Artaban

Artaban can not be appreciated if approached with the notion that it will in any way resemble modern perfumery. As it is a "reinterpretation" of this ancient blend of herbs with which the Roman elite doused themselves more than 1500 years ago, it should not come as a surprise that there is a certain primitivism to its nature. However, I would not dismiss it as merely an extravagant olfactory artifact—I for one find it quite stimulating, not unlike a well-compounded aromatherapeutic blend, and has me feeling wistful or a time about twelve years or so when I studied aromatherapy and felt a spiritual connection to such oils a spikenard, calamus, and the like. Both appear here (the latter must be a beta-asarone free oil) much to my delight, along with sweetly herbaceous and pungent marjoram, and the impression is that it is meant as more a consecration than an accompaniment for one's vanity. I disagree with others who suggest that anyone who cobbles together several oils can over a short time put together something like this regardless of skill. That reminds me of those who look at a Rothko and say "anyone can do that." This transmits deliberation, unearthing a time when botany was a source of much mythology and veneration. Bitter, spicy, and loamy, Artaban reminds me what would be concoction shrouded in secret by monks and dispensed as just as much to be applied as a medicinal tincture as to perfume one's skin. I am quite happy to own it and plan to use it on nights set aside for reflection.

Spicy, herbal, sweet & strong. Loved at first sniff.

Resinous woody spicy scent designed to evoke the Roman ‘Royal Perfume’, part of a series of scents intended to recreate ancient scents using modern techniques. The main players in this scent are labdanum resin, spices (marjoram, cinnamon, cardamom), styrax, opoponax, costus and spikenard which surround a central myrrh note. Overall, the masculine leaning scent has moderate to strong projection and good longevity. It is very reminiscent of other resinous slightly smoky scents like Serge Lutens Chergui for instance. Overall nice but not very uncommon. Enjoy!

IDK...Something is clashing here, IMO. I think it's the Marjoram that's getting in the way of what might be an interesting fragrance. I usually like most of these notes, but it's not working for me here.

We are in the same framework as Santa Maria Novella perfumes, so if you know this historic type of scents and you like them you cant say its randomly mixed materials without any idea. You cant look on it as contemporary perfume, but more as herbal water, despite this fact it doesnt smell outdated. Opening is very soft herbal coca cola beverage, second testing give me sparkling rose & incense opening. How time pass it started to smell like you had perfume but it got evaporated in heat, it smells like summer breeze which came from meadow full of flowers, you feel soft and distance trace of some flowers, but cant specific one. It also reminds me smell of pollen from trees. It smells clean like cream (nivea) and some traces of dried vintage green herbs which are loosing power. i can imagine you would like to smell like this when you are going to sleep, soft, relaxed, it smells to me like the smell in air of people you like, this loving comforting homefeeling feeling. Yes, Its smokey, but imagine this smoke more like smell of heat from fire than fire or smoke itself, you cant trace fume, its just the pulsating “woody” aspect of flame if you can say it like this. Very safe, non challenging, easy ride, just grab white tunica and have a walk around historic ruins. I will say its proto barber style fragrance from old romans times, soft bitter herbal - medicinal. Very nice composition, sometimes its really nice to smell something what aim is not so scream loud. Nice subtle skin scent.