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Not traumatic after all
PTSD was an audacious blind buy. I came across it when discussing turmeric in perfumes with @TonyB882 and it spoke to me right away. As my username would suggest, somewhere along my fragrance journey, I have lost my sense of smell (and my grip on reality). Something with a myriad of animalic notes seemed like a no-brainer to me, since I scarcely enjoy a scent without civet, indole or at least castoreum.
That being said, I still expected it to be a statement piece - a poorly blended, barely wearable amateur hour. Luckily, PTSD isn't animalic for the sake of it, and the blending is phenomenal. There are multiple cohesive stages, where intimidating notes actually serve as an undertone, adding an enticing warmth to the mixture.
Upon spraying, I'm greeted by oldschool aldehydes: sparkly, metallic and waxy. Now, is it waxy enough to sell me on the hairspray note? Not quite, because a realistic grapefruit immediately takes over. By realistic, I mean both sour and bittersweet, but also pithy, rindy and slightly oily. It transitions very smoothly into a citric olibanum - more on that later.
After a refreshing opening, PTSD eagerly unveils its spicy heart. Turmeric is present; I would describe it as an earthier, sharper variation of ginger. Fennel adds another layer of spiciness. Definitely more herbaceous than anise, but not vegetal enough to be off-putting. Grapefruit suddenly feels sweeter, offering a pleasant contrast to the aromatic, earthy giants.
There's a gorgeous animalic volume, though I can't say it's easy to notice during the first hour. However, once the spicy maelstrom settles, indolic jasmine and fluffy civet start coming to life. They provide a creamy, musky texture that intertwines nicely with the earthiness. It's intense, yet it doesn't dominate the other aspects or overwhelm the wearer.
In fact, it slowly recedes over time. About 4 hours into the wear, I'm left with balsamic, citrusy olibanum and musty woodiness. Can I smell cepes or any moldiness? Not necessarily, but the combination of oakmoss and "soil" feels a bit damp indeed. The drydown phase comes off as generic and on the safe side to me, but I understand that's a plus for most people.
To sum it up, PTSD goes through many stages: citrusy-waxy, earthy-spicy, indolic-musky and resinous-woody. Projection is average - loud initial hour, moderate during the second, then it becomes a skin scent. Longevity is good; 7-8 hours on skin. While I deducted 1 point from the final score because the base lacks vision, it's one of the most unique blends I've experienced, and totally worth the wholesome 68.39€ import tax from US to EU.
That being said, I still expected it to be a statement piece - a poorly blended, barely wearable amateur hour. Luckily, PTSD isn't animalic for the sake of it, and the blending is phenomenal. There are multiple cohesive stages, where intimidating notes actually serve as an undertone, adding an enticing warmth to the mixture.
Upon spraying, I'm greeted by oldschool aldehydes: sparkly, metallic and waxy. Now, is it waxy enough to sell me on the hairspray note? Not quite, because a realistic grapefruit immediately takes over. By realistic, I mean both sour and bittersweet, but also pithy, rindy and slightly oily. It transitions very smoothly into a citric olibanum - more on that later.
After a refreshing opening, PTSD eagerly unveils its spicy heart. Turmeric is present; I would describe it as an earthier, sharper variation of ginger. Fennel adds another layer of spiciness. Definitely more herbaceous than anise, but not vegetal enough to be off-putting. Grapefruit suddenly feels sweeter, offering a pleasant contrast to the aromatic, earthy giants.
There's a gorgeous animalic volume, though I can't say it's easy to notice during the first hour. However, once the spicy maelstrom settles, indolic jasmine and fluffy civet start coming to life. They provide a creamy, musky texture that intertwines nicely with the earthiness. It's intense, yet it doesn't dominate the other aspects or overwhelm the wearer.
In fact, it slowly recedes over time. About 4 hours into the wear, I'm left with balsamic, citrusy olibanum and musty woodiness. Can I smell cepes or any moldiness? Not necessarily, but the combination of oakmoss and "soil" feels a bit damp indeed. The drydown phase comes off as generic and on the safe side to me, but I understand that's a plus for most people.
To sum it up, PTSD goes through many stages: citrusy-waxy, earthy-spicy, indolic-musky and resinous-woody. Projection is average - loud initial hour, moderate during the second, then it becomes a skin scent. Longevity is good; 7-8 hours on skin. While I deducted 1 point from the final score because the base lacks vision, it's one of the most unique blends I've experienced, and totally worth the wholesome 68.39€ import tax from US to EU.
A spicy chameleon
Let me preface this by saying that while Delhi is a transformative masterpiece, its opening CERTAINLY isn't for those who don't enjoy overly spicy scents. After spraying, it lives up to its name, assaulting you with a spiciness reminiscent of Helichrysum italicum (curry plant). There's cardamom, fennel (anise) and a syrupy touch of fenugreek.
Slowly but surely, intense spices morph into a luscious jasmine accord. Champaca flower and orange blossom produce a potent, almost indolic white floral facet with a honey-like undertone. About 2 hours into the wear, it's creamy in texture, but there's also some dry warmth coming from the woody-resinous combination of cedar and myrrh.
As if that wasn't enough development, around 4 hours in, the scent transforms again. I get whiffs of dried rose petals, combined with a pleasant minty nuance coming from patchouli. This makes for a sweetened and a slightly cooling finish, which is more than welcome after such an astonishing wearing exprience.
When it comes to performance, I'm a bearer of bad news. It lasts for 6-7 hours on my skin with soft projection (except for the spice explosion). Moreover, Delhi isn't versatile or easy to wear. That said, the amount of unique stages it goes through during its short lifespan is remarkable. As such, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys culinary perfumes.
Slowly but surely, intense spices morph into a luscious jasmine accord. Champaca flower and orange blossom produce a potent, almost indolic white floral facet with a honey-like undertone. About 2 hours into the wear, it's creamy in texture, but there's also some dry warmth coming from the woody-resinous combination of cedar and myrrh.
As if that wasn't enough development, around 4 hours in, the scent transforms again. I get whiffs of dried rose petals, combined with a pleasant minty nuance coming from patchouli. This makes for a sweetened and a slightly cooling finish, which is more than welcome after such an astonishing wearing exprience.
When it comes to performance, I'm a bearer of bad news. It lasts for 6-7 hours on my skin with soft projection (except for the spice explosion). Moreover, Delhi isn't versatile or easy to wear. That said, the amount of unique stages it goes through during its short lifespan is remarkable. As such, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys culinary perfumes.
4 Comments
Leather and violets
Animalic, unwearable. You can't even mention Cuoium without hearing these adjectives. Admittedly, this isn't an entry-level leather perfume, and I can't deny its pungency either. However, it's complex and well-blended, with multiple facets complementing each other. And - believe it or not - there's some sweetness to it.
It opens with an oily, gasoline-like leather, softened by a gorgeous violet accord. It's a bit powdery and smells like a crossover between lychee, raspberry and rose. While it isn't as sweet as Ombré Leather or as fruity as London, Gualtieri surely acknowledged the giants. Tuscan Leather's ashy undertone can be detected too.
Let's focus on the main star: leather. The leathery feeling is created by combining cade oil and labdanum, which can be off-putting to some. It's earthy and smoky, but also resinous, medicinal and musky. There's a dry woodiness to it, creating a charming contrast between smouldering woods and balsamic amber in the drydown.
Performance is remarkable - it's Orto Parisi after all. It lasts throughout the day, with loud projection for several hours. Having experience in the animalic and leathery departments certainly helps. It might strike you as chemical warfare initially, but give it time. The subtle nuances will show after more wears - especially the violet.
It opens with an oily, gasoline-like leather, softened by a gorgeous violet accord. It's a bit powdery and smells like a crossover between lychee, raspberry and rose. While it isn't as sweet as Ombré Leather or as fruity as London, Gualtieri surely acknowledged the giants. Tuscan Leather's ashy undertone can be detected too.
Let's focus on the main star: leather. The leathery feeling is created by combining cade oil and labdanum, which can be off-putting to some. It's earthy and smoky, but also resinous, medicinal and musky. There's a dry woodiness to it, creating a charming contrast between smouldering woods and balsamic amber in the drydown.
Performance is remarkable - it's Orto Parisi after all. It lasts throughout the day, with loud projection for several hours. Having experience in the animalic and leathery departments certainly helps. It might strike you as chemical warfare initially, but give it time. The subtle nuances will show after more wears - especially the violet.
4 Comments
No oud, still good
Groove Xcape is a curious creation. It has all the makings of an oriental composition, but doesn't include any oud. As such, spices, resins and musty patchouli are more noticeable, resulting in a creamy-leaning perfume, rather than a dry, woody one. It's not your typical Xerjoff product - more of a crossover between Amouage and Sorcinelli.
The opening is a great blast of cardamom and pepper; somewhere between green, floral and metallic. Spiciness is soon balanced out by a piney frankincense that's more balsamic than smoky. It also has a fresh, citrusy quality. Overall, the scent leans spicy and resinous, with honey-like facets of myrrh and mimosa.
If you're familiar with Karine Vinchon-Spehner's work, you'll notice some similarities with
Memoir Man. There's a herbaceous, slightly medicinal undertone with a faint hint of booze, almost as if artemisia was used. Cedar and labdanum add subtle woodiness, but instead of Sorcinelli's dusty attic, I'm reminded of a musty basement.
I'm particularly fond of the deep drydown, where benzoin's vanillic warmth complements the damp earthiness of patchouli. The result? Somewhat dirty and spicy, yet still pleasant, with some sweetness to boot. I've had my doubts; after all, oud is a quintessential part of oriental blends. That said, it works, and allows me to enjoy different nuances.
Somehow, the fragrance doesn't commit to either schtick - Amouage or Sorcinelli. We get the best of both worlds - meditative incense and long-lasting resins. Don't be discouraged by the rating and give this one a shot if you enjoy Middle Eastern perfumery.
The opening is a great blast of cardamom and pepper; somewhere between green, floral and metallic. Spiciness is soon balanced out by a piney frankincense that's more balsamic than smoky. It also has a fresh, citrusy quality. Overall, the scent leans spicy and resinous, with honey-like facets of myrrh and mimosa.
If you're familiar with Karine Vinchon-Spehner's work, you'll notice some similarities with
Memoir Man. There's a herbaceous, slightly medicinal undertone with a faint hint of booze, almost as if artemisia was used. Cedar and labdanum add subtle woodiness, but instead of Sorcinelli's dusty attic, I'm reminded of a musty basement.I'm particularly fond of the deep drydown, where benzoin's vanillic warmth complements the damp earthiness of patchouli. The result? Somewhat dirty and spicy, yet still pleasant, with some sweetness to boot. I've had my doubts; after all, oud is a quintessential part of oriental blends. That said, it works, and allows me to enjoy different nuances.
Somehow, the fragrance doesn't commit to either schtick - Amouage or Sorcinelli. We get the best of both worlds - meditative incense and long-lasting resins. Don't be discouraged by the rating and give this one a shot if you enjoy Middle Eastern perfumery.
2 Comments
Grandma, is that you?
It's rare for a modern-day release to capture the essence of vintage fragrances. Doraphilia is bold, transportive and should be considered as a tribute to the golden age of perfumery. Miguel Matos went out of his way to make sure it smells oldschool.
Don't expect a typical leather perfume. In fact, all of the aspects you would associate with women's leather goods - be it leather handbags, jackets or pants - play an important role. Soapy aldehydes, powdery florals, an absurd amount of civet... at times, it really feels like sifting through your grandmother's closet.
While aldehydes manage to sparkle some brightness, the scent is civet-forward and pissy. This gradually recedes into a pleasant, musky, warm undertone, but the opening isn't for the faint of heart. That said, the lush flower bouquet is even more intense. It manages to smell both dated and incredibly beautiful.
Other than powderiness, narcissus and lilac bring green, indolic nuances. Add a honey-like mimosa and a musty, spicy patchouli to the mix and you're in for a wild ride. There's a soft, but present leathery undertone, accompanied by earthy, furry and mossy facets, making it perfectly wearable for the male population.
Doraphilia lives up to its name and pays a kinky homage to fur, leather and chypres. If you aren't familiar with Miguel's products, go easy on the trigger. Somehow, it fills a room and lingers in the air, sticks to clothes like glue and curses you with a pissy, floral aura.
Don't expect a typical leather perfume. In fact, all of the aspects you would associate with women's leather goods - be it leather handbags, jackets or pants - play an important role. Soapy aldehydes, powdery florals, an absurd amount of civet... at times, it really feels like sifting through your grandmother's closet.
While aldehydes manage to sparkle some brightness, the scent is civet-forward and pissy. This gradually recedes into a pleasant, musky, warm undertone, but the opening isn't for the faint of heart. That said, the lush flower bouquet is even more intense. It manages to smell both dated and incredibly beautiful.
Other than powderiness, narcissus and lilac bring green, indolic nuances. Add a honey-like mimosa and a musty, spicy patchouli to the mix and you're in for a wild ride. There's a soft, but present leathery undertone, accompanied by earthy, furry and mossy facets, making it perfectly wearable for the male population.
Doraphilia lives up to its name and pays a kinky homage to fur, leather and chypres. If you aren't familiar with Miguel's products, go easy on the trigger. Somehow, it fills a room and lingers in the air, sticks to clothes like glue and curses you with a pissy, floral aura.
