Elysium
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Elysium
Something Unforgettable
Yet another flanker of For Him some of you will say. But no. I mean, yes, it’s a flanker because it’s a variant of the original, but it also stands out a lot from it. First, For Him Intense is a concentration of Parfum. Same as "For Him Red Edition Intense | Zara", they also share the same packaging, but this time the bottle is with shades of brown. So be careful when you try it and buy it because only the word “Red” allows you to distinguish between the two Intense.
When For Him Intense opens, it might seem similar to "For Him | Zara" OG, but soon after it takes on a more refined acidic, powdery, amber and woody edge. The spiciness is subtle, faint, just a whisper. Iris screams, and says “Hey, I’m here!”, as if it isn’t noticeable enough. However, it never takes a similar inclination to a feminine cut lipstick. The citrus creates a tart opening, not too tart or like a barbershop cologne, but bitter enough to keep the opening not too crisp. But that bergamot isn’t the only citrus, as there’s a noticeable hint of lemon zest. Among the various citrus peels, a minty and balsamic lavender makes its way which does not stand out on its own but blends well with the other notes.
Gradually, as the acidic blast subsides, the scent takes on a fougère turn. Herbaceous lavender emerges a lot with some balsamic facets. The iris powder grows and grows, always maintaining a baby powder vibe without a trace of makeup or buttery undertones. Depending on your sense of smell, during the evolution, especially in the middle phase, you may feel vibrations of cocoa powder or dark chocolate. Perhaps courtesy of the patchouly used in the base. Think of cocoa and baby powder mixed together, which scares or attracts you. There is also a sort of rosy shade, a little floral like roses and a little green like geranium leaf. And also a mixture of spices, a lot of spiciness emerges from the heart, which has influences of cinnamon and nutmeg. Even in this case, the blend is well balanced and there is not a note that stands out or goes out of line, except the iris.
The base transforms into a creamy, dry and sweet accord. It’s a bomb of vanilla and tonka, not at all gourmand, but still powdery and spicy. The woodiness is that of cedar shavings, so dry, and so similar to pencil shavings. The more it dries, the sweeter it becomes, but never cloying or unpleasant. There is a noticeable slightly amber saltiness, surely coming from a modern ambrox molecule, which adds a woody touch, reminiscent of clean human skin. In the end they exude woody and slightly leathery nuances. Don’t want to add a bit of patchouli? Yes, it’s there, faint, but enough to obscure the last stage of the essence, keeping the iris and vanilla from being too nauseating.
Therefore, the iris, although powerful, is soft and creamy, along with vanilla and tonka with base notes of resins and patchouli. Does it impress me? Yes, a lot. I like? Yes, a lot. Being a concentration of perfume, it lasts several hours, almost all day or night, depending on when you wear it. Furthermore, it is very strong during the first two hours. In Italy the price is €25.95, which might seem a little expensive for ZARA, but it is a parfum with a great yield. Although it is just released, in mid-May and spring, it is more suitable for the cold months of autumn and winter.
I’m basing my feeling on a bottle I’ve owned since May 2024 (BC 410609).
-Elysium
When For Him Intense opens, it might seem similar to "For Him | Zara" OG, but soon after it takes on a more refined acidic, powdery, amber and woody edge. The spiciness is subtle, faint, just a whisper. Iris screams, and says “Hey, I’m here!”, as if it isn’t noticeable enough. However, it never takes a similar inclination to a feminine cut lipstick. The citrus creates a tart opening, not too tart or like a barbershop cologne, but bitter enough to keep the opening not too crisp. But that bergamot isn’t the only citrus, as there’s a noticeable hint of lemon zest. Among the various citrus peels, a minty and balsamic lavender makes its way which does not stand out on its own but blends well with the other notes.
Gradually, as the acidic blast subsides, the scent takes on a fougère turn. Herbaceous lavender emerges a lot with some balsamic facets. The iris powder grows and grows, always maintaining a baby powder vibe without a trace of makeup or buttery undertones. Depending on your sense of smell, during the evolution, especially in the middle phase, you may feel vibrations of cocoa powder or dark chocolate. Perhaps courtesy of the patchouly used in the base. Think of cocoa and baby powder mixed together, which scares or attracts you. There is also a sort of rosy shade, a little floral like roses and a little green like geranium leaf. And also a mixture of spices, a lot of spiciness emerges from the heart, which has influences of cinnamon and nutmeg. Even in this case, the blend is well balanced and there is not a note that stands out or goes out of line, except the iris.
The base transforms into a creamy, dry and sweet accord. It’s a bomb of vanilla and tonka, not at all gourmand, but still powdery and spicy. The woodiness is that of cedar shavings, so dry, and so similar to pencil shavings. The more it dries, the sweeter it becomes, but never cloying or unpleasant. There is a noticeable slightly amber saltiness, surely coming from a modern ambrox molecule, which adds a woody touch, reminiscent of clean human skin. In the end they exude woody and slightly leathery nuances. Don’t want to add a bit of patchouli? Yes, it’s there, faint, but enough to obscure the last stage of the essence, keeping the iris and vanilla from being too nauseating.
Therefore, the iris, although powerful, is soft and creamy, along with vanilla and tonka with base notes of resins and patchouli. Does it impress me? Yes, a lot. I like? Yes, a lot. Being a concentration of perfume, it lasts several hours, almost all day or night, depending on when you wear it. Furthermore, it is very strong during the first two hours. In Italy the price is €25.95, which might seem a little expensive for ZARA, but it is a parfum with a great yield. Although it is just released, in mid-May and spring, it is more suitable for the cold months of autumn and winter.
I’m basing my feeling on a bottle I’ve owned since May 2024 (BC 410609).
-Elysium
Like The Multiple Kaleidoscope's Colour
This perfume is awesome and complex. The first spray is misleading. The mood is sweet, and the resins come out immediately, along with the fragrant flowers on a powdery and musky background. Give it some time, and it unfolds a lot and fantastically. Honestly, I was surprised by how an amber perfume, at times balsamic and salty, could be so unexpectedly full of facets. Jasmine gives a floral aspect but is never tending towards the floral that we observe in perfumes of the genre associated with the feminine universe. If "Tonka Musk | Alyssa Ashley" is concentrated on nutty tonka, this one turns around gummy resins.
The middle stage hides an oriental heart full of sweet resinoids. The blend of benzoin gum and iris is warm and comfy. There is a sort of honeyed powderiness that creates a radiant aura around you. Now the iris flower takes the place of the jasmine, which was kindly placed in the secondary rows. Benzoin offers distinctly rich scents of woody, sweet vanilla. Its layered composition unfolds in warm, honeyed facets not dissimilar to caramel, almond or freshly roasted coffee. Subtle floral notes awaken slight nuances of complexions in soft, wispy or even powdery tones. The floral and indolic notes of jasmine have not disappeared, but have blended into this elixir, giving life to a symphony of flowers and resins.
The dry-down is all about amber, a powdery and musky amber with still clean and embracing factors. There are not too many salties or animalic edges, while semi-woody and earthy facets are enhanced. The white musk is subdued, not really a main character. Instead, the amber takes it all. All the powderiness comes from the spicy vanilla, here used nicely and sensually with no gourmand aspects. I still catch the roasted and coffee-like nuances, very toasted and slightly caramelized.
After testing and wearing it, I am convinced that Amber Musk is a perfume that has gone unnoticed and has not received the gratitude it deserves. it is a different amber, perhaps unique, full of dark and unexpected aspects, never predictable, just like the multiple colours of the kaleidoscope that alternate and mix creating surprising effects. Amber Musk is not linear, and on my skin, it has the same evolution that I get from the paper strip. Its enveloping warmth makes me prefer it for the colder months, from early autumn to early spring, better if worn under warm woollen clothes, for social occasions with friends, dinners, and evenings out. It’s not an opulent scent, and performance hovers around moderate.
I wrote my feelings based on a bottle I’ve owned since May 2024 (BC 3591257A, PD 2021-09-14).
The middle stage hides an oriental heart full of sweet resinoids. The blend of benzoin gum and iris is warm and comfy. There is a sort of honeyed powderiness that creates a radiant aura around you. Now the iris flower takes the place of the jasmine, which was kindly placed in the secondary rows. Benzoin offers distinctly rich scents of woody, sweet vanilla. Its layered composition unfolds in warm, honeyed facets not dissimilar to caramel, almond or freshly roasted coffee. Subtle floral notes awaken slight nuances of complexions in soft, wispy or even powdery tones. The floral and indolic notes of jasmine have not disappeared, but have blended into this elixir, giving life to a symphony of flowers and resins.
The dry-down is all about amber, a powdery and musky amber with still clean and embracing factors. There are not too many salties or animalic edges, while semi-woody and earthy facets are enhanced. The white musk is subdued, not really a main character. Instead, the amber takes it all. All the powderiness comes from the spicy vanilla, here used nicely and sensually with no gourmand aspects. I still catch the roasted and coffee-like nuances, very toasted and slightly caramelized.
After testing and wearing it, I am convinced that Amber Musk is a perfume that has gone unnoticed and has not received the gratitude it deserves. it is a different amber, perhaps unique, full of dark and unexpected aspects, never predictable, just like the multiple colours of the kaleidoscope that alternate and mix creating surprising effects. Amber Musk is not linear, and on my skin, it has the same evolution that I get from the paper strip. Its enveloping warmth makes me prefer it for the colder months, from early autumn to early spring, better if worn under warm woollen clothes, for social occasions with friends, dinners, and evenings out. It’s not an opulent scent, and performance hovers around moderate.
I wrote my feelings based on a bottle I’ve owned since May 2024 (BC 3591257A, PD 2021-09-14).
![To Be - Super[Pure]](https://pimages.essencevitae.com/240/192159_img-3271-police-to-be-super-pure_240.webp)
If You’re Windy, You’ll Sing
I immediately found Police’s new green line interesting, and I took home To Be Super[Pure] for a ridiculous price, €15 for 75ml, a steal I would say. When the sales assistant offered me the perfume, asking me if I wanted to try it, I didn’t refuse. As soon as she gave me the paper strip and I brought it closer to my nose, the association with the genderless perfume par excellence, "CK One (Eau de Toilette) | Calvin Klein", was instantly triggered! “What a shame,” I said to myself. I already own a 200ml bottle, and a dupe would have been redundant, despite the very attractive price. I then asked to try other fragrances, finding the "Le Parfum Royal | Elie Saab" very captivating with that modified patchouli to embellish the cocktail. Instinctively, I brought the mouillete of To Be Super [Pure] back to my nose. To my great surprise, something had changed in the meantime. While maintaining that sense of lightness and airiness that distinguishes CK One, this Police perfume had taken a more herbaceous and smoky direction, presumably thanks to the black tea.
Speaking of Police To Be Super [Pure], a cascade of freshness, spiciness, and a bite of booziness is the initial accord that the perfume releases. The shades are citrus, and green, with fresh spices. Definitely, the combo of bergamot and mandarin is what makes the scent similar to iconic CK One. I bet that perfumer Véronique Nyberg, who is the nose behind the latest To Be creations, i.e "To Be - Green | Police" and "To Be - Super[Natural] | Police", was asked, or somehow forced, to create something along the lines of CK One, changing a few nuances here and there, but maintaining a similar structure, achieving this rewarding result. She was able to balance familiarity and uniqueness. After a short while, the MANE’s Bigarane molecule, which emulates the smell of neroli, adds a sort of greenness. This molecule expresses the freshest facets of neroli, unlike the natural oil, which diffuses sweeter nuances. So far, Despite the synthetic molecules used, the scent manages to maintain a natural quality.
After the first few minutes, accords of dusty flowers and mineral tea leaves slowly emerge. It is precisely by entering the middle phase that Super [Pure] and CK One reach a crossroads and take two different paths. The tones of black tea leaves are more refined, rich, earthy, mineral, and smoky than the green tea leaves we know from CK One. Just as osmanthus flowers provide a light talcum powder that differs from that of violet leaves and iris root. In Super [Pure], despite the use of the MANE’s Mugane molecule, the lily of the valley smell that it should reproduce is not so lavish, but rather subtle and well blended with the osmanthus, creating that pleasant bittersweet aura. Overall, the perfume continues to maintain that airy and light aspect revealed at the beginning, with that sense of purity that makes it clean and a little soapy.
A final turning point announces the entry of the dry-down, a phase in which the perfume takes on a woody, salty and sweetish turn. I certainly perceive driftwood, which releases an aroma similar to that of ambergris, a bit fatty, and green. I suppose the MANE’s Maderal molecule adds a woody accord, but it is something very soft, and delicate, with no cedar or sandal influences. Instead, the davana note appears fruity, floral, and a tad woodsy and sweet, with a tea-like smell that reinforces the black tea note. If smelled close to the skin, there are bitter, herbaceous, slightly balsamic nuances.
In conclusion, To Be Super[Pure] is a pleasant, fresh and clean fragrance with the right out-of-the-shower effect. It is suitable for the day, perfect for work or sport, and its delicacy does not disturb those around it. You can wear it whenever you want to have a clean scent on you, like after a relaxing shower followed by minimal, comfortable, light clothing. At no stage of its evolution does the fragrance manifest impulses towards the feminine or masculine poles, it remains neutral. Spring and summer are the most suitable seasons to wear it. Despite its light formula, the perfume has a good payoff, lasting several hours, although it transforms quickly like a skin perfume after the first hour. But it stays on for a long time, and every now and then it releases that sensation of freshness and cleanliness that gives serenity. If you also like the CK One genre, then you could try it and use it as an alternative, without necessarily considering it a replica. For my taste, this perfume has not received the right attention it deserves, a little too underrated.
I’m expressing the sensations I get from a skull I’ve owned since May 2024 (BC 2202196A, PD 2022-07-15).
-Elysium
Speaking of Police To Be Super [Pure], a cascade of freshness, spiciness, and a bite of booziness is the initial accord that the perfume releases. The shades are citrus, and green, with fresh spices. Definitely, the combo of bergamot and mandarin is what makes the scent similar to iconic CK One. I bet that perfumer Véronique Nyberg, who is the nose behind the latest To Be creations, i.e "To Be - Green | Police" and "To Be - Super[Natural] | Police", was asked, or somehow forced, to create something along the lines of CK One, changing a few nuances here and there, but maintaining a similar structure, achieving this rewarding result. She was able to balance familiarity and uniqueness. After a short while, the MANE’s Bigarane molecule, which emulates the smell of neroli, adds a sort of greenness. This molecule expresses the freshest facets of neroli, unlike the natural oil, which diffuses sweeter nuances. So far, Despite the synthetic molecules used, the scent manages to maintain a natural quality.
After the first few minutes, accords of dusty flowers and mineral tea leaves slowly emerge. It is precisely by entering the middle phase that Super [Pure] and CK One reach a crossroads and take two different paths. The tones of black tea leaves are more refined, rich, earthy, mineral, and smoky than the green tea leaves we know from CK One. Just as osmanthus flowers provide a light talcum powder that differs from that of violet leaves and iris root. In Super [Pure], despite the use of the MANE’s Mugane molecule, the lily of the valley smell that it should reproduce is not so lavish, but rather subtle and well blended with the osmanthus, creating that pleasant bittersweet aura. Overall, the perfume continues to maintain that airy and light aspect revealed at the beginning, with that sense of purity that makes it clean and a little soapy.
A final turning point announces the entry of the dry-down, a phase in which the perfume takes on a woody, salty and sweetish turn. I certainly perceive driftwood, which releases an aroma similar to that of ambergris, a bit fatty, and green. I suppose the MANE’s Maderal molecule adds a woody accord, but it is something very soft, and delicate, with no cedar or sandal influences. Instead, the davana note appears fruity, floral, and a tad woodsy and sweet, with a tea-like smell that reinforces the black tea note. If smelled close to the skin, there are bitter, herbaceous, slightly balsamic nuances.
In conclusion, To Be Super[Pure] is a pleasant, fresh and clean fragrance with the right out-of-the-shower effect. It is suitable for the day, perfect for work or sport, and its delicacy does not disturb those around it. You can wear it whenever you want to have a clean scent on you, like after a relaxing shower followed by minimal, comfortable, light clothing. At no stage of its evolution does the fragrance manifest impulses towards the feminine or masculine poles, it remains neutral. Spring and summer are the most suitable seasons to wear it. Despite its light formula, the perfume has a good payoff, lasting several hours, although it transforms quickly like a skin perfume after the first hour. But it stays on for a long time, and every now and then it releases that sensation of freshness and cleanliness that gives serenity. If you also like the CK One genre, then you could try it and use it as an alternative, without necessarily considering it a replica. For my taste, this perfume has not received the right attention it deserves, a little too underrated.
I’m expressing the sensations I get from a skull I’ve owned since May 2024 (BC 2202196A, PD 2022-07-15).
-Elysium
Dylan Dog Comic Book's Scent
If Sumou Platinum were a comic book character it would be Dylan Dog, loved by entire generations of teenagers and adults, he is also known worldwide for his “always the same” look, i.e. red shirt with open collar, fitted black blazer, jeans in light blue, black leather belt and, on his feet, beige suede ankle boots. When I smelled this perfume for the first time, I was immediately reminded of this character, Dylan Dog. Sumou Platinum is another of the Lattafa Arabian fragrances that has nothing to do with Middle Eastern scents.
Initially, it releases a fresh, mainly citrus and peppery accord, with a salty amber and semi-sweet burnt sugar lying underneath. From the first notes, the fragrance screams and calls out the hot summer, with a predominantly masculine edge, that kind of fresh, green and aromatic aroma that most men prefer to wear. The bitter grapefruit and bright bergamot are there, so well-blended that it is nearly impossible to distinguish one another individually. This is so far what I get out of my skin. From the blotter instead comes an aroma that reminds me of Baileys Irish Cream made of milk, whiskey and a touch of green apple. It’s strange, but that’s what I get. Refreshing, aromatic, and sour is the initial blaze.
Then, Sumou Platinum takes a turn as the initial acid blast mellows out a bit. It becomes more aromatic, smoky and papery. I get mostly the dewy, leafy violet, even though it’s not listed, with a good dose of black pepper berries and papyrus leaves. The violet leaves add a veil of wateriness while the salty ambroxan continues its journey without weighing down the fragrance. In the central phase, moist violet dominates the scent, while on the paper, the fruity green apple prevails.
The tones of the violet leaves do not give up and reach the finish line. In the dry-down, I begin to perceive the presence of resinous and earthy elements more clearly. Patchouli and incense give depth and thickness to the final stage, which on the skin gives a musky, soapy, clean, and slightly semi-sweet toasted veil. I love incense and incensed notes, in all its nuances, from the most clerical to the most resinous ones. Unfortunately, they are only mentioned here, in passing. the sweetness that was present in the opening is stronger, but it is a dusty and vanilla sweetness, like that found in coumarins. The trail remains dusty and musky, without ever being too dirty or earthy. The dark notes of patchouli and incense are perfectly balanced.
Sumou Platinum is the kind of perfume that you can easily wear to go to the office, in your free time, or for an outing with friends, from morning until evening, versatile, mainly in the warmer months. It belongs to the genre of fresh fragrances defined as “blue”, without wanting to replicate "Sauvage (Eau de Toilette) | Dior" or "Bleu de Chanel (Eau de Toilette) | Chanel". On my skin, I get a restrained performance, both in projection and durability. After the first hour, it got very close to the skin, and I got anosmic to it. It’s not a bomb, but given the very low cost, it can be reapplied several times.
These are my impressions based on a bottle I have owned since April 2024 (BC M02- 230702011, PD 08.2023, 12,45 €)
-Elysium
Initially, it releases a fresh, mainly citrus and peppery accord, with a salty amber and semi-sweet burnt sugar lying underneath. From the first notes, the fragrance screams and calls out the hot summer, with a predominantly masculine edge, that kind of fresh, green and aromatic aroma that most men prefer to wear. The bitter grapefruit and bright bergamot are there, so well-blended that it is nearly impossible to distinguish one another individually. This is so far what I get out of my skin. From the blotter instead comes an aroma that reminds me of Baileys Irish Cream made of milk, whiskey and a touch of green apple. It’s strange, but that’s what I get. Refreshing, aromatic, and sour is the initial blaze.
Then, Sumou Platinum takes a turn as the initial acid blast mellows out a bit. It becomes more aromatic, smoky and papery. I get mostly the dewy, leafy violet, even though it’s not listed, with a good dose of black pepper berries and papyrus leaves. The violet leaves add a veil of wateriness while the salty ambroxan continues its journey without weighing down the fragrance. In the central phase, moist violet dominates the scent, while on the paper, the fruity green apple prevails.
The tones of the violet leaves do not give up and reach the finish line. In the dry-down, I begin to perceive the presence of resinous and earthy elements more clearly. Patchouli and incense give depth and thickness to the final stage, which on the skin gives a musky, soapy, clean, and slightly semi-sweet toasted veil. I love incense and incensed notes, in all its nuances, from the most clerical to the most resinous ones. Unfortunately, they are only mentioned here, in passing. the sweetness that was present in the opening is stronger, but it is a dusty and vanilla sweetness, like that found in coumarins. The trail remains dusty and musky, without ever being too dirty or earthy. The dark notes of patchouli and incense are perfectly balanced.
Sumou Platinum is the kind of perfume that you can easily wear to go to the office, in your free time, or for an outing with friends, from morning until evening, versatile, mainly in the warmer months. It belongs to the genre of fresh fragrances defined as “blue”, without wanting to replicate "Sauvage (Eau de Toilette) | Dior" or "Bleu de Chanel (Eau de Toilette) | Chanel". On my skin, I get a restrained performance, both in projection and durability. After the first hour, it got very close to the skin, and I got anosmic to it. It’s not a bomb, but given the very low cost, it can be reapplied several times.
These are my impressions based on a bottle I have owned since April 2024 (BC M02- 230702011, PD 08.2023, 12,45 €)
-Elysium
Sweet Like Salt
If you’re intent on blindly buying this Arabian perfume, do expect something Middle Eastern-style, unlike its twin Royal Delight Silver. This fragrance is fruity, sweet, sticky, spicy, and woody, with a feminine lift on my skin. The almost dominant presence of fruity and amber notes helps the perfume release those traits that we find in "Erba Pura | XerJoff" and "Kirkè (Extrait de Parfum) | Tiziana Terenzi", even if I wouldn’t define it as a clone of them. It’s just to give you an idea of the type of fragrance, so creamy, fruity, and salty.
Royal blend announces itself with an alcoholic explosion, immediately followed by a powerful fruity accord, as if we were faced with a mixed fresh fruit salad, with common and tropical fruits, passion fruit, and so forth. Warm, creamy, floral, - fruit and spices, the pineapple is ripe, and the cinnamon adds that sweet touch that we encounter when we taste fresh whipped cream with a generous sprinkling of freshly ground cinnamon on top. Meanwhile, from the base, I immediately get the salty and musky notes of amber and white musk. The opening is straightforward, amber and fruity, with a sensual white floral background.
I get sweet, powdery, and resinous accords in the heart. Let the fragrance develop, and after a handful of minutes, the spiciness of the cinnamon amplifies with a kind of clove-like aroma from the eugenol ingredient. Meanwhile, the salty and smooth amber comes through. Deep in the background, I catch a sort of nuttiness, creamy, milky, and not bitter at all, more akin to hazelnut than almond, with a coconut slant. Besides, the resins come from benzoin, maybe myrrh, and other ointments that recall the places where spiritual massages are given. Royal Blends offers even a floral facet, with a perceivable note of heady jasmine. Perfectly balancing femininity and masculinity, jasmine emits an unmistakably powerful floral and fruity scent.
And then there is another change. The drydown abandons the initial fruity blast, to reveal a trail full of powdery and salty nuances. If there is patchouli, this is very tamed and soft. Instead, dusty and vanilla coumarins compete for the stage together with a salty amber with reflections of soft and sweetish white musk.
To wrap up, it is a sort of warm, comfy, and charming, with a balmy feeling. It goes through several stages, and the character is pretty non-linear. Like Royal Delight, the performance is great. It lasts several hours and projects strongly in the first bunch of hours. Despite its dominant sweetness, the perfume should have a good yield in the warmer months, from late spring to late autumn, and will be noticed on summer evenings. Finally, it has that feminine slant on my skin, but I am not saying it is for women only.
These are my impressions based on a bottle I have owned since April 2024.
-Elysium
Royal blend announces itself with an alcoholic explosion, immediately followed by a powerful fruity accord, as if we were faced with a mixed fresh fruit salad, with common and tropical fruits, passion fruit, and so forth. Warm, creamy, floral, - fruit and spices, the pineapple is ripe, and the cinnamon adds that sweet touch that we encounter when we taste fresh whipped cream with a generous sprinkling of freshly ground cinnamon on top. Meanwhile, from the base, I immediately get the salty and musky notes of amber and white musk. The opening is straightforward, amber and fruity, with a sensual white floral background.
I get sweet, powdery, and resinous accords in the heart. Let the fragrance develop, and after a handful of minutes, the spiciness of the cinnamon amplifies with a kind of clove-like aroma from the eugenol ingredient. Meanwhile, the salty and smooth amber comes through. Deep in the background, I catch a sort of nuttiness, creamy, milky, and not bitter at all, more akin to hazelnut than almond, with a coconut slant. Besides, the resins come from benzoin, maybe myrrh, and other ointments that recall the places where spiritual massages are given. Royal Blends offers even a floral facet, with a perceivable note of heady jasmine. Perfectly balancing femininity and masculinity, jasmine emits an unmistakably powerful floral and fruity scent.
And then there is another change. The drydown abandons the initial fruity blast, to reveal a trail full of powdery and salty nuances. If there is patchouli, this is very tamed and soft. Instead, dusty and vanilla coumarins compete for the stage together with a salty amber with reflections of soft and sweetish white musk.
To wrap up, it is a sort of warm, comfy, and charming, with a balmy feeling. It goes through several stages, and the character is pretty non-linear. Like Royal Delight, the performance is great. It lasts several hours and projects strongly in the first bunch of hours. Despite its dominant sweetness, the perfume should have a good yield in the warmer months, from late spring to late autumn, and will be noticed on summer evenings. Finally, it has that feminine slant on my skin, but I am not saying it is for women only.
These are my impressions based on a bottle I have owned since April 2024.
-Elysium
