Splitter

I find both the brand and especially this fragrance to be somewhat overlooked, and I would like to elaborate a bit more to make the truly brilliant visions from Aether visible to some.

It was a pleasant December day when I spontaneously entered the perfumery, wanting to be surprised. Until then, I had never heard of Aether, and the concept intrigued me. So here we have high-quality compositions based on pure synthetics. With many big brands, synthetics are often used to reduce costs. I took Carboneum with me, and even the packaging principle has its charm. There is a very minimalist bottle with a metallic cap, wrapped in black foam that opens like a book but allows a glimpse of the bottle from the front and back. All of this is wrapped in black cardboard.

So, what is CARBONEUM?
In my opinion, the familiar terms are not enough for this fragrance. It is somewhat citrusy, somewhat fresh, somewhat woody, and clearly synthetic. But above all, it is the following:
Cold, clean, mineral, metallic.
It evokes images in the mind yet is hard to grasp. It makes the wearer somehow mysterious but also very interesting.

Now I will try to break down what fascinates me about this Aether fragrance, or how this scent is for me. And I do not want to rely on the marketing text.
CARBONEUM is that futuristic city that Blade Runner brought to the screen in the early 80s. It is cold steel, dry asphalt, nighttime freshness, and clean, empty alleys in a bustling megacity during the day. It is the wreck on the beach that has just washed ashore, raising more questions than answers, and it is the pleasant feeling of letting in the clean air after a storm on the top floor of a skyscraper.
It is cyborg, jetpack, time machine. Somewhat dystopian cyberpunk yet thoroughly aesthetic in a positive sense.
Carboneum is, for me, the most interesting and complex fragrance from Aether in round bottles.
But it is also not overpowering. The sillage is quite close, the intensity leaves something to be desired, yet the longevity of 8-10 hours is certainly acceptable.

For which character is this fragrance, in my opinion?
I think I am not sticking my neck out when I claim that it is certainly not for the average Douglas customer. It must also be clear that there is nothing warm to be found in Carboneum; the omnipresent coolness is not perceived like mint, menthol, or citrus fruits.
Yes, one must be adventurous to dare to try Aether and accept that the notes in them have little or nothing to do with naturally occurring fragrance materials. Corduroy pants and a blazer probably do not fit well with it. But if you dare and have the opportunity, in my opinion, you must definitely try Carboneum at least once.

A fragrance that bursts in through the door and makes itself comfortable. Specifically on a slightly rainy autumn afternoon.

You just took a cozy walk, watching the leaves fall. The ground was dry, and the air was filled with spices. It must have been a city park, and somewhere around the corner, someone was seemingly selling waffles and spiced tea.
But slowly the sun began to set, and you headed back home. Upon arrival, the oven was loaded with wood, and a warming fire was lit.
Outside, it suddenly started to rain lightly, yet unpleasantly, and just as suddenly, there was a loud knock at the front door. There he is. Sam. Bringing the stirred-up dry, warm spice from outside and apologizing for his unannounced visit. However, Sam seems to be an old friend. A bit rushed too, as cumin and pepper stir up against the autumnal calm. From under his coat, he pulls out warm waffles. They fill the room with a sweet cinnamon-spice aroma and smoothly transition into the cozy living room, where a delightful fire radiates warmth.
You sit together comfortably, enjoying the delicate waffles and the company on this slightly rainy evening.

Even though Sam is described quite restlessly in the story of the portraits, he comes across as a sensitive gentleman. One need not say anything about the elegance of the bottles.
Gender of the wearer? Doesn't matter.
Occasion? Actually, always.
Haven't tried it yet? Then it's about time.

After a long time as a silent observer, it is finally time for my first comment. I saved this one especially for this exceptional fragrance.
Rhinoceros was my first Zoologist and a blind purchase based solely on the description and notes. And it sparked my great interest in this brand. Of course, the individual animals and their habitats are sometimes hard to define, and even harder to conjure realistic images in one’s mind. But I don’t want to dwell on that.

Let’s talk about the rhinoceros.
I wear perfume on my arms and confidently apply two sprays each. Then it approaches, the lumbering creature. Powerfully recognizable, the almost piercing note of rum, paired with the citrus note of bergamot, is so intense that it takes my breath away. But not in a fit of disgust or any other negative feelings, rather in awe and with anticipation of what is to come.

Yes, I know what I’m doing.
Hardly has the first breeze passed, an olfactory symbiosis begins that is inconspicuous yet impossible to overlook. The scent dries on me and in the room. It remains heavy and grounded. Like a rasp, tobacco, oud, and coniferous wood float through the air, equally agile, and know how to please. Now and then, it seems that in the theatricality of the rhinoceros in the savannah, a wind blows that stirs up smoky dust. Not too strong to cover everything, yet strong enough to be clearly present. The leather note from the base is also always present and resonates for hours.
This symbiosis lasts a relaxed 8-10 hours, during which the scent slowly becomes drier until the rhinoceros seemingly lies down to sleep and only the base remains. Dry, dusty sand, smoky breath, great thick-skinned creature.

Yes, I can understand that this composition is not to everyone’s taste. But attributing its heaviness and complexity - not in terms of phases, but components - to an older audience, I cannot comprehend at the age of 29. Rhinoceros is a scent for bold individuals who either rely on a flamboyant presence followed by a calm demeanor, or enjoy experimenting with how well-known components can be newly combined. It is for the adventurous and those who are not deterred by dusty, dry scents. Because what Rhinoceros does, it does right. It is by no means soft, smooth, and rounded, but skillfully plays with its edges that cannot be worn down, yet do not clash everywhere. In short: I like this exceptional fragrance.

Perhaps it is indeed a scent that one either loves or hates, one that does not come across indifferently.
But one thing Rhinoceros has taught me: Sometimes a blind purchase is the best decision you can make.