Terre d’Hermès: Living a Life with Dignity

Terre d’Hermes by Hermes
Woody Spicy
Jean-Claude Ellena

Oh man, this stuff is good. Terre d’Hermes has an earthy vetiver aroma with orange. What an intriguing combo. Approachable and fresh yet deep and mysterious. A place where elegance meets class. It is a scent for a man, not a boy.

It can be used daily but I also see it as a special occasion scent for important formal events in a man’s life, for example, graduation, wedding, ball, or gala to name a few. It can work if you are 30+ as well as 60+. It is a perfect dad scent that he can wear to your birthday party.

Women can rock Terre d’Hermes too if they are not afraid of smelling masculine. I picture a strong outdoorsy lady with hobbies like hunting, shooting, or car racing enjoying Terre d’Hermes. But I personally, would love to smell Terre d’Hermes on a guy. It has this natural quality character that makes you feel effortlessly elegant.

Oh Là Là: The Best Pencil Shavings in the World

Oh Là Là by Teo Cabanel
Woody Spicy
Perfumer: Patrice Revillard

Oh La La is another creation from Teo Cabanel, a French brand with Algerian origins. However, “another creation” may be an understatement. This time we get our noses on their bestseller. I do not tend to like bestsellers. For example, I am still on the fence with Sunset Hour by Goldfield & Banks. I much prefer White Sandalwood or Southern Bloom. Nevertheless, Oh Lala is love from scratch. The scent smells like the best pencil shavings on the planet.

Softwoods with powder are suitable for everyday use. It makes a fantastic sweater weather fragrance, unisex and comfortable. There is an interesting mixture of notes like hazelnut, saffron, orris and tobacco in the opening and mids.

To me, Oh La La is about sandalwood and iris, and a slight sweetness in the background. That is all I get but it is wonderful. It is an aroma I could wear all year round during the day. You could also mix it up with something more exciting for the evening and you are going to be fine.

White Sandalwood Goldfield & Banks: Dry Heat Sauna

White Sandalwood by Goldfield & Banks Australia
Woody Spicy
Francois Merle-Baudoin

Sandalwood is a kind of oriental wood so typical in perfumery – milky, and reliable to boost any note profile. In this unisex fragrance White Sandalwood, Australian sandalwood is harsher and amplified with spicy notes like saffron and black pepper. The scent impression is dry, you do picture Aussie Outback with all its native beauty.

Although White Sandalwood gets mixed reviews online, I am personally impressed. Sandalwood is in general one of the woodsy mossy notes that I can get on board. I put it out there, I have not smelled anything like this sandalwood. I feel the woods, spices and dryness with a beachy touch.

For those who have not been to Australia, this perfume smells like when you enter a Finnish sauna. There are no aroma addictives in the air, just wooden seats and dry heat. I enjoy a traditional Finnish sauna, especially with close friends and loved ones. You guessed well. I also enjoy White Sandalwood, I use it as my bedtime scent and relish the comfort that it brings me.

Cuir de Marrakech: Light Ambient Chill

Cuir de Marrakech by Maison Maïssa
Woody Spicy

Cuir de Marrakech is a surprising fragrance. Despite its name, it is not a leathery scent and it is not a heavy perfume either. It is full of resins and balsams and has a warm and inviting character.

The top envelops into a fruity zest. Later, it smells like an exotic market with kitchen spices. There is cinnamon, opoponax, Tolu resin, to name a few. The aroma is aromatic with a gentle touch of seasoning. The note profile is a heavy hitter so one would expect a beastly lasting and projection; however, it is not like that. It is a soft atmospheric smell like stress relief music you play in the background.

The top envelops into a fruity zest. Later, it smells like an exotic market with kitchen spices. There is cinnamon, opoponax, Tolu resin, to name a few. The aroma is aromatic with a gentle touch of seasoning. The note profile is a heavy hitter so one would expect a beastly lasting and projection; however, it is not like that. It is a soft atmospheric smell like stress relief music you play in the background.

Look, if you wear mass-pleasing freshies and want to venture into spicy and gourmand scents, Cuir de Marrakech can be your ferryman. It sits on the skin nicely. You can put it on all year round and it is unisex. Pricing is also reasonable for a niche brand.

As for my personal experience, Cuir de Marrakech did not totally blow my socks off. I am not in a hurry to buy a bottle but it is vital to acknowledge: “What a lovely scent!”

Paragon Initio: Spicy Woods Candied by Plum

Paragon Initio by Parfums Prives
Woody Spicy

Paragon is an aromatic all-year-round type of fragrance. It has sage, lavender and bergamot in the opening. It has potency and depth. It sets sweeter and woodier with time. There are creamy sandalwood and oud in the base. Yes, it is a strong woody fragrance but you don’t have to be afraid of the oud note. It is a piece of subtle oud in the background. The main wood is palo santo which is lighter and fresher.

It is what I call a unisex fragrance. It does have both masculine and feminine traits. I see a resemblance to Myrrh & Tonka by Jo Malone which I have and love. It is more clear especially when the plum comes through and the scent gets sweeter. When Myrrh & Tonka is an alluring perfume for the night, Paragon is a softer, more universal scent.

I prefer my Myrrh & Tonka because it is more mysterious and addictive, especially if you add price to the mix.

Gris Charnel Extrait: A Captivating City by Night

Gris Charnel Extrait by BDK Parfums
Woody Spicy
Mathilde Bijaoui

Another experience with David Benedek! Gris Charnel Extrait and so as its predecessor Gris Charnel, explore Parisian sensuality. Whatever it means to be sensual in Paris by night, you will find it in Gris Charnel Extrait.

I am loving the cardamom that adds a gentle spiciness while fig brings a bit of a tangy kick to the combo. The base has rich and warm accords like sandalwood, vanilla, cedar and tonka. It is comforting, lux and sensual.

Let me picture you the scenario when I wore Gris Charnel Extrait and it came out beautifully. I went for dinner with my bestie, it was a freezing winter night. I know that she likes unisex slash masculine scents on women and that she has a thing for strong fragrances in general hence I was not afraid to put on such a powerhouse as Gris Charnel Extrait is. She could smell it, she complimented me right away and wanted to know the name of the fragrance. We could smell it the entire night, it did not have problems with the cold air. It is definitely something that you will not come across often. It is a perfume for someone who is into aromas and knows what to do with them.

Chris Charnel Extrait is a cold-climate night-time perfume for me the same way as for example Myrrh & Tonka by Jo Malone; therefore, I am giving it points down. There is a time and place for this; otherwise, it would be 10/10.

Boss Bottled Tonic: A Citrusy Clean Aquatic Break

Boss Bottled Tonic by Hugo Boss
Woody Spicy

The Boss Bottled collection goes back to 1998, starting with the original Boss Bottled with the green juice inside. This is a nice light fragrance wearable all year round by Hugo Boss for men. While the original is reminiscent of Lacoste scents or Calvin Klien’s Eternity line, the Boss Bottled Tonic goes more in the citrus marine direction of Davidoff’s Cool Water or When the Rain Stops by Martin Margiela.

Bottled Tonic falls into the inexpensive aroma category thus do not expect a high level of sophistication or lasting power. You will get just a few hours out of this. It is good to spritz on before you are off to play golf, run your errands, or meet your mates. Summer appropriate, totally unisex in my opinion. I get the ginger – it is a nice twist. Cinnamon gives it a hint of sweetness, and woodsy notes a solid ground.

Autumn Vibes Maison Martin Margiela

Woody Spicy

This fragrance is getting a lot of hate these days; nevertheless, I must say I enjoy it. A lot of the complaints question the unisex fashion of Autumn Vibes. People say that it leans considerably masculine, but I personally wear it and I am a woman.

Usually, I do not tend to grab unisex scents yet I can get away with this eau de toilette. Long story short. It is UNISEX as it claims to be. Does it evoke autumn as it claims, too? Yes, it does. It delivers its promises and does not oversell. There is nothing wrong or off-putting about it. But of course, everybody’s taste is different. It is the one for fall and winter, that is for sure but apart from that, it is charming.

Although the notes are different, it reminds me of Narciso Rodriguez for Him. Yet still, Autumn Vibes is lighter, brighter and unisex. Its woods cedar, moss and maple mainly with light spices like cardamom, pink pepper and nutmeg. The aroma is long-wearing and projects well.

A vivid picture of an autumn forest. Moody, wet, aromatic. Beautiful.