Drakon

Initial impressions Wearing Carner Drakon yet again. About my seventh wear in a couple weeks of owning this. I feel like this fragrance makes like ten others in my wardrobe unnecessary. How can I describe it? Guerlain Bois Mysterieux but rendered with the rough edges of TF Noir Anthracite and shades of Gucci Guilty absolute. But a more prominent givco oud, too. There's also a lot of eugenol...clove and pimento berries (to my nose). One of the largest doses of isobutyl quinoline/pyralone I've encountered, and tons of oak moss (real oak moss listed in the ingredients, woo!) In the dry down. Tucked under all the spicy fire and brimstone and black leather is a green fougere like the original Polo. In summary, It's some kind of mashup of: Bond Harrods Oud (also know as Harrods Swarovski Oud. ) yes, the same AMAZING oud accord from that scent, similar leather (but more pronounced) but overall much drier and harsher without the prominent myrrh of Harrods Oud. The orange blossom/bay leaf/greenery from Guerlain's Bois Mysterieux. The edgy pepper and galbanum of Noir Anthracite, and a similar dark green/black/purple vibe (though with much more burnt orange, some again to the Guerlain in that regard). The classic even everso slightly soapy greenness from classic Polo. Maybe even some Italian Cypress too - been awhile since I've smelled that but it is popping into my head for some reason. Overall it is dark green and a bit ashen but there's this glowing orange ember (the pulsating red pepper warmth of the isobutyl quinoline and eugenol tempered by a deep and woody/herbal orange blossom) that is ever present and makes it a bit warmer and more approachable than Noir Anthracite or say, French Lover. The oud in this smells very much like Bond Harrods Oud (green/gold bottle) which is my favorite rendition of oud. The spices and deep orange blossom very distantly remind me of L'anarchiste but this is much deeper and darker, and with that edgy green bite of French Lover or Noir Anthracite. This is an extrait de Parfum and performs like one. Two sprays max - projection is great for many hours and longevity is almost too long, the oak moss and leather are still fairly noticeable 24 hours later after a shower.

Oh. my. God. Yup, absolute love. The first try surprised me. I liked it but wasn't entirely sold, it seemed to stick close to skin. Second wear I was active and caught whiffs of it and I was thrilled. Third time I paid more attention to it and by the time it wore out I was ordering a bottle. Another winner from Carner Barcelona. I'm admittedly a huge fan of Carner's black/bestial series and this is no exception. As a lover of dragons, this is an absolute wonder. The brand's description is actually very accurate to me. That cypress/cypriol opening along with that musky (no musk here, so maybe the neroli gives that effect?? or the akigalawood?) edge is very much what I'd expect. It's smoky, musky and as a reptile lover, there's that edge of reptilian smell in there, very faint but it's there alright (for the unaware, it's a slightly fishy, musty smell). Then 5-10 minutes in, that blast of peppery, spicy smoke with a very faint oudy hint (there's no oud here, it's the actual akigalawood, to me it's like a darker cedar aroma, possibly supported by the balsam fir) and then leather wraps it up and keeps it from becoming too harsh. It's warm, fiery, musky, dangerous, mysterious and confidence-boosting. Drakon is right. This is draconic and I love it. So enough dragon gushing. Beyond the notes description, this shares clear DNA similarities to Liquides Imaginaire's Buveur de Vent (another house which I adore). It shares the leather and the spice but whereas Buveur has that basmati rice kind of vibe and a more equine edge, Drakon leans smokier and pepper-forward. This lasts a good while, although not as long as Buveur de Vent, much sadly. I get about 5-6 hours on skin (Buveur will last all day, 8 and more). I still adore this and sometimes you're just going out and want something statement making. This will do it. Dressed up, this will get you noticed for sure. Colder seasons will work for this, obviously. You could get away with it on cooler nights in the warmer seasons but apply sparingly.

Without a doubt, this is one of the finest compositions I've ever had the pleasure of smelling. Admittedly, I’m biased—I have a soft spot for anything in the aromatic-woody family—but even taking that into account, this fragrance is exceptional. The cypress lends a crisp, green freshness, while the sandalwood and leather bring just the right amount of depth and sophistication. It’s a complex, well-balanced scent that makes a strong case for becoming your go-to fragrance on spring or summer evenings. Performance-wise, it holds its own with over 8 hours of longevity and a modest yet noticeable projection. I was fortunate enough to snag it at half-price during a sale. But honestly... I’d happily pay full price for this bottle of olfactory brilliance.

For the first 30 minutes to an hour, it smells like a dragon breathing down your neck while you’re standing in the middle of a pine forest. It’s truly spectacular. After that, it dries down into a more mature, foresty scent. The sulfurous, almost likes it’s going to lit on fire smell fades away, leaving behind a deep woody scent. On my skin, it lasts at least 8 hours. 9.8/10

Oh wow. Smells a bit like Kilian’s Dark Lord or some of the masculine Bottega Venetas. Black leather based fir and cypress with woods and pepper. Masculine, dry, aromatic woody and leather with decent performance for those who miss the discontinued Bottegas (not to mention their performance) or want something close to Dark Lord, but not a Dark Lord.