KoLeAl

Every scent triggers something.
Whether positive or negative.
Or a bit of both,
or a bit of neither, associations, emotions, and thoughts.
Every scent triggers something.
I thought.
This one triggers nothing. Evokes nothing.
A disturbing emptiness in head and mind.
I have no thoughts, no associations, no emotions.
It’s as if I’m looking straight through it. As if the scent isn’t there at all, but it is, like a black hole somewhere in the night sky. It’s not scent blindness. Perhaps an inner numbness.
I smell it, I smell the notes, so intertwined that I actually don’t smell any notes, only leather, labdanum, tobacco, and cherry I think I can recognize. It transforms a lot, I smell that it is warm and always remains so, but the warmth doesn’t penetrate to me. At all times it maintains this distance from me.
With empty eyes, it looks at me.
All I feel, if it can even be felt, is this sobering distance.
No colors, no liveliness.
As if it were dead.
Or am I the dead one?

Unknown Pleasures is a gourmand-sweet-citrusy fragrance that melts in your mouth.
Upon spraying, I am immediately surrounded by desserts: lemon cake, lemon pudding, fresh waffles, lemon soufflé, etc.
A worthy competitor to Casamorati Lira, in my eyes even the winner. This one is sweet too, but without the slight cardboardiness of Lira.
The lemon is more distinct and brighter; truly one of my favorite interpretations of lemon so far. Additionally, I get a certain lightness that makes it wearable for me even outside the cold seasons.
The progression is quite simple, as not much happens. Over time, a veil of vanilla envelops the fragrance, making it a bit softer. Surprisingly, the lemon never fades and remains faithfully reminiscent of lemon cake.
As for longevity, it should last throughout the day. I could still perceive it on my wrist after about 18 hours.

While Unknown Pleasures does not receive enthusiasm in every
review, thankfully our perceptions are not all the same :)

Therefore, a test recommendation from me!

After I found great pleasure in Ambre Tabac, I had to know what else Daniel Josier has in store. So, I ordered a sample of Kaleidoscope. Here follows my first attempt at a review:

I spray it on and am suddenly surrounded by fresh mint, eucalyptus oil, and a faint trace of church candles. It enchants me. It refreshes and warms the soul at the same time. I forget everything around me and feel safe. Positive associations rooted in my childhood are awakened. The eucalyptus and mint freshness found here remind me only of a balm that warmed me so often during colds as a child. Whenever I smelled that scent, I knew: I would be cared for with special love, and soon there would be fresh chicken soup ;)

The subtle, sweet-waxy scent of church candles rounds everything off and refines the composition.
Oh, if only I could pause here...
Now, unfortunately, it goes downhill.

I am confronted with the unpleasant truth: mint and eucalyptus were only the top notes. Suddenly, I am jolted awake from my daydream, back into reality. Under these top notes cleverly hides an entire church.
I should have already run when the harbingers of this nightmare brushed against me.
Now there is no escape. I look to the left: church candles. To the right: church candles. In front of me, church candles are piled high up to the ceilings of the hall. Slowly, a fog of incense spreads and obscures my vision, but its scent stands no chance against the melting candle wax. The pastor spots me in my complete disorientation, runs giggling towards me, and sticks two church candles up my nose.

In short: church candles and a hint of incense. Since none of this is listed in the fragrance pyramid, I suspect it is the oud that I personally perceive. The scent is by no means too strong or intrusive, even though one might gather that from my description. I was simply overwhelmed, as the candles appeared so suddenly and unexpectedly. Now that I am prepared for it, it’s actually quite good, but still not necessarily something for me.

Since the fragrance descriptions here differ somewhat, I would recommend testing Kaleidoscope for yourself.