No 25: Birch Tar and Russian Leather Meleg Perfumes 2020

This take on Russian leather leans into a Shalimar-style vibe : rich, heavy on the vanilla, and rounded out with a dose of castoreum. Fun fact real luxury vanilla ice creams actually use castoreum too, giving them that subtle, animalic twist without ever going over the top.

The blend here is gorgeous. My only small gripe? I don’t really pick up much leather, if it’s there, it’s very soft and understated. Instead, you get a whisper of delicate florals in the background and some bright aldehydes right at the opening. But really, it’s the vanilla and castoreum that steal the show, wrapping everything in this warm, sexy allure.

And the performance is Absolutely outstanding.