(Wood Legacy) Zara 2024

I’m afraid I was a little hasty in expressing my first impressions. The first time, spraying the perfume on the strip of paper, I had only perceived a few nuances, those that reminded me of the He Wood parfumes. But now that I’ve bought it, smelled it again, and sprayed it on my skin, I can fully experience all its colours and get some crazy vibes. What’s new? It is the same bottle used for the Metallics series, this time the cap is black, a white cardboard box that reproduces the texture of genuine coarse-grained leather, and the name of the perfume is written in large letters and enclosed in brackets. Wood Legacy is the name chosen for this perfume, which clashes a bit with the keynotes mentioned: dark chocolate, tonka bean, and patchouli. Woody, gourmand, or earthy? What will be the dominant character of this new creature? Let’s try to find out together.

Within the Vibe Variations collection, this represents a fragrance inspired by nature, including some strong odours that may seem unpleasant to our noses. We are ethically accustomed to separating good from bad, and our person does not tolerate the repressed scents of our animalistic instinct. The Eau de parfum Wood legacy is a fragrance with an intriguing, daring spicy, woody accord. The nose behind this fragrance is Alexis Dadier, as posted on his IG account. The first notes that emerge from the spray are dense, freshly sawn wood. A dark wood, without the typical inflexions of cedar pencil shavings, but something that recalls a place, a house, or a room composed entirely or mainly of wood, but also the smell of clean skin. The dark, slightly smoky and spicy nuances of pepper are slowly added, moderate, which embellish without covering the other notes. it’s just a splash, nothing that would bother those who aren’t very fond of this spice. The most trained noses may perceive an odour reminiscent of sweat, clean and never unpleasant. A few minutes and the fragrance takes a bitter direction, like something medicinal, a thick, musky, and bitter syrup. I recognize the aroma of dark chocolate, bitter, actually very bitter, concentrated, which rises as the perfume warms up on my skin. The thing I really like is that the chocolate doesn’t appear like in the other fragrances I already know, but it’s very real. Anyone like me who loves 85% and 90% dark chocolate, which hardly melts in your mouth, will know what I mean to describe. Several times I happened to smell a nuance of coconut, dry, milky, a bit nutty, and creamy but not insidious. Overall, it has a slightly tougher edge that is appealing. it’s incredible how this essence can change so quickly, gradually touching notes and chords that we don’t expect.

The middle unfolds with the warm embrace of tonka bean and cedar wood, creating a harmonious blend that captivates the senses. More, there is a powdery note that adds a sensual touch. I get a lot of orris in the middle, although it is not declared. Not too heavy, just right. Perhaps, courtesy of the unsweetened, almost dusty quality of the cocoa. The scent keeps on going this way until it approaches the dry-down phase. The more it grows, the more it abandons the bitterness in favour of a mild sweetness.

A synthetic musk with a clean sweet musky floral woody odour is used in this fragrance. I get an animalic musk, not soapy, with a salty slant and some contrasts from the earthy patchouli and the powdery coumarins, the vanilla and tonka, a real one that smells genuine. The patchouli reinforces the chocolate vibe, and the vanilla and tonka sweetness balance the bitterness, with plenty of contrasts. The tail is woody and mossy with a touch of powderiness.

In conclusion, the nuances that I receive most are those of dark chocolate, followed by woods and mosses. it is a particular gourmand, in which the sweetish edges do not stand out but rather the bitter and dark ones of the chocolate. The fragrance is very suitable for the colder months, during the evening events of autumn and winter. Even if I would try it during an outdoor summer evening without thinking too much. Maybe precisely in this June when summer is late in arriving, and spring has been almost rainy.

I can say, without hesitation, that I love this cologne. I liked it straight away, on the first ride. Sure, it’s a bit of a jumble of chords, with no clear notes that stand out. But a nice mix, like the orchestra masters playing all together. Never mind that some might call it a mess. It’s my kind of mess. The sillage is delicate but the lasting power, thanks to the high concentration of non-substandard molecular ingredients, is impressive. Let me say that Wood Legacy is not the classic designer perfume, but something more refined and sophisticated, not obvious, a little primitive, and very close to niche perfumes. And just because I can’t get it out of my head, next on the list will be (Vetiverich).

I am formulating my impressions on a bottle I've owned since June 2024 (BC 41010).

-Elysium

Opens up pretty weird, there's something plasticky or rubbery that I really dislike in it.

Then, something magic happens, and this turns into this dark, chocolatey, creamy woody scent, very different from whatever else I smelled, if this really is inspired by Boccanera by Orto Parisi or Pardon by Nasomatto I can see why, this smell is niche, it's not a standard designer fragrance, it's legit 10/10.

This is insanely good if you bear with the opening, I fucking love this, but it's unwearable in summer imho.

Lasting power seems good too, it sits closer to the skin after not even an hour but even after 6 hours I can still smell it on my skin lightly.

EDIT: Zara owes me money, the frgrance I bought is way fainter than the tester I tried in store, it's enraging, the fragrance is so good that it makes me emotional but the performance is...MEH, 5 hours and it's gone.

It is an early Sunday evening. I have been shopping online. Fragrances. I am already looking forward to my recently ordered blind buys from a large Spanish fashion chain. Will they be as convincing as last time?
My thoughts drift to one of my earlier discoveries: Wood Legacy. I decide to dedicate this review to it.

I go to the bathroom and wash my arm for this purpose. I dry it off. Does this affect the pH level of the skin? Maybe. I don't know. Three strong sprays hit my inner elbow. With the first whiff, I didn't even want to consciously perceive the fragrance, I immediately smell a note that makes me smile: marzipan. Not intrusive, not overly sweet - it slips by discreetly and politely. Pleasant. After a few seconds, I now bring my nose to my inner elbow. It smells warm, sweet/creamy, green/woody. Familiar. Well then, the marzipan opens the door, like a friendly host inviting one to discover more. And there is more to discover.
The initial sweetness is warm and creamy but does not dominate; it soon combines with an ensemble of green, earthy, and woody notes. These notes are accompanied by a warm creamy sweetness (the chocolate?), which gradually diminishes over time. Here, the fragrance takes on its true form. Once the initial sweetness bids farewell, I am left with a consistently woody, green, spicy, and creamy freshness. The fragrance is no longer as sweet as at the beginning, but by no means bitter. A certain creaminess remains.

Wood Legacy is not an overly loud fragrance; it is close to the skin. It lasts well, but it is not a sillage monster in the classic sense. However - it still shows presence and is confident without needing to show off. Those who wear it do not need to be the center of attention. But those who wear it know exactly where they stand and will be noticed. Unobtrusively confident. Creamy, sweet, earthy, woody, green, fresh.

For the price, Wood Legacy is definitely a little gem. It is a change of pace. A fragrance that does not impose itself but invites. Anyone looking for a green, creamy, and unobtrusive yet confident companion should definitely give it a try. A feel-good fragrance.

...deserves this title. And Wood Legacy deserves a review. Such a beautiful unisex fragrance. It twists the head with peppery green notes, then embodies a spicy creaminess and remains as a very pleasantly noticeable, amber-woody coconut on my skin with a subtle sweetness that occasionally gives way to a mild freshness. The patchouli stays very subtle or integrates wonderfully into the overall composition. WL leaves a well-groomed feeling and, for me, is not assigned to any particular season.

I sprayed it on yesterday for sleeping, and my sleep shirt still lightly smells of it.

Today I tested it properly for the first time. After about 5 hours, I could still catch a whiff of it outside, which made me happy. It was more of a chance discovery, as I was interested in Metamber, but my nose failed on that one. I could hardly grasp the scent. So I reached for the next interesting bottle and - Bam! - what is this beautiful thing? Sprayed it on, went for a walk, back to Zara. There, you often have to be quick, better to strike while the iron is hot. First sniff loves are rare.

All in all, Wood Legacy is a very pleasing fragrance, not too dominant and also not just close to the skin. It has the potential to be a signature scent for me.