Tylerss20
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Earthy Fougere in Winter
Patchouli is a note that took me a long time to come around on. Exploring and sampling many different houses, patchouli-centric releases were always a little too dominating for me. But Patchouli Intense from Nicolai truly was a gateway drug for me appreciating the note fully, and since then I've gone on to love deeper, richer and funkier patchouli scents.
Patchouli Intense's trick is that this does not come across as dessert-like, musky, or particularly dank as many patchouli scents do. While there is undoubtedly a forest floor earthy quality to the fragrance, the presence of the geranium and lavender keep this relatively clean. In fact, the geranium is more the star of the show through the opening and heart of the fragrance, and it creates an icy effect that evokes a wintry frost over the top of fallen leaves. Think of taking a walk in woods in early winter, before the deep snow has set in. The longest night of the year is close and early mornings are covered in tendrils of frost, but there is still a little bit of autumn in the earthy aromas of the forest floor hanging on before winter locks them away. And the incense gives just a hint of distant wood smoke.
Amber, sandalwood and vanilla are listed in the base notes, but they do not turn the fragrance sweet or creamy in the drydown. If anything they are there just to round off the edges of the fragrance and keep it from being bone-dry and bitter. By modern standards, Patchouli Intense is not at all sweet, and is closer in profile to classic woody aromatic fragrances from last century. I get moderate projection and excellent longevity from Patchouli Intense, and I think this can comfortably be worn as a three season fragrance, excluding only summer.
Patchouli Intense's trick is that this does not come across as dessert-like, musky, or particularly dank as many patchouli scents do. While there is undoubtedly a forest floor earthy quality to the fragrance, the presence of the geranium and lavender keep this relatively clean. In fact, the geranium is more the star of the show through the opening and heart of the fragrance, and it creates an icy effect that evokes a wintry frost over the top of fallen leaves. Think of taking a walk in woods in early winter, before the deep snow has set in. The longest night of the year is close and early mornings are covered in tendrils of frost, but there is still a little bit of autumn in the earthy aromas of the forest floor hanging on before winter locks them away. And the incense gives just a hint of distant wood smoke.
Amber, sandalwood and vanilla are listed in the base notes, but they do not turn the fragrance sweet or creamy in the drydown. If anything they are there just to round off the edges of the fragrance and keep it from being bone-dry and bitter. By modern standards, Patchouli Intense is not at all sweet, and is closer in profile to classic woody aromatic fragrances from last century. I get moderate projection and excellent longevity from Patchouli Intense, and I think this can comfortably be worn as a three season fragrance, excluding only summer.
Uplifting, green/woody fig with limited longevity
This is so nearly full-bottle worthy for me. Ichnusa is not a juicy and sweet fig fragrance. Rather, this zingy green scent has a much more savory and woody/grassy character.
Quite linear, what you get in the first 10-15 minutes is pretty much what you get throughout the life of the fragrance. For this first couple of hours, this summer leaning beauty really shines. But for the prices that the Profumum Roma fragrances run, I have to say the longevity disappoints.
For two hours, I get good push and it's very noticeable in the air. Hours 3-5, it's fairly quiet but I do pick up traces. Hour 6+ it is quite faint and barely a skin scent. Longevity is my one issue, I love the composition, and if it were in the $100-150 range, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat. Definitely worth sampling.
Quite linear, what you get in the first 10-15 minutes is pretty much what you get throughout the life of the fragrance. For this first couple of hours, this summer leaning beauty really shines. But for the prices that the Profumum Roma fragrances run, I have to say the longevity disappoints.
For two hours, I get good push and it's very noticeable in the air. Hours 3-5, it's fairly quiet but I do pick up traces. Hour 6+ it is quite faint and barely a skin scent. Longevity is my one issue, I love the composition, and if it were in the $100-150 range, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat. Definitely worth sampling.
Forever in our hearts, forever a classic
This masterwork, sadly not available anymore, will forever be among the very best cool-weather evening scents I've ever smelled.
Blackcurrant is the star of the show, particularly in the opening. This is a dense fruity-spicy top in the fragrance. While it is a classic masculine scent, I feel like it could be almost a unisex option. There's no aggression in the spices, though the star anise really warms and sparkles in the development. As it dries down, the tolu balsam amber and vanilla develop more. Once it's been on your skin for a couple hours you really notice the difference between it and EDT. While the EDT fizzles out relatively quickly, the EDP doesn't back down. I couldn't call it monstrous performance but the EDP gives me at least 4 hours of strong projection, and another 4-6 hours of mild projection.
This fragrance isn't the easiest to pull off in all settings, it's not one I want as an office/school fragrance. And even in more intimate circumstances, you need some confidence to wear the strong blackcurrant note and spices this brings. But this is a Mount Rushmore fragrance for me on date nights and special occasions. I count myself lucky to have a half full bottle and a sealed second bottle, they will be treasured.
Blackcurrant is the star of the show, particularly in the opening. This is a dense fruity-spicy top in the fragrance. While it is a classic masculine scent, I feel like it could be almost a unisex option. There's no aggression in the spices, though the star anise really warms and sparkles in the development. As it dries down, the tolu balsam amber and vanilla develop more. Once it's been on your skin for a couple hours you really notice the difference between it and EDT. While the EDT fizzles out relatively quickly, the EDP doesn't back down. I couldn't call it monstrous performance but the EDP gives me at least 4 hours of strong projection, and another 4-6 hours of mild projection.
This fragrance isn't the easiest to pull off in all settings, it's not one I want as an office/school fragrance. And even in more intimate circumstances, you need some confidence to wear the strong blackcurrant note and spices this brings. But this is a Mount Rushmore fragrance for me on date nights and special occasions. I count myself lucky to have a half full bottle and a sealed second bottle, they will be treasured.
Modern aquatic with Aventus splash
I'm surprised to see this fragrance rated as mediocre as it is. As one who doesn't go in for aquatic scents very often, this one really surprised me and has become a hot weather favorite.
At its core you won't find anything that breaks the mold. There have been oodles of designer aquatic fragrances over the last two decades. What I enjoy most about this fragrance is a really juicy, mouthwatering bouquet of citruses and other fruits particularly in the opening. Loewe pushed all their chips in on a lovely, lively blend of tropical goodness here. The pineapple and black current lend a tangy complex fruitiness. It never goes really sweet, but the black currant and tangerine have a hard candy quality.
The drydown introduces some marine minerality to the fragrance, and it settles close to the skin. The sandalwood and musk are not the stars of the show, but they do smooth the fragrance out a little and this never becomes harsh.
I don't mean to mislead by comparing this to Aventus. There are none of the smoky tar and leather darkness that the Creed flagship has in its drydown. But as far as the opening goes, that bright fruity zing may be reminiscent of the livelier qualities that Aventus has.
At its core you won't find anything that breaks the mold. There have been oodles of designer aquatic fragrances over the last two decades. What I enjoy most about this fragrance is a really juicy, mouthwatering bouquet of citruses and other fruits particularly in the opening. Loewe pushed all their chips in on a lovely, lively blend of tropical goodness here. The pineapple and black current lend a tangy complex fruitiness. It never goes really sweet, but the black currant and tangerine have a hard candy quality.
The drydown introduces some marine minerality to the fragrance, and it settles close to the skin. The sandalwood and musk are not the stars of the show, but they do smooth the fragrance out a little and this never becomes harsh.
I don't mean to mislead by comparing this to Aventus. There are none of the smoky tar and leather darkness that the Creed flagship has in its drydown. But as far as the opening goes, that bright fruity zing may be reminiscent of the livelier qualities that Aventus has.
