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 heart opens up, the fennel and licorice become even more prominent, so make sure these are notes you like. As for me, these are some of my favorite notes for a fresh fragrance; I let fennel grow wild in my yard for this reason. This warms up with a bit of patchouli and oakmoss with a slight amber woody drydown. Oakmoss is synthetic, but real oakmoss in this could be a gigantic game changer in this with lavender. It could make a mark in the fougere category. The drydown and overall musk carrier is familiar and easy. The hardest thing for a new perfume house to get down is a signature DNA that’s all your own. This would be my critique of the house. Musk is dry, simplistic, and needs more flair in order to create a signature that is all Al’s. A lot of people will be able to recognize the projecting ingredient, and it is commonplace. The heavy work was all done with the top and heart being unique, but that -AIDE I would like to be a thumbprint we have never seen.