Licorice Woods

This is the first perfume that I bought for myself, as I started my perfume obsession very late in life (age 32), because a friend made me try a boutique perfume store here in Bucharest and the smell stayed with me for a very long time. It has a very smoke and incense heavy smell, with a burnt sugar mid/base.

I have smelled something like this many, many times so don’t go by me. All I get is a little woody Oud which is nice but nothing new or exciting. There is a little spice and a little something sweet. After a bit there is some leather. If you are new to niche definitely give this a shot because this is a totally approachable Oud. If you have a bunch of Oud fragrances under your belt I would say this one just does not stand out to me. Lastly for a fragrance with the word licorice in the title, where is it? I get no licorice, anise or star anise. I think this is going to be a YMMV sort of situation. On me this dries down to a nice approachable leather Oud. I find leather to be more than wearable but is never my preference. I suppose my issue here is based off of the name I was expecting cedar and anis. What I get is leather and Oud. This will come down to my wife. If she reacts to this like she does Le Lion we shall make it rain licorice wood if not thank you for the experience and I am sure I will sample more of your fine products in the future. It projected really well for three hours then it begins to fade in and out.

Elegant woods, I don't get a lot of spices, but beware the smoke ! IT IS VERY SMOKY which is why I love it. The smoke is of burned wood with a slight background of frankincense (definitely not Arabic bukhoor, as that is a different category of smoke for me). I've smelled something similar before, so this is not unique. maybe Complex by Boadicia? EDIT: no, it's actually very similar to the newer batches of "By the Fireplace" which are less sweet and more smoky. Also similar are middle eastern fragrances such as Ameer Al Oudh Intense.

Licorice Woods reminds me of the whole licorice root you can purchase at the local health food co-op or from the Chinese medicine purveyor in Chinatown. By itself, it's an interesting scent - but it is amazing for adding (or emphasizing) an anise note without adding sweetness. I've personally been using it with my bottle Lolita Lempicka (the strange, uncanny valley version in the green box). Fun as a sample.

Testing this blind by pulling it out of the Scentexplore bag, I do not initially look at the brand, fragrance name, or notes. Initial impression was a sweet leathery fragrance but it quickly dried down to a very, very sweet rum-leather with an herbal quality, almost like burnt sugar. There's a familiar adult candy tone, but the sweetness is overwhelming at times. After a while sweetness dies down and the leathery-rum element matures (thankfully) with a little smokiness coming through. For most of the day it stays a woodsy-leathery element with an herbal sweet side. It reminds me a little bit of herby liquor, but far less alcoholic. Looking at the name, the herb element is revealed, but I never got a strong sense of licorice, or anise. Looking at the notes, yes the anise and licorice add something, but to me they are just not syncing with the others. The black pepper herb side is there but not its spice. I get the elemi, and strange mix of orchid, dark side of jasmine, and woods with amber, but pleasant, fun and weird, or romantic this fragrance just misses for me across the board. Its complex and layered, but a pass.