Beån

I do have more to say about beån. But for now i just want to get out of me that this is a really nice alternative to Opus XIV – Royal Tobacco from Amouage if you want a less expensive alternative or you want something a little less beast mode but love the smoky somewhat salty liquorice accord of the royal tobacco. Then you can find that here. I think it is the fennel together with the lavender and the tonka that creates a liquorice smelling accord even though liquorice or liquorice smelling herbs like anise are not present in this concoction, at least according to what’s listed here on fragrantica. But regardless the overall vibe is very similar. I notice that some interprets the notes here as chocolate. And even though I can sort of understand how that happens, especially if you are not from a culture immersed in liquorice of all kinds like us Scandinavian folks, (which the name and the brand sort of plays with even though it’s not a Scandinavian brand...) - I must kindly try to push you a little further into the sultry goodnesses of liquorice which is more what I get from Beån. As this is a lot more liquorice than it will ever be chocolate. So peple looking for chocolate won’t be disappointed... And liquorice loving people don’t miss out... So if you ask me beån does smell like royal tobacco’s little brother (or sister) who doesn’t need to go all regal in but is allowed to smooth things out a bit... if that makes sense. This is woody, and smoky and clearly has a salty liquorice vibe that is quite intoxicating. And even though it may not blow your socks off like the royal tobacco does with its beast mode projection and crowd owning silage. Beån still has that tempting vibe that makes you want to stick your nose into its salty (and sweet) liquorice smoky sweet woodyness again and again. It projects a lot less compared to royal tobacco but still gives off a moderate projection. And keeps you as its wearer in a nice little scent bubble that may not offend anyone even if they do not like either smoke or liquorice. But still keep you in its indulgent sultryness. The dry down is softer for sure and there you may detect some of the orange and neroli as well which comes out when the smoky ness dispers a little. A true comfort scent in my opinion that suits all people who like this kind of scent profile. On me it lasts about 6-8 hours on my skin but becomes a bit more of a skin scent as the day goes on. ❣️

I do like this one and I will wear it and be happy in it - it is a very warm, softly spicy, comforting hug of a scent - I just can't quite get past how much it puts me in mind of the newer formulation of CK Obsession. I don't know why, but it is a really strong connection for me. Lots of love for this house! Super strong ethics, and OK, I'm not a fan of big bitter woodies or patchoulli ('bark' and 'patch', respectively), and 'cake' is terrifyingly sweet, but the rest of them are REALLY really good!! Big recommendation!! - the sample set is a brilliant way in too!

So, I have a friend whose nickname is Bean and so finding out there's an actual scent called simply "Bean" as well (even though they're taking our Swedish å letter in everything they do for some weird reason), I knew I had to get it for him for his birthday. Also reading the notes and saying it was about giving vindication to the tonka bean, and that the focus was supposed to be vanilla vanilla vanilla, I felt that it was kind of a safe bet, because who DOESN'T like vanilla? It's a reason it's a code word for "the most common" for a reason. So my package arrives in my mailbox and it REEKS of licorice. And I check the box and see that it is indeed from Ånd Fragrances and I realise the bottle must have broken during transport. So I film myself opening the box and, just as predicted, a bit over a third of the bottle is empty and the inside of the bottle carton is HEAVILY stained and overwhelmingly smells of licorice. So I write the company and tell this this happened that I have video evidence that this is not just me decanting for dear life, and ask for a new bottle and a freight slip to return this broken bottle. To my surprise customer support told me immediately that they'd send me a new bottle without any extra cost and that I could keep the broken bottle. And so my friend got his full, immaculate bottle and I got a bonus perfume that I've enjoyed over the last 18 months or so. And so for the scent itself, I again have to lean into territory perhaps only swedes will know, but there is a cough syrup in Swedish pharmacies, or a least used to, called Quilla Simplex. It's a very heavy sticky syrup. This is EXACTLY that in a scent. And as mentioned twice already, as much as the official words from the company described is as the revenge of the tonka bean, this is a LICORICE scent front and center. Now, I got the Edt and not the Edp so am not sure how the concentrations perhaps changes the scent in a heavier quality, but for the EDT I can only smell licorice, in a warm, synthetic way, for the first hour or so, and then the tonka bean comes through and it becomes a very pleasant skin scent vanilla that actually lasts for quite a long time. It's not something I'd buy again as it is VERY medicinal, even for me who seem to have a knack for scents others perceive as medicinal, and while I kinda do enjoy eating licorice it's still quite divisive, even in Sweden the country of salty licorices. But it's definitely a unique scent that doesn't smell like any other perfume I've put my nose to so far, so there's definitely that.

Chocolate orange goodness! Bean opens with sweet dark tonka with lavender and orange. Orange like the juicy fruit of a slightly overripe orange, not the light peel scent. It quickly settles to become a more aromatic version of itself, with a herbal note added that I couldn't put my finger on. Maybe a whisper of a floral note as well. It's quite a thick scent, with the orange and herbal aspects keeping it from being too heavy. The tonka used is a bit unusual, and actually reminds me of some of the kids vanilla flavoured lip balms from the 90's. Simon Constantine from ånd created perfumes for Lush so maybe that's where the memory comes from. After about a half hour of wear, Bean settles to smell just like a chocolate orange on the skin! A little unexpected but as a lover of Terry's Chocolate Orange I personally quite enjoy it. Try Bean if you're into gourmands, or looking for something a bit fun and a little unique for casual events or days out with the kids. I think the heaviness and sweetness would become cloying in the heat so keep it for cooler weather. Edit: I asked my partner what they thought of Bean after wearing it for about an hour and he instantly said "liquorice!". I do really see how the herbal note in the dry down could be perceived as aniseed which I hadn't realised earlier.

I tried this earlier today, (a couple of collegues and I clubbed together to purchase a 10ml bottle at £35) It's much more smoky than i had imagined it would be, but in a good way. It's not a 'smooth vanilla either. Very warm, herbal and deep. I almost got hints of Lush's long discontinued 'Creme Anglaise' body lotion and a massage bar from the Lush Spa which I think was called Confidence. Very unisex, especially with the fennel note.