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I actually wanted to get the Murkwood. Thanks to the great inspiration from some perfumistas, I was pretty hooked. But then it was sold out for the time being. Thanks to the great Parfumo community, I got it after all, but that will be in the next review soon. So I went in search of a Pineward B line-up and ended up with the Eldritch.

Then at some point the B cast arrived and I sprayed it on for the first time. And wooow, then Eldritch suddenly hit me emotionally. I found myself in the middle of a forest clearing in an old coniferous forest. With moss under my feet, I see squirrels hopping around and remember childhood walks in the forest. Eldritch envelops me with a feeling of closeness to nature and security. I hadn't expected that.

A deep green, balsamic aura unfolds for me. Myrrh and earthy patchouli in a very beautiful and natural form. Slightly sacred wisps of smoke drift quietly past me. Gentle leather in the background. And somewhere there is a cup of oolong tea, bedded on pine needles. Eldritch completely blew me away and touched me deeply.

Many thanks at this point to the really great Parfumo community and some old Parfumo hands. Your tips and inspirations have enriched my fragrance journey and opened the doors to such great fragrance experiences for me.

For all those who don't know Pineward yet: The young indie label from Colorado was founded in 2020 by Nicholas Nilsson and stands for natural, forest-inspired fragrances. Nilsson also runs the artistically experimental perfume project Apoteker Tepe.

I have now been able to get to know some of Pineward's great fragrances. I have always encountered the beautiful Pineward Nadelwald DNA. My favorites so far are the Eldritch as well as the Coffee Tabac and the Murkwood.

The troubled sea. Stormy times. But also times of pause, of constant change.
Belly of the Whale makes use of this symbolism. Only forwards.

And so Belly of the Whale begins warm and aquatic. Amber and maritime notes dominate right from the start. There is also a light manderine note, which I only noticed when I read it. But then driftwood, vanilla and benzoin join the stormy sea. Vanilla and sandalwood add a slight sweetness. The restrained animalism makes it masculine and gives the fragrance strength and a meditative depth.

And yes, I can smell a slight synthetic note. The Australians behind Anomalous Parfum deliberately use a blend of natural and synthetic fragrances. It doesn't come across as artificial or pungent. Synthetics in successful.

I feel really good with Belly of the Whale. It takes me in an amber coat, wraps me up and gives me a salty vanilla and a lot of warmth in stormy times. Best suited for thoughtful evening walks :).

It's May 1st. Blue sky, sunshine. I'm standing barefoot on the beach. The black sand warms the soles of my feet. The impetuous sea in front of me. Gray-blue. Churned up. I watch the glitter of the white crests on the tips of the waves. The wind carries the salty sea air into my face. I close my eyes. I breathe in. I am wherever the sea is.

But I'm not on the Mediterranean, I'm on Black Beach in Iceland.
Acqua di Sale does not transport me to Italy. Nor does it evoke sun cream and dolce vita vibes in me. Instead, I smell salt on my skin, seaweed in the wind and pinewood on the coast. In addition to the aquatic fragrance experience, it's the green, spicy depth that I like so much. Sometimes there is less sea: salt. Seaweed. Myrtle. Cedar wood.

Acqua di Sale is not a mainstream aquatic fragrance. But it is easy to like. It is pure, surprisingly simple, almost meditative.
It doesn't always have to be Italy. Sometimes all it takes is one breath and I'm standing barefoot on the black beach in Iceland again.

I should actually associate Ambre des Abysses with France, as Houbigant is one of the oldest perfumeries in the world and was founded in Paris in 1775. Among other things, Houbigant introduced the fougère fragrance family with Fougère Royale (2010) Eau de Parfum and thus wrote perfume history.

But I associate Ambre des Abysses with my great visit to Vienna with my sweetheart. There we visited a great niche perfumery to explore the fragrances of Meo Fusciuni. It was the beautiful bottles that drew my attention to Houbigant. But my enthusiasm really began when I tried it for the first time in the perfumery.

Ambre des Abysses started with a great fresh combination of bergamot, orange and mint. A slight amber note was already perceptible in the background. This ambery freshness at the start appealed to me and convinced me to take it with me.

But the real experience with Ambre des Abysses begins later on. After the great fresh initial phase, the fragrance becomes noticeably warmer and slightly creamy. Amber and patchouli do a great job here and the flowers are pleasantly noticeable. It is not a screamer, but a fragrance that is noticed. Tonka bean, leather, vanilla and the beautifully used oakmoss give the whole a pleasant and pleasing depth. This turns the fresh start into a creamy and powerful fragrance that lingers on the skin for a long time.

This modern and classic interpretation of fougère makes Ambre des Abysses a fantastic fragrance experience for me. Perfect for the office, leisure time or dinner in a restaurant.

Everything has probably already been written and said about Reflection 45, but I would still like to give my 5 cents on one of my favorite fragrances.

Reflection 45 is the more intense interpretation of the classic Reflection Man and comes, oh wonder, with a 45% fragrance oil concentration, which is still matured for 4 months. The result is an incredible composition of frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood and floral notes such as iris and jasmine.

For me personally, the result is neither a "crowdpleaser" nor a "beastmode" monster, but a grandiose balsamic fragrance aura that captivates and inspires me.
Reflection 45 is an absolutely addictive fragrance for me. You notice it again and again, in the car when you move your arm, you always have this great fragrance aura in your nose. It's a fragrance for me that simply makes me happy, and you radiate that too.
Maybe that's the magic of this great Amouage banger. For me, it's easy to wear in my free time, but also in the office. Also an all-rounder here.

To be honest, you pay a really high price for it. So here's a little tip for anyone who wants to save a bit. Maybe your company also offers a benefit portal. For example, there is a 24% discount at a large online perfumery and I was able to buy Reflection 45 at a fairer price. The smaller perfumeries also have 20% days, e.g. in Munich. I always try to take advantage of that. That makes it at least a little more affordable and I can justify it better for myself.