Fortis

A dark, rich, resinous and sweet fragrance for those who frequent old books stores and libraries. FFO Electimuss Capua, Black Afgano.

There's a strong sweetness to this one on the opening (maybe the amyris or vanilla), but it's wrapped in a smoky, spicy, slightly woody blanket. I picture wood paneled studies where people are smoking sweet cigars and drinking whiskey or cognac. Or a seductive woman in a dark dress and red lipstick in a jazz club. Or perhaps a warm spicy chai latte next to some nag champa incense. It calms down a bit through the dry down, and the sweetness grows more subtly into a creamy, spicy, smoky hug, like a cashmere sweater next to an old stone fireplace and a glass of mulled wine (emphasis on the spices). I could see a man wearing this, but to me it smells like a sophisticated, confident, well-traveled and well-read woman. One I would love to meet.

I feel sort of like a superhero wearing this woody-oud composition, which starts with an excellent, no-pong saffron-cumin combo (by itself a pretty impressive feat). Moving forward, it builds around a sturdy cypriol-gaiac heart and outfits that structure with unexpectedly floral sandalwood fittings (amyris at work!). The whole structure then somehow...levitates...into a calm and comforting drydown. There’s an old-fashioned gallantry about the entire progression -- less Avengers, more Christopher Reeve as Superman.

Smokey and boozy scent. Eerily similar to Lubin Idole Eau de Toilette. Smells like a dark and dank jazz club. Not for me.

A woody, resinous delight to the nose