GalbanumLeaf

Rosa rugosa, native to Eastern Asia, is a flowering shrub thriving along coastal roadsides and in the dunes of the eastern Atlantic.

The rose is fresh, delicate, and translucent, (in contrast to another green rose like Initio’s Atomic Rose), floating in sea breeze. The green has a hint of algae, buoyed with mild, sweet bergamot and lemon. Muscone and salt combine to remind me of the salt cleansed skin after an ocean swim.

The longevity is decent compared with some other D.S.&Durga fragrances, and the intimate sillage can be boosted by a few extra sprays.

Coriander captures the experience of late summer in Mediterranean zone California. Think of the hard perennial green of scrub brush and dry grasse in a sandy microclimate. Spices and geranium bring hot dry warmth of vegetation drying under sun. The herbs not savory as Debaser, but bracing, especially in the opening. Clary sage and flower notes enliven the aridness of ISO-E-Super. (The clove is not dominant unlike many ‘oriental’ scents.) Marketed as a men’s cologne, this is a unisex fragrance and will appeal to women who appreciate a scratchy green.

Sillage is intimate, and the longevity is better than much of this house’s offerings.

A freshie with a twist, in contrast with my beloved tea and fig scents such as Nishane Wūlóng Chá.

If you like green notes, give it a try. Next to my favorite green of all, galbanum or a well played bergamot, this is my new favorite green.

At first, I found this repugnant. (I had a decant.) As a relative newbie, I came to fragrance through florals like J’Adore and Gucci Bloom. But I’ve learned ‘to get’ leather. First I acquired Babycat. However, I prefer Cherry Punk. The leather is robust and almost smokey. The cherry is mellow and yet stands up to the leather. Reminds me of my old club days of warm leather jackets worn indoors, and cigarette smoke in the air. That said, any smoke in Cherry Punk is dialed down low, supporting the leather and cherry. Now I love this fragrance.

Edited to add, I seem to be getting less smoke than most reviewers, so just an fyi. I don’t like smoke as a rule; maybe the smoke is balanced so nicely with the cherry and leather. It’s certainly not an incense smoke. I can’t speak to the Cherry Punk edp which includes patchouli. For a leather scent, the Extrait feels brighter.

I’m picking up more of the cold petrichor and clean, wet soil. As someone who lives in a Mediterranean climate, Im a big fan of petrichor. The florals are cold and crisp like lilies laid upon a grave against a granite tombstone. The notes work together to give a realistic portrayal for anyone who has attended a funeral. A fleeting fragrance, I get four hours max, with a strong, cool floral finish. My son says it smells like dirt, but for me, this is in the best possible way.

If you like tea, this delivers, and the fig shines through. Despite the the three citruses in the notes, they don't hit me in the face. The orange softens the bergamot, and they're expertly blended to create a fresh green, and compliment the rather realistic tea note. (Tea and fig together are divine.)

The longevity could be better, and although I prize longevity (not 'beast mode'), I love this so much that I purchased a full bottle (on sale at Venba). I'll decant into an atomizer for when I have a long day. While Wulong Chá X has better longevity, the fresh tea note is a bit muddled as is the fig.

My current favorite. Since I live in a mediterranean climate, this is a three season wear or anytime I need a pick me up. If you experience a dark, cold winter, the X flanker might be the way to go. Just don't expect as much green tea and fig.