Ink

Ink is my final Akro sample to try (Bake is too new to have been included in my discovery set), and it is another excellent rendering of an "addiction", as is the theme of Akro's scents. Ink is a really creative concept that has been brought to life beautifully by master perfumer Olivier Cresp. Best known as the nose behind myriad designer bestsellers, here at his own brand Akro is where his creativity is allowed to truly shine, not being constrained by the brief from a profit-driven corporation. I have been impressed overall with the scents for Akro, but Ink is inspired by a much less obvious and more challenging addiction than say, coffee or cannabis, and it is successfully realised. Ink is, well, inky from initial spray. Dark and mossy, it has a leather undertone, reminiscent of an exploded pen in a handbag. It smells like an inkwell for an old-fashioned calligraphy pen to my nose, and the leather also brings to mind the tattooist's chair, bringing the theme fully to life. I have been in tattoo studios - accompanying friends while they were getting piercings, and once to get a tiny tattoo when very young. This scent is reminiscent of the studio - ink, leather, plastic, a hint of a chemical undertone - Ink is an excellent olfactory artwork. The ink effect is given by dense, mossy notes - perhaps oakmoss and vetiver - and leather-y, tar-like birch. The leather is dry and subtle, not smoky at all. There is a woody quality that emerges as it develops, complementing the mossiness. Peppery spice follows, giving it a lift and complementing the dark woody-mossy accord nicely. I get a slight rubbery/plastic-y, chemical undertone, Bvlgari Black-style, but it only contributes to the image of the tattoo studio, while complementing the leather accord. It dries down to become a musky leather skin scent. Sillage and longevity are moderate. An olfactory artwork that is as unusual as it is excellent, I am very impressed with Ink. Unisex and transeasonal, it is somewhat wearable despite its edginess. One of my favourite Akros. This would make a great gift for a tattoo aficionado. 4.5/5.

Mmmm. I love this kind of scent. Office Siren... A little strange. Skin-like and bitter office smell, absolutely suitable for daily wear as it is quite neutral and inoffensive. I’d happily sit next to someone wearing it on a plane or bus. There’s a faint resemblance to pen ink or perhaps printer cartridges. To me, it’s evocative of a 90s or early 2000s office building, with IBM RPG code flickering on CRT monitors of beige desktop PCs, dust in the computer vents, and lots of lots of paperwork to do. It is leathery, plasticky, oily and papery. It feels like the color black. Or navy blue. It suits tattooed as much as it does someone in an office suit and expensive watch! Because it is so industrial, inky, and skin-like that makes it one of the most unisex perfumes I’ve tried. I suppose there’s a vague resemblance to Zoologist Squid, but Akro Ink is certainly its own thing. There’s also something of Prada Luna Rossa Black here, definitely less masculine, but just as versatile as it's hard to think of a scenario or season where this wouldn't fit. Nothing like Scotch Peat by Strangers Parfumerie, more like Fat Electrician. While not loud enough for formal dinners or statement moments (for that, I’d reach for Squid or O Hira) it is very nice. You wear it for yourself, not the rest of the room. Your coworkers might not smell it unless you’re sharing a chair ;) I can see why people find it disappointing, but I also think the ink note is better and more prominent when on skin compared to on a test strip. Considering buying this. Wowza!

Ink was a love at first sniff for me after trying a tester, and I knew that I wanted a full bottle and found a 100ml tester at a discounter for $59 shortly after the hunt. I don't have any tattoos,so I don't have a reference for what tattoo ink smells like. Ink opens with what I perceive as a fountain pen, ballpoint pen, or fresh newspaper ink, but the top note dissipates and blends nicely into the fragrance after about 15 minutes. This is a really airy fragrance for a vetiver and birch tar based fragrance because of the jasmine that is perfectly blended at just the right amount and lifts the fragrance. I am not a big fan of jasmine in men's fragrances, but in the case of ink, it really is the heart of the fragrance and what makes the fragrance special, as it completely blends with the other notes, enhancing the heavy dose of smokey vetiver and slightly animalistic birch tar. There are no discernible notes that overwhelm Ink, and it continues on to the drydown as a really nice birch, vetiver, and undiscernible jasmine, and the ink top note is no longer perceivable to my nose. The projection is medium and not a room filler, and you get wafts of sillage throughout the day. Ink is a very comforting and enjoyable fragrance to me, as a lover of birch tar and vetiver. The smoky vetiver and the great blending make Ink a smooth, enjoyable, and easy wear. The longevity is good, and it's about 8 hours. Ink is a simple and expertly blended fragrance that is not boring, in my opinion.

I was really surprised by how differently Akro Ink is perceived – almost every nose picks up something else. I knew right from the first sniff that it’s a polarizing, love-or-hate fragrance, but I didn’t expect this level of division. What puzzles me is that crowds rave about Encre Noire, yet many of those same people dismiss Ink as “too strong” or “too unusual.” Some even claim it’s more overpowering and eccentric than Akro’s Smoke – for me, it’s the exact opposite: Smoke feels unwearable, while Ink embraces me with a slightly sweet, inky warmth that makes me feel like a solitary visionary (a true maverick).😎 Where Encre Noire (I own the À L’Extrême flanker) makes me feel like a vampire emerging from a damp crypt after a hundred years – almost suffocating, with its rotting-wood and wet-earth darkness – Ink gives me a sense of uniqueness, even comfort. To my nose it’s not the “disgusting thing” (one self-proclaimed expert called it down below). If you ever loved Bvlgari Black, Ink might partially fill that void: both share a similarly unique, almost industrial aura, a touch of sweetness and modern niche character that makes it surprisingly wearable.

At the beginning it's plasticky, machiney, and medicinal-sterile, very atmospheric. I tattoo for fun and can mentally walk myself through the steps of sterilization while inhaling. Up close it's very like a printer ink cartridge. I haven't smelled a tattoo ink like the note in this, it's much more reminiscent of sticky ballpoint pens to me, but tattoo inks also vary in smell quite a bit by brand and formulation, so maybe Akro-style tattoo ink is out there somewhere. The more identifiable atmospheric notes fade quickly, and it becomes surprisingly safe and wearable--a cold-temperatured vetiver, pleasantly creamy and synthetic. I really like fragrances like this, with startling, strange openings which are tamed into something distinct and charming.

Super cool! I find Oliver Cresp really knows how to make fragrances versatile light and airy but also distinctive which really aligns with my personal taste. some will find it challenging for sure though. It’s a pretty true to name Ball point pen ink smell. Perfect for those who love dark and inky scents. For me this is kinda of the same accord in Fat Electrician that gives that burnt wire smell but striped of all that sweetness in that fragrance. Really interesting and addictive. The dry down is really interesting. You are kind of left with a creamy-coconuty musky vetiver. I now understand that one review saying that this need to be tried at the beach. Not what I was expecting at all

I take time around 3 weeks after i received a bottle from "WTF is this thing?" To "My lovely fragrance" i imagine it's will be smell like Killian Dark lord because of note but it's different. Ink is all about Birch tar with Vetiver with a hint of Indole (maybe Maritima?) that make this fragrance give you a animalic feeling of something stinky. in my 1st impression i think it's way too smokey but after wear this stuff 3-4 times the hint of stinky white floral change into something sweet and creamy that goes very well with a bomb of birth Tar Longivity is moderate but i think silleage is very good. not for people who prefer and easy to wear scent

as corny as it sounds, ink is much more of an experience than a fragrance, at least with it's opening. it opens with a metallic and aromatic blast of pen ink, like you had just cracked a bic pen all over your hands. deep underneath this sharp ink though, is a beautiful cacophony of natural smells, that work the incredible job of turning this from just a headache inducing ink smell in to a beautiful, earthy, dark, and almost gothic fragrance. it's incredibly wearable, to the point of being an almost comfort fragrance for me. it also lasts eons on clothes, to the point that's it's almost odd

This is incredible! The opening is... different. Slightly off putting but unique and intriguing. The dry down is phenomenal though. It definitely gives Santal 33 vibes, but I don’t get a pickle note. A great sillage bubble forms around you though. Three people who stopped in my office today asked what the amazing smell is. I’m ten hours in and still getting wafts from the sprays on my neck. It goes in and out though so nose blindness may be an issue for some, but trust me.., this thing projects and lasts forever! Getting a full size bottle yesterday! 9/10

Very unique. To my nose an excellent blend by Olivier. He really does accomplish the themes of this collection. Ink really does portray that plasticky aromatic aspect of ink. A plasticky, Play-Doh-y scent that makes you travel back to childhood memories of paper, ballpoint pens, markers, etc. Then the white floral aspect comes out as if you are playing with a Play-Doh ball standing next to a jasmine tree. Definitely not for everyone and a particular scent. Encre Noir's letter to a beautiful femenine romance, yet unisex as can be.

I am in looovveee with this scent. I’m currently sampling it and can’t wait to get my hands on a bottle. As someone with many tattoos, the initial spray does remind me of that sterile, sharp smell of ink and being in a tattoo shop. The dry down is a sexy blend of the vetiver and jasmine that I can’t get enough of. I can see how someone would prefer to wear this in the colder seasons or at night, but I would love this year round. And the fact that the scent lasts for 7hrs plus on me is a huge bonus.

stunning! not exactly a tattoo parlour feel to me, more like ballpoint pen ink stains inside a faux leather handbag. a bit of aftershave, an old jasmine tea packet and maybe a cigarette thrown in for a good measure. vaguely similar to encre noire, but here the ink is at the foreground whereas with lalique it’s more coniferous. the projection is pretty strong! (the tally of people subtly turning away from me on public transport is slowly creeping up. two sprays at most. i’m digging it)

Starts inky and sharp. Then turns inky and woody with a touch of sweetness. Dries down to a santal 33-like creamy and sweet woody scent. Really difficult to wash off. The top notes and base/drydown are so different. Reapplying is out of the question because of this. My first ink based scent and its ok. I’ll continue to look around for other ink forward fragrances. Wished it was more linear so that the ink stays throughtout the entire experience.

one of my favorites right now - a daily wearer. Agreed with other reviews comparing it to ballpoint pen ink, or maybe even xerox printer ink cartridge? Metallic at first before softening into the vetiver leatheriness. animalic quality in the dry down. The jasmine softens it and i think brings that sweet, airy quality. It’s crisp smelling in a “clean” way, but clean like a big machine in a lofty wide open space, not clean like a bath tub.

it's a cold winter's morning with clean bright sunlight streaming through dusty windows. standing up from your perch on an old leather couch, you back away and look at your finished drawing. ink is covering your hands and fingertips but miraculously stays away from the raw white edge of your paper. you have to wash your brushes, and you're excited to turn in your piece to your favorite teacher, who smells of cigarettes and diet coke.

Ink reminds me of taking a ride on Berlin U-Bahn. It smells like gasoline, rail lubricant, beer-stained seats with vinyl upholstery, and a crowd of people wearing second-hand pleather jackets. It reminds me of Scent One: Hinoki by CdG and The Door by DL Roelen but it's not moldy like the former nor too fetish-y like the latter. Despite being very dark, industrial, and edgy, it's still wearable. It's definitely a winter scent. 10/10

AKRO INK IS MEANT TO BE WORN AT THE BEACH! DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU OTHERWISE. IMAGINE SUNSCREEN SPRAY LEAKING OUT THE ATOMIZER AND STAINING THE MASS-PRINTED LABEL. INK IS HOW YOUR FINGERTIPS WOULD SMELL AFTER PICKING UP THE BOTTLE. BAD TATTOOS ON LEATHER-TANNED SKIN. SHARP LIKE A BUTTER KNIFE. STERILE SWEAT. FEAR NOT. COLD LIKE LIQUOR ON THE ROCKS GOING DOWN YOUR THROAT. I AM AN UNLISTED SANDALWOOD NOTE TRUTHER. CREAMY!

If you are an old-school graphic designer and have nice memory of your first part-time job in printing house, or like the fresh smell of ink on paper, this is for you. Ive tried it with my colleagues (all of us are some sort of graphic designers, im the print one) and they said it should be called DTP :D I personally love it, its not strong on me, just nice printing ink work smell.

from the bottle this is everything as described - it brings to mind fluorescent lights, cold metal and fresh ink - and from my first impression it was too harsh to be wearable, but on the skin it dries down into something much softer and darker. wearing this feels like slipping on a vintage leather jacket. clean and completely unisex.

I pick up on the inkiness of this fragrance right away, but after 5 to 10 minutes I start getting a cedar note, likely traced to the listed birch note. I like this fragrance a lot, and trying the sample from the Akro sample set prompted me to get a bottle. At least an 8/10 for me, and with no buyer's remorse.