Oud Glacial Réminiscence 2019

Dear perfume community,

as a previously "anonymous" reader, you have not only provided me with many inspirations in recent weeks but have also entertained me wonderfully with your comments and descriptions. I fondly remember the unique homage by "Reiser" to Kouros - Eau de Toilette or the extremely sensitive little novella "Edmond" by community member "Siebenkäs" about Dior's Eau Sauvage. The latter could hardly be written more skillfully.

So: Perhaps it is time for me to contribute something to your entertainment.

Since everything from the usual suspects in my collection has already been written about by well-read authors, I will dedicate my first comment to a manufacturer that is less in the spotlight here. Perhaps because it is not or only rarely found in brick-and-mortar retail in Germany. I am talking about Reminiscence and specifically about their "Oud Glacial".

I was first confronted with Reminiscence during a visit to Geneva when I was looking for a little something for my better half. In a side street of the pedestrian zone in Geneva, there is a boutique that offers very pretty and high-quality fashion jewelry from this company. Both the jewelry and accessories, as well as their fragrance range, were completely unknown to me until then. After quickly finding a suitable souvenir, I turned my attention to the fragrance offerings of the boutique, which were presented to me with great passion by the shop owner. At that time, I already found several things from Reminiscence's fragrance range remarkable, although my nose was quickly overwhelmed on that warm summer day, and I couldn't bring myself to purchase anything specific.

Back in Germany, I quickly realized that the fragrances from Reminiscence were not to be found, even in well-stocked specialty stores. I then had my purchasing premiere, so to speak, with Reminiscence Oud, which I happily rediscovered at Globus in Zurich and immediately bought. I personally consider Reminiscence Oud to be one of the best-composed oud fragrances, and I might indulge it with a few more lines here.
I was even more pleased when "Oud Glacial" appeared on my radar in 2019. Ordered online at a true bargain price, I was curious about what to expect from the combination of mint, lily of the valley, and oud.

Indeed, it is precisely this triad that primarily characterizes this agarwood representative. Immediately after spraying, it is the mint that almost comes across as too dominant at first, but its intensity quickly fades. At this point, the lily of the valley comes into play, showing a noticeable presence throughout the entire fragrance journey, accompanied by a skillfully composed base of oud, patchouli, and musk. Each of the last three representatives can decide the "victory or defeat" on their own, as can an excess of lily of the valley. However, this combination is cleverly balanced here and, particularly in the dry down, along with a refined rose, feels extremely pleasant to me. After a few hours, a relatively unique combination of lily of the valley, oud, musk, and patchouli is primarily perceptible. Notably, the agarwood only "knocks gently at the door" and "never enters," as one might know from many other oud fragrances.

The sillage is generally above average and, like the longevity, depends heavily on the dosage with this Eau de Parfum. I would not recommend too much; otherwise, the fragrance can easily become "strenuous" for both the wearer and the environment. 2 to 3 sprays are fine and are still distinctly noticeable on my skin after 7 to 8 hours.

Who is the fragrance suitable for? For all lovers of oud who want to try a new interpretation of this ingredient and are not put off by the floral elements of the composition. Additionally, I would tend to place it slightly more towards the ladies, who have often responded with "Oh, you smell good." A blind purchase? Almost, considering the prices that are being asked online for this Eau de Parfum.