Cardamom...
That's probably the last thing you'd expect in a perfume. At least, that's what I thought for a long time. The first time I saw cardamom (it was green cardamom), I was just a little boy. My father showed it to me, and I got to smell it right away. Mh...interesting. And hey, it didn't stop there: My father explained that people would chew it to get rid of bad breath (well, in the village back then, you had to come up with something :D). I'll probably never forget my father's laughter when I made a face at it. It just tasted like aftershave (the fact that I once tried aftershave is probably another story :D).
Well, let's get to the scent: It starts with a pleasant spiciness "right in your face" (a sweetly wrapped cardamom). In the current reformulation, it’s a bit milder compared to the batch from 2013. Over time, the scent becomes more harmonious, and lavender joins in, which probably gives the fragrance a certain powderiness and, in my eyes, rounds it off and refines it. Overall, it is a true work of art, and I have rarely smelled a fragrance that conveys such sensuality. With the bitter taste of aftershave in my memory, this scent has nothing in common with it. I would have never thought that cardamom could smell so good in perfumes.
A word about performance and reformulation:
The performance is absolutely miserable. Unfortunately, the perfume version does not smell like the EdT, so it falls out as an alternative. The batch from 2013 is a bit spicier and lasts a bit longer...but only a bit. In all batch variants, the scent is only detectable close to the skin after 2-3 hours. Unfortunately, this seems to be the Achilles' heel of the fragrance. Nonetheless, the current reformulation is worth purchasing. You just have to take a small travel atomizer for reapplication. I hope that YSL releases a more intense and long-lasting version of this fragrance: There will certainly be no lack of buyers!
From my side, it gets a full 10 points for the scent. Outstanding!
Very cool comment, thanks! :) I think it's great that you have a childhood memory of cardamom that runs through your life with LNDL. In my opinion, the batches from 2009-13 are all equally good in their own way. I find the 2009-12 ones a bit sweeter and less fresh, while 2012-early 14 are fresher and spicier, but similarly long-lasting. I usually spray quite a bit so it has a longer aura, more than just close to the skin. :)
Unfortunately not. As I said, I only tried the 2013 version. I heard there’s no "huge difference" between the original formulation and the first reformulation. Do you know the difference in longevity between the two?
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