Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
02/15/2023
NosyCat
8 Reviews
NosyCat
2
Smell it first, then look at the price…
There are lots of fragrances from big fashion brands and independent manufacturers alike that one can describe as simply ‘nice’ or ‘pleasant’. Far fewer aim to be great. And an even smaller amount of perfumes one encounters are exceptional. When I was walking past a counter of the South American brand Costa Brazil - previously oblivious to its existence - I saw a wooden cube that turned out to be a perfume bottle; the first and only scent they have. I almost kept walking - since it seemed like an attempt from yet another skincare brand to generate more sales - but something about this cube made me curious. And boy, did I not regret this decision.
It has everything I like in a fragrance. I love in a fragrance. I long for in a fragrance and rarely smell. There is the smell of pines, of coniferous trees, of a forest after the rain on a warm summer morning, when the woods have retained some warmth from the previous day and before the sun starts blasting down again. When the nourishing rain has provided the much needed relief and left behind a crisp freshness….There is a zesty note, much like when you rip a few young needles off a fir tree and rub it between your fingers releasing the oils; or when you accidentally touch a pine cone, which is still covered in sticky fresh resin…..These are the images ‘Aroma’ evokes. The citrusy note is not tangerine or neroli, it has more bitterness, like grapefruit. Then the grasses take over, but in a gentle way, never aggressive, with vetiver skilfully hidden among cedar wood and patchouli and in the base there is a slight nod towards musk - an indication which is never allowed to dominate. It instantly reminded me of Aesop’s ‘Hwyl’ - that one however is darker, has more wood and therefore more sternness of a Nordic forest, whereas ‘Aroma’ is lighter, more playful in a very South American way and even though I have never been to Brazil, it instantly reminded me of a walk in the forest in a southern country: Italy, Greece.
The projection is good, not overbearing but noticeable and even after 5 hours of wearing it, I still get a whiff every now and again. It would work at any time of the year; personally I would use it more in spring and in summer, since it is a brighter, greener scent; but it also wouldn’t be wrong in the cold time of the year.
You wouldn’t be surprised after discovering who are the noses behind this fragrance - David Seth Moltz, the D.S. in D.S & Durga and Frank Voelkl, who is responsible for of some of the best Le Labo scents. ‘Aroma’ showcases what they do best, namely telling a story with their creations. This fougere/chipre perfume does precisely that - it evokes memories of a place where the beauty of the surroundings is not majestically unreachable, but familiar, yet somehow obscured by the time that has passed since you last visited; but it gives you an urge want to get lost and become at one with nature once again.
It might have had the potential to become a truly great scent, if it weren’t for the price. It seems like being a niche brand and not widely available is not enough nowadays; the price tag has to be made higher and the bottle smaller. Shame.
*Update on the price: the refill bottle of this, which is actually a proper spray bottle, is considerably cheaper - even though it’s not a cheap perfume to begin with, at least it’s in a similar price category of upscale niche fragrances. So unless you absolutely want the beautiful wooden cube, get the refill bottle instead; it’s a much better deal.
It has everything I like in a fragrance. I love in a fragrance. I long for in a fragrance and rarely smell. There is the smell of pines, of coniferous trees, of a forest after the rain on a warm summer morning, when the woods have retained some warmth from the previous day and before the sun starts blasting down again. When the nourishing rain has provided the much needed relief and left behind a crisp freshness….There is a zesty note, much like when you rip a few young needles off a fir tree and rub it between your fingers releasing the oils; or when you accidentally touch a pine cone, which is still covered in sticky fresh resin…..These are the images ‘Aroma’ evokes. The citrusy note is not tangerine or neroli, it has more bitterness, like grapefruit. Then the grasses take over, but in a gentle way, never aggressive, with vetiver skilfully hidden among cedar wood and patchouli and in the base there is a slight nod towards musk - an indication which is never allowed to dominate. It instantly reminded me of Aesop’s ‘Hwyl’ - that one however is darker, has more wood and therefore more sternness of a Nordic forest, whereas ‘Aroma’ is lighter, more playful in a very South American way and even though I have never been to Brazil, it instantly reminded me of a walk in the forest in a southern country: Italy, Greece.
The projection is good, not overbearing but noticeable and even after 5 hours of wearing it, I still get a whiff every now and again. It would work at any time of the year; personally I would use it more in spring and in summer, since it is a brighter, greener scent; but it also wouldn’t be wrong in the cold time of the year.
You wouldn’t be surprised after discovering who are the noses behind this fragrance - David Seth Moltz, the D.S. in D.S & Durga and Frank Voelkl, who is responsible for of some of the best Le Labo scents. ‘Aroma’ showcases what they do best, namely telling a story with their creations. This fougere/chipre perfume does precisely that - it evokes memories of a place where the beauty of the surroundings is not majestically unreachable, but familiar, yet somehow obscured by the time that has passed since you last visited; but it gives you an urge want to get lost and become at one with nature once again.
It might have had the potential to become a truly great scent, if it weren’t for the price. It seems like being a niche brand and not widely available is not enough nowadays; the price tag has to be made higher and the bottle smaller. Shame.
*Update on the price: the refill bottle of this, which is actually a proper spray bottle, is considerably cheaper - even though it’s not a cheap perfume to begin with, at least it’s in a similar price category of upscale niche fragrances. So unless you absolutely want the beautiful wooden cube, get the refill bottle instead; it’s a much better deal.
Nowhereman
