Sepia

I tried four different Aftelier perfumes today, and Sepia was my favorite. It just melted right into my skin so naturally. At first it smelled like strawberry jam and maybe a tinge of something slightly fecal (perhaps the oud)in a soft and delicate way that made my mouth water, but left me confused and pleasantly challenged. Then the rough edges and fecal note faded, and the notes became completely indistinguishable. They blended perfectly with my skin chemistry into a singular beam of fragrant light, leaving a vibrating, warm, glowing aura. I love that this doesn't smell like I'm wearing a perfume, but that my skin is radiating an aroma. It's going onto my want list!

I was extrememly surprised to read the previous reviews of this fragrance. Sepia has been my #1 perfume for over a year now, and is my husband's favorite on me. On my skin, it opens with a delicious jamminess, like berries warmed by the sun, tempered with wood. Then the jasmine blossoms into full view over a background of tobacco and oud. It is a truly magical fragrance, if one has the proper body chemistry apparently.

Jasmine is not in the description/quote nor her website; besides, it's barely perceivable (imagined or otherwise), so I don't know how it got voted to the top. I find it to be a meditative fragrance–woody, earthy, and musky, but not necessarily dark or brooding; my 3rd or 4th favorite from the brand. For people (like me) whose eyes light up when they see "oud," I'm here to report that it is expertly used to support the composition and does not stand out, which should be a relief for some while a disappointment for others.

214) New Old style Ce parfum est un défi. Une composition étonnamment complexe et presque indescriptible. Attention le oud et l'ambregris sont terriblement présent ce qui avec le labdanum et le tabac blanc pourrait évoquer l'odeur d'un ancienne ferme, avec sa grange et son écurie. Pour moi c'est un parfum d'ambre sans la vanille poussant le labdanum dans ses extrêmes. Il y a une comparaison a faire avec Sonnet XVII de Olympic Orchids. Les amateurs de oud, précipitez-vous! This fragrance is a challenge. A surprisingly complex and almost indescribable composition. Warning, oud and Ambergris are terribly present what with labdanum and white tobacco could evoke the smell of a farmhouse with its barn and stables. For me it is a fragrance of amber without vanilla and pushing the labdanum in its extremes. Challenging as Sonnet XVII from Olympic Orchids. Oud lovers, rush!

This isnt a very good blend, way to much musk, the strawberry is very synthetic almost jam like, the labdanum spreads out the tobacco and oud in a good way, the opening is, sharp citrus, i feel like there is something missing to smooth out the blend, or too much one thing not enough of another. Add the fact that 2 ml of this stuff is $55!! Well, thats a recipe for disaster, alot of my fragrances at 50ml dont cost $55.

Spiced rotten raisin. Not in a good way.

Undeniably smells like horse manure on first application. I can still distinguish distinct notes of a very naughty flower mixed with wood, tobacco, and mushroom - who would guess that combo would read as fresh horse droppings? As it dries down I can see where she was going with the ghost town-melding of aged, comfortable scents. This was incredibly evocative, fun to experience, but not something I would wear - unless going horseback riding.

Sweet indolent jasmines. It starts with a splash of rancid jasmines with dozes of animalic ambergris, and castoreum. When it settles it goes bit like a dry rice with a bitter coffee. I can barely detect any sweetness rather than rich indolic floral. This is quite a beast animalic floral blend. Very interesting.

Being new to taking perfume seriously, I was surprised and disbelieving when my nose said, "What??? That's an uncleared horse stall!" Being a horse person I wear this fragrance a lot, but not from a bottle... When I mix it with Black Orchid,, well, NOW you've got something!!!

I wanted to love this, I love the concept. Unfortunately, it smells like a wet ferret to me.