Champa Attar

This one is so interesting. Just as Mr. Adam describes, the most prominent smell of the red champaca is that of fermented grapes. Nearly soda or kool-aid like upon application, but with it’s complexity unfurling immediately. An incredibly deep aroma, with nuances of plum & dried apricots and an overall musky & tannic quality that’s somehow simultaneously reminiscent of both young wine and tea. Some slight velvety, cocoa-like undertones as Mr. Adam mentions as well, and with the buttery, earthy sandalwood supporting from the back initially, and becoming more prominent into the drydown. Definitely a naturally bewitching aroma, one that from the first sniff I couldn’t help but associate with Dionysus or Bacchus, scenes flooding into my mind of satyrs and nymphs dancing among the vineyards, spilling overflowing cups of wine while they prance in ecstasy to a divine panflute melody, the late afternoon air itself drunk on all the intoxicating vapors... This one’s definitely for special occasions, when you feel like becoming the god of wine yourself. Sillage strong longevity great. At $75 for a full 3g, with the great presentation that’s always to be expected of ALD, this is a phenomenal deal. Definitely super niche, but I could hardly consider it money poorly spent even for those who don’t like it as it’s such a novelty. More could definitely be said on the sandalwood here and the balance between the two as it progresses, but I shall only say that the staying power of the champak leaves little to be desired. Bravo, good sir!

I have tried it on my skin a few times. Unfortunately I don't think it smells like champaca and hardly as sandalwood as well. I grow a champaca tree in my garden so I am familiar with the scent. The floral in this fragrance smells more like Plumeria/frangipani, which is not bad, but not exactly what I was looking for. There is a woody scent in the background that is sandalwood, though it does not smell like creamy or even dry sandalwood, but with a slightly plasticky tinge to it. Overall not bad, but not as good as I had hoped for.

I’ve just purchased this. Will give my thoughts presently.