Algae
Ambergris
Bergamot
Clary sage
Nutmeg
Oud
Pine
Seagrass
Sisal
06/24/2025
Nose2nose
45 Reviews
Nose2nose
1
The comfort of smoke and the call of the sea
Wad opens with a wonderful smoky scent. It's very realistic, like the way your hair or clothes smell after spending an evening by a campfire. I love smoky fragrances. Especially when I’m walking outdoors, I find it very comforting to catch whiffs of smoke in the breeze. There's something so cozy and homely about it. Maybe it's something psychological: the scent of burning wood stoves brings a sense of safety and warmth when the wind is howling outside and a campfire's smoke offers reassurance, like a subtle sign that there’s human life nearby.
If you’re not into smoky scents, I can imagine this might put you off at first. And if you’re expecting something maritime or aquatic, this is quite a departure. That said, through the smoke, I can just about make out some of the other listed notes: green, herbaceous touches like sage and pine and a dry, dusty feel from the seagrass, sisal and nutmeg. But make no mistake; initially, the smoke really takes center stage.
After an hour or so, though, once the smoke settles down (or maybe my nose just adjusts), a briny sea-air vibe starts to emerge more and more. The smokiness is more like a peaty whiskey now. I even start to pick up (or at least vividly imagine) the scent of sand and that rough, dry seagrass that traps salt from the sea. It’s almost textural. Catching a whiff of it in the wind is especially lovely and transportive. The pine and sage seem to blend into something almost like rosemary.
Ambergris can sometimes be somewhat sticky, cloying and even a bit nauseating to me, but luckily it's quite tame and well blended here. Wad is bold, but not dark or heavy; rather uplifting, fresh, like sticking your head out into the wind on a windy beach day.
All in all, it’s a joy to wear. The combination of being Dutch myself and the storytelling behind the fragrance (clear narrative, fitting notes, the mood, the experience) all just hits the mark for me. I think Wad is a lovely perfume, completely up my alley.
For more scent thoughts (and glimpses of my daily life with my dog), find me on Instagram @melanie.buist
If you’re not into smoky scents, I can imagine this might put you off at first. And if you’re expecting something maritime or aquatic, this is quite a departure. That said, through the smoke, I can just about make out some of the other listed notes: green, herbaceous touches like sage and pine and a dry, dusty feel from the seagrass, sisal and nutmeg. But make no mistake; initially, the smoke really takes center stage.
After an hour or so, though, once the smoke settles down (or maybe my nose just adjusts), a briny sea-air vibe starts to emerge more and more. The smokiness is more like a peaty whiskey now. I even start to pick up (or at least vividly imagine) the scent of sand and that rough, dry seagrass that traps salt from the sea. It’s almost textural. Catching a whiff of it in the wind is especially lovely and transportive. The pine and sage seem to blend into something almost like rosemary.
Ambergris can sometimes be somewhat sticky, cloying and even a bit nauseating to me, but luckily it's quite tame and well blended here. Wad is bold, but not dark or heavy; rather uplifting, fresh, like sticking your head out into the wind on a windy beach day.
All in all, it’s a joy to wear. The combination of being Dutch myself and the storytelling behind the fragrance (clear narrative, fitting notes, the mood, the experience) all just hits the mark for me. I think Wad is a lovely perfume, completely up my alley.
For more scent thoughts (and glimpses of my daily life with my dog), find me on Instagram @melanie.buist
