Dannyboy

Tea - why not. Dark green, somewhat watery, but quite aromatic with subtle smokiness, lightly sweetened. This impression persists, but fades increasingly as one approaches the base in the angular Durbano style. And this often has to do with Iso E Super, resins, and other fine things - as is the case here. It really is a fading, the fragrance development does not follow the classic three-step.

An interesting and beautiful scent that approaches the theme of tea in a somewhat different way. But otherwise, it probably wouldn't have fit into the Durbano lineup. However, this does leave me a bit perplexed after getting to know a few from it. There is a lot of shadow alongside the light. I seem to recall reading that Mr. Durbano is not the perfumer of these fragrances. Some perfumer from Grasse was supposed to be the one, if I remember correctly - perhaps someone can shed light on this. I would be quite interested.

In any case, I count Jade among the successful ones and can only recommend it to tea connoisseurs and enthusiasts. Perhaps even a bit more to the connoisseurs and enthusiasts.

Tested without knowledge of the fragrance pyramid, my credo was: a successful scent for those who like tobacco, but often find this note too sweet and dense. Well - no tobacco? No matter, I couldn't differentiate the listed notes anyway. Tobacco scents are often spicy. Softly rounded as well. Just like when combined with woods or resins. It's no different here. But - I suspect with plenty of Iso E Super among other things - an effect is achieved here that, alongside the "stone," the mineral aspect, also brings some air. Additionally, the fragrance remains relatively dry in the base despite all its softness and performs remarkably well even in very warm temperatures.

Even if it might not be tobacco and the whole thing smells far less like a niche experiment than one might justifiably suspect: my thumb is up. I can relate to this more than to a desperate attempt at being special (a.k.a. gimmickry). However, the scent does not reach the class of Black Tourmaline, but it feels rounder and more homogeneous to me than other Durbanos and should make for a good all-rounder.

Top: Clover, fabric softener (oral)

Heart: Light dizziness, urinous-animalic honey

Base: A hint of Gualtieri myrrh - unease - knockout

Clover à la Epinette, which can also be found in his Trèfle Pur, brings no luck here: Adoxal, highly dosed, is not for the faint-hearted. And in combination with the "honey," it’s somewhere between a gangbang in a rubber cell and fabric softener boarding. Or, to put it a bit more moderately - the white slip with the yellow stain, see below. But for those who enjoy Kouros and are looking for a worthy modern substitute: here you go.

The crux is (and that's why I'll keep it brief and won't dwell on it too much): somehow it still has something...

In short: Déclaration Bleu Noir.

A flanker, a really good one. It just doesn’t say Cartier on it. The typical Déclaration top note may be a bit fruitier, or less spicy than the original, but that’s where the differences end in this regard. What they have managed really well - there would be reason for joy at Cartier if they had come up with this themselves - is the rest. I find "Bleu Noir" quite fitting and somehow associate it with the deep sea due to this very musky base. I can't really pick out anything more specific. Really good, but it’s all just so unoriginal.

Funny side note (and the only real Aha moment for me): Bleu Noir has a truly fantastic longevity, the base really sinks into skin and hair and everything. By chance, Bleu Noir once encountered a similarly potent scent (-rest), namely Bois d'Ascèse. And the two together really smelled like Aventus - no joke! Go figure...

At Profvmvm Roma, one already knows why there's no effort made to give Patchouli a pyramid. It’s all about Patchouli. The way it is exemplarily expressed here in all its pleasant facets would be difficult to convey with a pyramid anyway. The price does a better job of that. From minty camphor notes to spicy-earthy sharpness to bittersweet chocolate, everything is represented except for the dreaded damp cellar. On a smooth vanilla base, which surprisingly corresponds quite closely to that of Ambra Aurea. And all of this is truly at an absolutely high level. You can't get more than this, only different.

The scent really sparks enthusiasm, as long as you’re not allergic to Patchouli. And that’s how it was for me, I was enchanted. But... there is a but. A significant one. And that is simply the strength of the fragrance. Not necessarily while wearing it, but rather when you eventually no longer want to wear the scent. Because at some point, it just becomes annoying. There’s no other way around it, and I would feel the same way with any other fragrance. And even when you’ve painstakingly removed Patchouli from your skin - not an easy task, you quickly realize that Patchouli has spread itself not just there: textiles of all kinds, from the sofa to the pillow and practically everything that has come into even slight contact with it throughout the day, still smells of it for days. Well intended, Profvumvm Roma, and I have not the slightest doubt about the high concentration of perfume oils in the fragrance, but this is a bit too much of a good thing.

Nevertheless: A fantastic scent, the purest Patchouli nirvana. A monument to and a bow before Patchouli itself, and I congratulate anyone who can handle the sheer power of this fundamentally good-natured and cozy fragrance.