Razastan

I’ve only found two-three other perfumes that instantly resonated with me. This is the latest one (and I think with the strongest connection). It just feels like this is the way I’m supposed to smell: sand and skin of the most ethereal kind.
It’s not a gourmand, but it is related to it. Not at all a sunscreen scent to me. If it is, it’s the sunscreen of the gods.
Nice dewy floral clean first hit. Crisp tropical feeling thereafter. Not surprising reading the top notes - matching both Lysylang nd Mahonial. Ylang, but not too fruity. Then a resinous wonderful sensual drydown. Labdanum with just a skin like leather touch. Benzoin tandems with the mature and dark sweetness of ”natural” vanilla but also adds a nice balsamic background.
In between a smidge of peppery cedar, lightly smoky amyris and herbal earthy patchouli. Sandel adds creaminess in the classic way.
Sand and skin is very on point.
It’s actually perfect. Contemplative. Calm. Inviting but with integrity. Goes both in the headscape of beach warmth and desert warmth. More of a desert island.
I’m imagining both an ambery mist as well as embers. Stays a long time, doesn’t overpower your surroundings. It’s actually my most complemented perfume, just within two weeks of buying it. Very rarely someone makes a comment, but this one garnishes praise by not being too loud or too sweet - but still has a strong presence.

I’ve never looked twice att Floraïku: the concept of the French appropriating the Japanese culture just felt…a bit cynical. But a seller promptly told me to try this one. And boy I’m glad he did. It is expensive (I found the 50 ml and travel set for 200 €) but both the packaging and bottle(s) are great. Not perfect - a bit plasticky - but great.
Bought the discovery set as well, but haven’t found anything else on the same level. But will keep an eye out for others from the brand.

Summarized: a perfect 10/10 for me. Only Amouages Myths Man and Liquides Imaginaires Fleuve Tendre rivals it in the top. Maybe Houbigants Ambre Des Abysses and Widians Sahara as well. But they are of a different kind. Oh! And Bvlgaris Kobraa of course. But I’m almost at if I only could keep one perfume, it would be this one.
Recommended? Absolutely! But try first. I’m guessing the perfect smell and excellent performance (smell it on me the next day) is a result of great compatibility with my skin

Major players in this is for me the iris and the smoke. Both of them are present throughout all the stages, in different forms. The smoke starts destructive but ends uplifting. The iris comforts and mutes the intense opening and later on reanimates the floral parts.
The most interesting transformation is that from dark to bright and from dry to resinous.
Even though the changing aspects, the notes are somewhat present from start to end, and that is what makes this really good. A bit of an odd man out is the elemi in the start that is very citric but then moves to its more balsamic version.
Oh, and the chrysanthemums shift from bright floral to something almost closing in on immortelle in the first 30 minutes is exciting!

Or a more vivid description:
It's a smoky hangover journey from a urinal cake in Deaths cellar bathroom to a slow walk through a healing forest.
What's with this damp paper bag full of flower ashes? And what’s with that vague memory of a lipstick laden kiss while rolling in the dirt next to the fire?
What the hell? The sun just set and now it’s past sunrise?
Whos leather jacket am I wearing by the way?
But you know what? This could be THE day…when man become myth.

Needless to say: this is one of my all time favorites. Bought it early on in my fragrance journey. Sold it because it was to…weird. Bought it again ridiculously overpriced. Will cherish my 100 ml forever now.

Very fresh start, definitely mandarin and a substantial dose of pink pepper catapults a tingling citrus bomb around you.
It calms down after 5 minutes but maintains a strong projection for another 30.
I can sense the amber base almost instantly and it slow dances with the orange blossom to give the start a sweetness as well. But I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a pinch of maltol in it also. It’s definitely a good portion of Cetalox or Ambrocenide in there (I’m leaning towards Cetalox due to the soapyness and clean aspect - the dryness could be the cedar and/or vetiver).
Gets dryer and more ambery as time goes by. Starts to mellow down quite a lot.
What I do like about this one is the mandarin-orange blossom-pink pepper. Something…mossy or maybe cistus would’ve made it more interesting in the dry down?
But it is crowdpleasing and smells very nice. Very versatile in spring/summer (but would absolutely work as a ”freshie” in the colder seasons as well because of the amberwoods).
Second wearing I get straight up more of the synthetic amberwood. And almost something ”blue”. Kind of get the Sauvage/Bleu connections a few have mentioned…but just kind of.
Not at all as nice when the floral aspects are missing?
Not quite sure of this one… But for now it’s a keeper for when crowdpleasing is my mood of the day.
Thrifted an almost full bottle for 120€ - would not buy at full price.

Pear (crisp, synthetic). Orange blossom (airy courtesy of pink pepper). Palo santo (that weird dry, smoky creaminess). Bright and calm. Cold rose and soft patchouli in the background.
Cistus adds an amber roundness. Moss? Not to me.
It’s borderline to creamy for me (palo santo and sandalwood) but it balances it well with the tartness.
The rose is very present from the start. A candied but not too sweet one.
This is somewhat in the same ballpark as Victoria Beckhams San Ysidro Drive and Miller Harris’ Scherzo? I’m really fond of that profile or accord they share, but can’t quite wrap my head around exactly what that profile is? It is a bit artificial and reminds me of the 00:s. It has to be something with the rose note…and orange blossom? It’s a bit ambivalent in its core.
Any way, this tickles my fancy and I’m really enjoying this one even though I’m having a hard time describing it!
Unisex but might be leaning a bit towards feminine (I usually never care about that).
As for calling it the Ritual: rather than putting me in a transcendent mellow mood, it energizes me. Much more upbeat than meditative.
Oh. And this one - opposed to my other two Alexmonharts - has excellent longevity and a quite respectful presence. The only one that I feel can at least almost justify the price based on both scent and performance.
But it is a definite try before you buy.
All the Alexmonhart I’ve tried has had very pleasantly surprising sprayers - it really adds to the quality feel of the bottle (which otherwise feels just…ok with the plastic cap).

Fresh spray: A quit warm green aspect together with what has to be cardamom and maybe cloves (after a few minutes). Feels a bit like someone baked a cookie in the compost. In a nice way. Almost a menthol touch in the start? Turns more fresh and dry after the cardamom settles and herbal lavender tags in. Papyrus probably dries it out too, but I have a hard time identifying papyrus. Cool floral aspect: like a potpourri of pleasant, dry floral scents and I think I smell the synthetic ambergris-saltiness deep down. Dry vetiver slowly makes it way to the surface. Fortunately the sandalwood (probably javanol since it’s quite ”clean” and linear) doesn’t mute it or makes it too creamy.
Longevity is…not ok compared to price. But projects for just under an hour, sillage for about 4 max. Then a skin scent. But it is a nice skin scent…I think the (probably artificial) ambergris with vetiver and floral remnants make it quite unique. And the start is very good until the short lived grapefruit leaves.
Oh, the sprayer is very good by the way. Really lifts the bottle experience.
So all in all a very nice and versatile scent, but too weak for the price.