EO N°2 Ensar Oud 2018 Pure Parfum

I can do what I want, but every time I spray this fragrance, it transports me back to Silent Hill - in a positive way. Most people should be familiar with Silent Hill, both the video game and the movie. One or two might immediately recall the dark sounds and oppressive music. In line with the music, one quickly envisions the grimly designed surroundings and the claustrophobic and creepy rooms. All in all, Silent Hill is known for its suffocating and dark atmosphere. But what does Silent Hill smell like? - I really wondered about that back then (I’m a fan of this series).

Music recommendation: Silent Hill 2 soundtrack

Upon spraying, a breeze of green and spicy notes immediately greets me. In parallel, I imagine traversing a dark forest to reach Silent Hill. Finally, after 15-20 minutes, I find myself right in the middle of the town. Thick fog obscures my vision. I walk past decaying cars but can still smell the leather and oil inside, as if they were just produced. Suddenly, I catch a whiff of something slightly sweet and alive, yet there are neither animals nor humans in sight. The fog, which I’ll call the musk fog, manages to blend these scent impressions together. Everything is deserted and empty, yet it smells alive. The contrast is fascinating. I know this scent cannot be alive, but it still conveys to me the impression of something warm and living.

The fog (musk) fills every street and alley. Now I seek refuge in an abandoned hospital. I open the door and once again, vibrant scents greet me. A hint of leather, warm skin, steaming earth, and woody notes I can sniff in a single breath. Although the hospital looks empty, moldy, musty, and long abandoned, it gives the impression that life is pulsating here. Does a liminal world exist? - I wonder.

I open every room and find that no one is here. Suddenly, I hear small creatures crawling and rustling - I can even smell them. A dark figure forms at the end of the hallway. If I’m not imagining it, this being can now smell my fear: sweet, dark, dense, and intense. I rush outside and breathe in the musk fog deeply again. Strange yet so familiar. Scary, but still soothing and embracing. The sun hides behind the clouds and it’s slowly getting dark. After 8 hours of exploration (with one spray) in Silent Hill, I traverse the forest again before night falls. Only the soles of my shoes prove that I was there. Dirty and slightly fecal - I must have stepped on something.

I recommend everyone to try this masterpiece who desperately needs a new fragrance experience.
One could argue that No2 is not as complex as other Ensar Oud creations, but behind this dense, warm, leathery, woody musk composition lies something very pulsating and alive. It is a very introverted scent that invites cuddling, yet still grabs you, stimulates, inspires, and lets you fantasize. While I have to think of Silent Hill, it could be that someone associates it with a Lord of the Rings movie night.

After 15 minutes of the top note, the heart note follows with impressive longevity, always enveloped in the embracing musk. Very full-bodied (thanks to the musk tincture instead of ethanol) and dense, without becoming intrusive. The base slightly resembles dry coffee grounds, but don’t worry, it doesn’t smell unpleasant.
You can wear it, well dosed, pretty much anywhere. But it is far too precious for that. All in all, a very noble scent, but also very INTROVERTED - just like Silent Hill. A confrontation with one’s dark self, a contrast between life and death, but never too animalistic or dirty. It has the perfect balance. A darkness with security!!!

A bottle that definitely enhances and revolutionizes any collection. Somehow, half of my collection no longer makes sense... Thank you, Ensar Oud.