xtermn8
Reviews
Filter & Sort
Detailed
Actually really nice suede!
Personal: 8/10 – It’s wearable, soft, smooth, and realistic. I enjoy it!
Mass appeal: 7.5/10 – Leather/suede is divisive, but this one is gentler and creamier than most, so more people will tolerate it.
Performance: 7/10 - It's pretty quiet for suede, and that's okay.
Value: 7/10 - One of the best realistic suede expressions. A bit pricey but worth it.
Uniqueness: 6.5/10 – A suede fragrance stripped down to its cleanest form is a bit unique, but this fragrance isn't really groundbreaking.
SCORE: 72/100
Full bottle buy? YES, it just smells like a nice leather belt. A couple sprays is great.
Blind buy? NO, suede isn’t universally safe. Too simple to be a blind buy.
Recommend? YES, if you’re into minimalistic, soft suede without smoke or spice.
Date night? YES, it's soft and gently masculine. Not seductive, but clean.
Office safe? YES, low-key and clean enough to fly under the radar.
Pros: Smooth, soft suede, without the smoky sharpness of most. Very realistic.
Cons: Linear, but that's the point. Suede isn't the most versatile.
Clean Suede is ELDO, but restrained. It's not crazy, weird, or absurdly unique. It's mostly a GOOD expression of elegant simplicity, with a few other notes thrown in to make it wearable and pleasant. It's linear, and just smells like a photorealistic suede with some freshness and vanilla thrown in to keep you intrigued. No weird spices, smokiness, florals, or animalics. Yes, it's wearable, but it is a bit boring. If you want to smell like leather, and don't want something cloying or weird, this is a great option, but if you want something with a lot of personality and luxury depth, this isn't quite it for you.
A soft suede jacket, nothing more. A great expression of simplicty.
Review #78 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
Mass appeal: 7.5/10 – Leather/suede is divisive, but this one is gentler and creamier than most, so more people will tolerate it.
Performance: 7/10 - It's pretty quiet for suede, and that's okay.
Value: 7/10 - One of the best realistic suede expressions. A bit pricey but worth it.
Uniqueness: 6.5/10 – A suede fragrance stripped down to its cleanest form is a bit unique, but this fragrance isn't really groundbreaking.
SCORE: 72/100
Full bottle buy? YES, it just smells like a nice leather belt. A couple sprays is great.
Blind buy? NO, suede isn’t universally safe. Too simple to be a blind buy.
Recommend? YES, if you’re into minimalistic, soft suede without smoke or spice.
Date night? YES, it's soft and gently masculine. Not seductive, but clean.
Office safe? YES, low-key and clean enough to fly under the radar.
Pros: Smooth, soft suede, without the smoky sharpness of most. Very realistic.
Cons: Linear, but that's the point. Suede isn't the most versatile.
Clean Suede is ELDO, but restrained. It's not crazy, weird, or absurdly unique. It's mostly a GOOD expression of elegant simplicity, with a few other notes thrown in to make it wearable and pleasant. It's linear, and just smells like a photorealistic suede with some freshness and vanilla thrown in to keep you intrigued. No weird spices, smokiness, florals, or animalics. Yes, it's wearable, but it is a bit boring. If you want to smell like leather, and don't want something cloying or weird, this is a great option, but if you want something with a lot of personality and luxury depth, this isn't quite it for you.
A soft suede jacket, nothing more. A great expression of simplicty.
Review #78 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
ELDO being weird, as usual
Personal: 6/10 – Funky, spicy, and weird. I don’t hate it, but I couldn't wear it.
Mass appeal: 4/10 – People will not understand this. It’s challenging, divisive, and niche in the extreme. Camphor is NOT a widely enjoyed note.
Performance: 7/10 – Average longevity, but the strange spiciness sticks around more than I’d like.
Value: 5/10 – ELDO’s pricing is fair for indie niche, but you'd need to really like THIS particular kind of unique.
Uniqueness: 9/10 – Strange, experimental, and bold. Smells like incense, camphor, and a dare.
SCORE: 62/100
Full bottle buy? NO, I couldn't wear something this experimental.
Blind buy? NO, way too spicy and green, and camphor isn't familiar to most.
Recommend? YES, if you’re looking for something truly weird, spicy and different.
Date night? NO, unless your date is at an underground art gallery.
Office safe? NO, HR will think you’ve been huffing incense cones.
Pros: Bold, unusual, unapologetically niche. A great “experience” fragrance, but not to own.
Cons: Divisive, too strange and spicy for daily use, and a bit too 'out there'.
Archives 69 is one of those scents that screams Etat Libre d’Orange. It's a fragrance that exists to be boundary-pushing art, rather than something easily wearable. Someone, SOMEONE, could totally pull this off and wear it regularly, but that someone isn't me, and it probably isn't you. Sample it before you buy a bottle of this stuff, cause it's WEIRD. But... it's worth smelling.
It's not in my wearable rotation, but it's one I love to show people who love 'spicy' fragrances and want to explore actual artistic perfumery. A cool party trick, of sorts.
Review #77 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
Mass appeal: 4/10 – People will not understand this. It’s challenging, divisive, and niche in the extreme. Camphor is NOT a widely enjoyed note.
Performance: 7/10 – Average longevity, but the strange spiciness sticks around more than I’d like.
Value: 5/10 – ELDO’s pricing is fair for indie niche, but you'd need to really like THIS particular kind of unique.
Uniqueness: 9/10 – Strange, experimental, and bold. Smells like incense, camphor, and a dare.
SCORE: 62/100
Full bottle buy? NO, I couldn't wear something this experimental.
Blind buy? NO, way too spicy and green, and camphor isn't familiar to most.
Recommend? YES, if you’re looking for something truly weird, spicy and different.
Date night? NO, unless your date is at an underground art gallery.
Office safe? NO, HR will think you’ve been huffing incense cones.
Pros: Bold, unusual, unapologetically niche. A great “experience” fragrance, but not to own.
Cons: Divisive, too strange and spicy for daily use, and a bit too 'out there'.
Archives 69 is one of those scents that screams Etat Libre d’Orange. It's a fragrance that exists to be boundary-pushing art, rather than something easily wearable. Someone, SOMEONE, could totally pull this off and wear it regularly, but that someone isn't me, and it probably isn't you. Sample it before you buy a bottle of this stuff, cause it's WEIRD. But... it's worth smelling.
It's not in my wearable rotation, but it's one I love to show people who love 'spicy' fragrances and want to explore actual artistic perfumery. A cool party trick, of sorts.
Review #77 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
An icon for a reason, but it's not amazing.
Personal: 7.5/10 – I like it, but I don’t love it. Smooth and unique, but not for me.
Mass appeal: 9/10 – People really seem to love this sweet, airy wood vibe.
Performance: 8.5/10 – Beastly. Projects far, lasts forever. Impressive.
Value: 6/10 - The price is painful, but you get what you pay for.
Uniqueness: 9/10 – Say what you want about the hype, but nothing else quite smells like BR540’s airy burnt-sugar-amberwood musky DNA. One of a kind.
SCORE: 80/100
Full bottle buy? NO, I really respect it but I like its clones a bit more, honestly.
Blind buy? NO, it’s too expensive and polarizing. Sample first, or grab a clone.
Recommend? YES, it’s iconic, worth smelling, and it earns its place in perfume history.
Date night? YES, absolutely seductive. Sweet, mysterious, and attention-grabbing.
Office safe? NO, unless you want everyone within 20 feet to know you’re wearing it.
Pros: Great performance, very unique and distinctive DNA. Loved by most.
Cons: Expensive, somewhat overhyped, and it smells a bit metallic and plasticky to some folks.
Baccarat Rouge 540 is a modern fragrance icon for a reason. It's been done so well that dozens of clone brands decided to do it too. It's very sweet, airy, and ambery/woody in a unique way that no other fragrance is. Some pick up cotton candy, some burnt sugar, some deep musks, some metallic/plasticky notes. Love it or hate it, though, it's so iconic that if someone knows fragrances, they can pick this out of a crowd, no problem. I like it enough, but on my skin, the musk plays a bit weird. Nonetheless, I enjoy smelling it, especially on other people. I don't crave wearing it, but I like it when others wear it, and it's great lingering in the air.
BR540 is the king of modern niche hype. It's a performer, iconic yet unique, and very likable. But you get that quality and prestige for a price.
Review #76 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
Mass appeal: 9/10 – People really seem to love this sweet, airy wood vibe.
Performance: 8.5/10 – Beastly. Projects far, lasts forever. Impressive.
Value: 6/10 - The price is painful, but you get what you pay for.
Uniqueness: 9/10 – Say what you want about the hype, but nothing else quite smells like BR540’s airy burnt-sugar-amberwood musky DNA. One of a kind.
SCORE: 80/100
Full bottle buy? NO, I really respect it but I like its clones a bit more, honestly.
Blind buy? NO, it’s too expensive and polarizing. Sample first, or grab a clone.
Recommend? YES, it’s iconic, worth smelling, and it earns its place in perfume history.
Date night? YES, absolutely seductive. Sweet, mysterious, and attention-grabbing.
Office safe? NO, unless you want everyone within 20 feet to know you’re wearing it.
Pros: Great performance, very unique and distinctive DNA. Loved by most.
Cons: Expensive, somewhat overhyped, and it smells a bit metallic and plasticky to some folks.
Baccarat Rouge 540 is a modern fragrance icon for a reason. It's been done so well that dozens of clone brands decided to do it too. It's very sweet, airy, and ambery/woody in a unique way that no other fragrance is. Some pick up cotton candy, some burnt sugar, some deep musks, some metallic/plasticky notes. Love it or hate it, though, it's so iconic that if someone knows fragrances, they can pick this out of a crowd, no problem. I like it enough, but on my skin, the musk plays a bit weird. Nonetheless, I enjoy smelling it, especially on other people. I don't crave wearing it, but I like it when others wear it, and it's great lingering in the air.
BR540 is the king of modern niche hype. It's a performer, iconic yet unique, and very likable. But you get that quality and prestige for a price.
Review #76 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
Memo signature blending, but not my thing.
Personal: 5.5/10 – I respect the quality and depth, but it’s not my kind of fragrance. Way too dark, herbal, and earthy for me to enjoy. And the rose isn't for me.
Mass appeal: 5.5/10 – This isn’t trying to be likable. It’s moody, brooding, and polarizing, with depth that only a specific set of noses will appreciate.
Performance: 8/10 – Strong longevity and projection, as expected from something so resinous and earthy, despite its floral qualities.
Value: 4/10 – The pricing is insane, even if the blending is exquisite. Not worth it unless you LOVE this DNA.
Uniqueness: 9/10 – Very unique execution of dark woods, herbs, and florals. Feels like walking through a ritualistic incense chamber. Nothing compares.
SCORE: 64/100
Full bottle buy? NO, I can’t stand wearing it, but I like occasional whiffs.
Blind buy? NO, it’s way too expensive and polarizing to gamble on. Sample.
Recommend? YES, but only for collectors who want something dark, niche, and VERY moody. Not for everyone.
Date night? NO, unless your date is a vampire.
Office safe? NO, way too heavy and weird for a professional setting.
Pros: Incredibly well blended, high quality, dark, mysterious, artistic. Extremely unique expression of bright notes turned dark.
Cons: Crazy expensive, overly dark and brooding, very niche taste. Worth smelling, not owning.
This is one of those fragrances that’s more about respect than love. I don’t want to wear it, but I understand what it’s doing. The blending is unmatched, and is clearly the quality you would expect from Memo, but it's just too dark and floral and... weird... for me to wear. It almost makes sense as a fragrance, but it has deep twists and turns like a long-lost tunnel that's somehow still filled with ritualistic incense.
A high-art dark niche fragrance. I respect it, but I’ll never wear it.
Review #75 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
Mass appeal: 5.5/10 – This isn’t trying to be likable. It’s moody, brooding, and polarizing, with depth that only a specific set of noses will appreciate.
Performance: 8/10 – Strong longevity and projection, as expected from something so resinous and earthy, despite its floral qualities.
Value: 4/10 – The pricing is insane, even if the blending is exquisite. Not worth it unless you LOVE this DNA.
Uniqueness: 9/10 – Very unique execution of dark woods, herbs, and florals. Feels like walking through a ritualistic incense chamber. Nothing compares.
SCORE: 64/100
Full bottle buy? NO, I can’t stand wearing it, but I like occasional whiffs.
Blind buy? NO, it’s way too expensive and polarizing to gamble on. Sample.
Recommend? YES, but only for collectors who want something dark, niche, and VERY moody. Not for everyone.
Date night? NO, unless your date is a vampire.
Office safe? NO, way too heavy and weird for a professional setting.
Pros: Incredibly well blended, high quality, dark, mysterious, artistic. Extremely unique expression of bright notes turned dark.
Cons: Crazy expensive, overly dark and brooding, very niche taste. Worth smelling, not owning.
This is one of those fragrances that’s more about respect than love. I don’t want to wear it, but I understand what it’s doing. The blending is unmatched, and is clearly the quality you would expect from Memo, but it's just too dark and floral and... weird... for me to wear. It almost makes sense as a fragrance, but it has deep twists and turns like a long-lost tunnel that's somehow still filled with ritualistic incense.
A high-art dark niche fragrance. I respect it, but I’ll never wear it.
Review #75 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
Sweet, caramel gourmand with smoke and spice.
Personal: 6/10 – I like the ambery vanilla vibe, but the soft spice and smoke aren't for me.
Mass appeal: 7/10 – Gourmands are fairly safe, but the pepper and incense aren't for everyone.
Performance: 7/10 - Solid performance but nothing remarkable.
Value: 6/10 – A bit steeply priced, but if you like it you like it.
Uniqueness: 7/10 – Generic, sweet ambery vanilla but the pepper and incense DO set it apart from its competition.
SCORE: 66/100
Full bottle buy? NO, I see the vision, but it isn't for me.
Blind buy? NO, the smoky incense and soft spice aren't for everyone, so sample.
Recommend? YES, if you want a niche version of sweet amber.
Date night? YES, it's cozy and sweet, but dark and mysterious from the incense.
Office safe? NO, too sweet and smoky for tight corridors.
Pros: Smooth caramel with a unique smoky/spicy twist. Great for dates.
Cons: A bit pricy, linear, and mediocre performance. Spice and smoke aren't universally appealing.
Glow is a very interesting take on otherwise normal ambery vanilla. This, to my nose, bears strong resemblance to Luna Rossa Ocean EDP by Prada, but with a smoky and spicy twist. I don't particularly enjoy this fragrance, though I'm not repulsed either. Frankly, I'm just not a fan of the pepper sharpening the top of this fragrance. As it dries, the spiciness wears off and you're left with a generic ambery vanilla base that does bear a LOT of similarity to the aforementioned Prada bottle. It's fine, but I don't think it's particularly worth the niche premium over Prada.
Sweet ambery vanilla, but the distinctly darker cousin to Luna Rossa Ocean EDP.
Review #74 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
Mass appeal: 7/10 – Gourmands are fairly safe, but the pepper and incense aren't for everyone.
Performance: 7/10 - Solid performance but nothing remarkable.
Value: 6/10 – A bit steeply priced, but if you like it you like it.
Uniqueness: 7/10 – Generic, sweet ambery vanilla but the pepper and incense DO set it apart from its competition.
SCORE: 66/100
Full bottle buy? NO, I see the vision, but it isn't for me.
Blind buy? NO, the smoky incense and soft spice aren't for everyone, so sample.
Recommend? YES, if you want a niche version of sweet amber.
Date night? YES, it's cozy and sweet, but dark and mysterious from the incense.
Office safe? NO, too sweet and smoky for tight corridors.
Pros: Smooth caramel with a unique smoky/spicy twist. Great for dates.
Cons: A bit pricy, linear, and mediocre performance. Spice and smoke aren't universally appealing.
Glow is a very interesting take on otherwise normal ambery vanilla. This, to my nose, bears strong resemblance to Luna Rossa Ocean EDP by Prada, but with a smoky and spicy twist. I don't particularly enjoy this fragrance, though I'm not repulsed either. Frankly, I'm just not a fan of the pepper sharpening the top of this fragrance. As it dries, the spiciness wears off and you're left with a generic ambery vanilla base that does bear a LOT of similarity to the aforementioned Prada bottle. It's fine, but I don't think it's particularly worth the niche premium over Prada.
Sweet ambery vanilla, but the distinctly darker cousin to Luna Rossa Ocean EDP.
Review #74 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant
