Bohemian Soul Une Nuit Nomade 2018

Strong, herbal and drunk.
Opens very alcoholic and aromatic, like a cold cocktail, then dries down to smooth woodsiness; genderless as in it's perfect for both a modern dandy and an edgy party girl.

For me, this is the summer I finished high school; watching the stars, rolling on the concrete in the middle of the city street, singing West Coast at the top of our lungs with my best friend after too many absinthe shots.
This perfume is a pretty chic way of telling the world you’re older, stronger, and more rebellious than you actually are.

(Video review on TikTok @sharpteethstarlet)

On my skin it starts off fresh and airy, then dries down into a soft sandalwood smell. The only downside is the longevity. It’s definitely a skin scent and only lasts about 3-4 hours on me before fading. But honestly, it smells so gorgeous and calming that I don't mind reapplying. The perfect, easy to wear everyday woody scent for me.

Uncommented Fragrances No. 122

Montauk is a small town at the eastern tip of Long Island in the USA and is known through the eponymous story by Max Frisch. With a bit of luck, the village will become even more famous through the fragrance series "Une Nuit à Montauk" by the manufacturer "Une Nuit Nomade." But that is probably wishful thinking.

So far, the fragrances from Une Nuit Nomade have received little attention here on Parfumo and are rarely given detailed recognition. The entire Montauk series still presents itself without comment, and even the other fragrances from the brand do not attract much praise.

Personally, I like almost all the fragrances, and I take this opportunity to promote testing this exciting brand. All are easily available through the homepage; especially, there are test materials (two sets) at acceptable prices, which should definitely be considered before making a blind purchase. The fragrances are quirky, yet completely easy to wear, so they do not belong to any kind of avant-garde. Here, it’s about wearability on one hand, but also about distinguishability on the other.

All three fragrances feature two common fragrance components (Rose America: Rose and Clove / Memory Motel: Patchouli and Clove / Bohemian Soul, the newest fragrance: Frankincense and Wood), but they set new accents, as the combination is not so obvious at first (e.g., Rose and Clove in a pronounced form: rather rare) and additionally, notes are included that are rather surprising in this context.

Bohemian Soul is my favorite of the three fragrances in the "Une Nuit à Montauk" series. While I hesitantly give Rose America an 8.0, and have considered no more than 8.0 for Memory Motel, I waver a bit with Bohemian Soul and decide on an 8.5. The fragrance reminds me in pattern (not in the sense of a fragrance twin) of Nuit de Bakélite by Naomi Goodsir. In Goodsir’s fragrance, it is the Galbanum that is responsible for this dark-green note that robs the fragrance of any floral sweetness. It also has wood and resinous notes. Of course, this is a completely different structure than that of Bohemian Soul: however, in my opinion, the result is similar and reveals a kinship of ideas.
On the other hand, Bohemian Soul: While Frankincense and Wood form a quite common but always beautiful combination, a bitter-green tone (probably the indicated Wormwood and/or Myrrh) provides a harsh and green contrast. This somewhat reminds me of fragrances with a strong Galbanum content (see above: Nuit de Bakélite). The fragrance is completely unsweet (there is no other way to describe the complete absence of fruity, amber, or gourmand notes) and yet very charming: the smoky aspect is underscored by Musk and Iris, the green is always strongly present without being herbal or sharp: rather plant-like, dark, almost warm, a bit earthy: like coming home to your own garden.

This fragrance also follows its own path, just like Rose America and Memory Motel, and finds its goal: wearability and originality united! In the soul of the artist, the spirit of the bourgeoisie often resides as well.

This subtly woody scent envelops me in a gentle aura of myrrh and incense on a creamy sandalwood base. The sillage is rather restrained; just enough to smell good without immediately being identified as perfume. Although the fragrance refers to Montauk by name, it reminds me more of Matala with its chill hippie past: letting your soul dangle, hanging out, and enjoying life.

The only downside - and this is really the crux of the matter:
The longevity is downright abysmal for me. Whether this is just me or also due to the fragrance, I can't say for sure, but probably a bit of both. Therefore, I haven't been able to bring myself to purchase a bottle yet.

Bohemian Soul. I know you!
You’re not really a perfume!
You are a place in my soul. There, where the dream of eternal summer resides.
You look like a cabin on the beach of Montauk. Not where the fancy chalets are, but where the surfers hang out.
On your porch with the peeling white paint hangs a hammock - a knotted one made of light cotton yarn, whose long fringes flutter in the wind.
On the floorboards lie a few large cushions scattered about. Boho, of course. Cotton cloths with ornamental patterns and faded towels dry in the breeze.
Everything fabric smells of salt and sea. Over the freshness lies the heavy and warm scent of sun-kissed skin, the aroma of sandalwood incense sticks that never seem to burn out, and the little lumps of incense that glow in a clay bowl in the evening.
I sit on the steps of the porch with my feet in the sand and hear from the beach the sound of a guitar from where a campfire crackles and small sparks rise into the sky.
Wrapped in the patina of eternal summer, I watch them go and drift away in my dreams.

I like the scent, but I have truly fallen in love with Nothing but Sea and Sky from the Montauk series by UNN. It has a similar character for me, but is cozier, creamier, and more pleasing than Bohemian Soul. The niche aspect of Bohemian Soul is indeed this incense-sandalwood-myrrh note, which reminds one of incense sticks and might be perceived as slightly musty. Like blankets and cloths that are in a room where incense sticks are lit daily. Not strong anymore, but as an overlay of freshness and creaminess. I have called this patina here ... Hippie Touch.

As I said - 140 EUR from my wallet will go to Nothing but Sea and Sky, but maybe I’ll spray a bit of Bohemian Soul on top to add a little more "edge" :-)