Striking, sophisticated Signature flanker with spices and leather; cousin of the original and Noir
Sampling the latest Zaharoff release, Signature Extreme, the first (I think) perfume in extrait concentration from the house, a robust flanker to the original Signature from 2018, with (in my opinion) also some similarities to Signature Noir from 2020. I would immediately describe it as darker and spicier than the original but less sharp and musky than Noir. It interestingly has a boldness (particularly via a leathery aspect) but subtlety to it, not as loud a statement as Signature Leather Tabac (after all, what is?) but almost nodding to Tom Ford Black Lacquer, in a way, with a sort of boozy, varnishy special quality. Key fragrance notes for me include black pepper, fir balsam, frankincense, leather, and oud. It surely is a bit more apt for cool weather and/or nighttime situations but isn’t overstated to the point of being unpleasantly loud anytime, as I see it, so it feels a bit more versatile than, say, Signature Leather Tabac, even if not as wholly versatile as the original Signature. Extreme hints at being animalic while not overflowing with leather, involves some spices without being sharp, and is dark but not overpowering. Very classy stuff, unsurprisingly.
Overall, it’s an outstanding scent and performs well, an easy favorite and go-to. and the value remains remarkably and consistently spectacular, at $195/155 for 120/60ml, kind of astounding in the current market.
