I was tempted to buy this fragrance by the many very good reviews, both here on Parfumo and from all the well-known perfume YouTubers. It should be noted that I bought it blind.
When the fragrance arrived and I sprayed the first few pumps on my arm, I was initially overwhelmed. You can smell many spices (I especially perceive the pepper, cinnamon, and saffron), which are embedded in a vanilla note. One might think you are standing in a spice shop at the Christmas market. I can hardly smell the cumin, which is a bit more challenging for many. The grapefruit is also hardly noticeable. In summary, the opening is very successful for what the fragrance is supposed to represent.
After 15-30 minutes, the fragrance calms down a bit; the spices diminish, it becomes creamier, and the tobacco note increasingly comes to the fore. And it is exactly from this point that I no longer find the fragrance as successful. Maybe it's just me, but the combination of vanilla, tobacco, and amber I only perceive as a mush. The fragrance has no edges or corners anymore, but rather blurs.
Regarding longevity, I can say that the fragrance lasts very long on my skin. I spray it on in the evening, and the next morning I can still smell it. The projection, especially at the beginning, is also very strong.
In summary: If you like the drydown, then this is really a very good fragrance, especially for the price you pay for it. However, I would not buy it again.
