Bast

Originally, I was not very keen on incense/amber forward fragrances that were not really grounded in sweetness, but this definitely changed my mind (or at least it contributed to that, maybe my tastes in fragrances have changed). When I first smelt it in person at Jovoy, I thought that this would be a dark, resinous, incense-lead fragrance due to turn loud and off-putting over time. Fortunately, this was not the case with Bast. Honestly, I have been looking for something like this for a while; incense that hovers over a bed of resins, with a warmth that carries itself in the cooler temperatures, but not too much to where it is nauseating, especially for the warmer months. It has some sweetness to it, but that does not dominate over the overall composition of the scent , which I am thankful for. It does not scream at you, nor does it remain silent. I wore this both in the day and in the evening in Southern France, where temperatures would reach over 30 degrees Celsius in the day, and under 15 degrees Celsius in the evening. It performed extremely well on me; I never got tired of it, regardless if I had worn it several days in a row. I even wore this to the gym which, initially, I thought was madness, but I didn't care, it smells that good. I find it very comforting to wear, especially as it develops overtime on the skin. If you can, do try and sample this; there are plenty of amber/incense fragrances out there to choose from, like Ambra Aurea from Profumum Roma for example, but I genuinely think Bast is an incredibly well executed fragrance for how much it costs. I am pleasantly surprised by Anti, and the house's other offerings are also great (Nashi Toro would be second to Bast).

I love this one, I was at Jovoy Paris and I spotted in the corner behind the cashier booth, kinda hidden, the Anti display with its full timeline lineup, the bottles, the whole story, it immediately made me super intrigued. I tested all of them on blotters and went on exploring other fragrances in the store, and at some point I was sniffing something on my blotters that smelled absolutely insane, to the point where I was scrambling through all my blotters trying to figure out which one it was, and it turned out to be Bast. it's absolutely INSANE, which is exactly what I wrote in my notes, such a powerful and beautiful scent that takes you so deep into it, it envelops you, envolves and takes you on a very long trip. it's also thanks to this fragrance that got me into testing other incense fragrances, Liturgie des Heures, Cardinal, and CDG's incense lineup, where I eventually discovered that I genuinely love church-like/religious incense fragrances. Bast takes all of that and adds its own very unique twist, hand in hand with amber which is really present in this. longevity is awesome too, I could smell it on my skin, clothes and bedsheets for 2-3 days despite showering every day, which I don't mind at all, I love fragrances that stick on you like that. absolutely love love love it, cannot wait to daily this in fall/winter, or even on certain nights

BAST by @anti.parfum Stepping into the golden dust of 2000 BC has never felt more visceral. This was the one I was truly looking forward to wearing and it did not disappoint in the slightest. It delivered exactly what I hoped for yet in ways I never expected. From the notes I was anticipating something gourmand and sweet but right from the opening there was this slightly smoky and animalic green nuance that was just gorgeous. It felt like a feline formula with a mystical edge, opening like the heavy bronze doors of an ancient temple. This is humanity’s first documented perfume reimagined with a bold intensity that feels both sacred and modern. The fragrance stayed beautifully linear for a good six hours before I started to get a hint of something citrusy coming through, something slightly sharp but only fleeting in the background. Then just when you think the scent has settled completely, the Greek saffron and incense absolute really start to shine through. The ambers and myrrh reveal something equally as beautiful and perfect. Sweet and resinous and incredibly sensual. I now completely understand the hype surrounding Sidonie Lancesseur’s creation. It is a protective blend of ancient divinities turned into a modern spell. Full bottle worthy 100%.

Beautiful scent, it begins with a blast of amber and spices that may be impressive at first and let you think that this is a powerhouse, a bit like Ambra Aurea, but to the contrary of the later this will calm down very quickly while entering in it's "Bois d'Argent" phase where the incense will softly take the lead until the quite amber/vanillic dry down. Even thought the opening is strong and massive overall the scent is soft and won't project much, it will stay all day on cloth but don't expect people to smell it on you unless they get closer. Beware that it will only give you a light and delicate bubble scent which ok for me as I have numerous amber powerhouses and having this kind of proposal offers a variety of choices. The perfume comes in a wooden box (nice touch) and its sleeve and I have to highlight that beautiful and heavy brushed metal cap. Scent and evolution: 8,5/10 Projection: 1,5/3 Longevity: 2/3 Presentation: 1,75/2 Price: 1,25/2 (200€ for 100ml but take into account that this comes from a small niche house + interesting story telling behind the brand and each fragrance) Overall: 15/20

Probably my favorite Ambery/Resinous fragrance to date, and my personal favorite from the Anti line! Absolutely fucking gorgeous. Opens up with a brilliant blast of cardamom and resins, and as it dries down gets creamier and creamier. I wish I could just lay in a blanket of this. Seriously amazing, if you love resinous/ambery fragrances please do your nose a favor and smell this. With having said that I will most definitely be picking up a full bottle of this eventually along with half of the line. My rating: 10/10 (An absolute masterpiece, and a beautiful composition)