle wood notes, the Orient, floral sweetness, and dry Oud. Almost too pleasing. Beginners will get the best impression of Oud here. Because it presents itself as very cuddly. Almost too cuddly for me. But that may be because I know other Oud fragrances that are more interesting and exciting to me because they show more depth and character. I think of my two Ouds from Maison Francis Kurkdjian, which simply “dare more.”
The Oud from Réminiscence is very harmonious and light, discreet, pleasant. Melodic, I would almost say - like “Samba Pa Ti.” So rather quiet, dreamy, pleasing. Or in other words: gentle and unobtrusive. Well suited for autumn and winter. Especially autumn.
It is an aromatic, fine “feel-good fragrance” that calms and invites you to dream. I see this “unisex” fragrance more as a creation for women because it contains a lot of powdery, soft sweetness.
It fits perfectly with a gray autumn day with drizzle, where you make yourself cozy at home, with a pot of good Earl Grey with milk, wrapped in a wonderfully soft cashmere blanket - and listening to Santana. In my case, however, “Caravanserai” …
Top Notes 
Pink pepper
Rose
Heart Notes 
Cardamom
Saffron
Base Notes 
Oud
Amber
Patchouli
Helena1411
Theris
Pollita
Bastian
ClarasTante
Ergreifend
Edda32
Stulle
Przeginia
Serafina
