Spice Of London

Stumbled upon this one. Seems to be a relatively new release and I was pleasantly surprised. It first hits you with a blast of juniper but quickly turns into a very fresh vetiver with some pepper and musk in the background. It was only after an hour or so until I realised why I I liked it so much. That is because it reminds me of another favourite of mine, Hermes’ Declaration. It’s not a copy but rather a more modern, fresher and much, much softer interpretation of the Declaration DNA without any of its sharp edges. In this way it is more restrained, a bit more contemporary and classy (even somewhat powdery), if that makes any sense. On the downside, it lacks any distinct personality that makes it stand out in the crowd. Some may even dismiss it as some sort of spicy gin/tonic kind of smell. I love Vetiver, but despite its freshness I always feel that vetiver dominant fragrances have an old school gentlemanly vibe, that can cross the border into outdated territory. Not so much here. If you like Juniper, Vetiver and spices, you should give this a try. I don’t know if it’s worth the price tag though. Especially if you already have Declaration or something like Terre d’Hermes Intense Vetiver, which gives you 80% of the same vibes without loosing an arm and leg. Still, a very nice release imo. Somewhat contrary to trend of peppery sweet, oud wood ambroxan bombs that seem to dominate the market. Inoffensive, classy yet youthful enough to be worn. Something that is fresh and uplifting, with a spicy twist that is very likeable and should garner some compliments.