Dixit and Zak Kashmir Nuit
Kashmir Nuit by Dixit and Zak
There is a sweet sarsaparilla in the opening that is spicy, fruity, and tangy. This isn’t full-on root beer, but imagine a Thai-style root beer. Like with Thai food; with every bite, you get a mix of sweet, sour,...
Pomares Stolen Perfumery Rasa
Rasa 2020
Rasa's 2020 batch is a bit different from the 2019 version. There are batch variations because Rachel tinctures ingredients herself. She's taken wine-making skills and brought them in, to put fruit into perfumery. She uses the concept of terroir...
Art and Olfaction Awards Finalists 2020 Copy 3
Bonsai by House of Matriarch
Memories of Karate Kid. This was one of the first movies I saw in a theatre. Christi Meshell from House of Matriarch. I have covered her many times. I almost skipped this one because so many of her fragrances...
Art and Olfaction Awards Finalists 2020 Copy 1
Keman by Di Ser
This is the opening that only the likes of Carson, Leno, and Letterman could bring. I’ve stated many times last year that yuzu is my favorite citrus to stand on its own in the opening. It’s not too showy...
Elixir Attar Gentlemens Club
Gentlemen’s Club by Elixir Attar
Baque lovers like me will find a similarity, but it doesn’t hold. This thing goes deeper and further into the halls of tobacco. We are going into the shadows, people. This is educated whiskey here. Not that sip you...
Art and Olfaction Awards Finalists 2020 Copy
Absinthe-Minded by Anka Kus
Absinthe-Minded is an easy-wearing minty, slightly boozy fragrance. This is headed toward a fougere, but it never really gets there. A fantastic fennel note gives off black licorice aromatics with mint, and soft white woods provide balance. As the...
Agar Aura Perfumes Soryo No Kaori
Soryo No Kaori
The woods are there, but this is all new. It’s watery, vibrant green, smoky, camphorous, and highlights the signature Agar Aura mind buzz. You do receive a sweet essence in the mix of incense and a surprise of something...
Art and Olfaction Awards Finalists 2020 Copy 2
The Art and Olfaction Awards 2020 Finalist / Review of Absinthe-Minded by Anka Kus
Absinthe-Minded opens with a strong absinthe note, green and camphorous, almost medicinal. Eucalyptus comes to mind, which isn't a surprise for an Australian perfumer, right, but there is no eucalyptus mentioned in the notes. More sprays highlight the anise/fennel/black licorice...
Art and Olfaction Awards Finalists 2020 Copy
The Art and Olfaction Awards 2020 Finalist / Review of November 2019
Tyler Monk has his own brand, Luvandus, and collaborated with Scent Trunk in the creation of November 2019, which focuses on pennyroyal. Outside of a Nirvana lyric, I'm not familiar with pennyroyal, but know it is a part of...
Chris Rusak Timbre
Timbre (EDT version) by Chris Rusak
This is as delicate an oud that you can get. Only lightly dusted, as I am sure any more would overtake every subtle note in this fragrance. This is one of the best price-per-ml creations with real oud in...
Bruno Fazzolari lampblack ummagumma corpse revier zdvetts 3
Corpse Reviver by Bruno Fazzolari
Holy moly! This thing is coming at you like a first round from Mike Tyson. It is swinging and connecting. This is one of the boldest openings I have smelled. This is like the new signature drink of a...
Bruno Fazzolari lampblack ummagumma corpse revier zdvetts 2
Ummagumma by Bruno Fazzolari
This reminds me, I must find my South American chocolate laced with saffron. Powdery tobacco and leather also present with more aromatics of labdanum and some sweet incense. Incense becomes more prominent with buttery tones of santal, and dried...