Hemp & Ginger

This is a regal fragrance! I do not detect oud...but it does have a rugged peppery leather accord! Upon spraying, your nostrils flare from the bright ginger opener! 10 out of 10!

I've tried most all of the Clean Avant Garden line and this fragrance diverges in that it is very, very spicy and has quite good lasting power on me. When I first spray it, it is overpowering ginger and black pepper which is a little too spicy for me. However, as it dries down, it mellows to a nice medium amount of spice and seems to lose it's sharper back pepper edge. I can definitely see it working as a laying fragrance, because what lasts on the skin is nothing but spice. However, if you live for spicy, strong fragrances, this will definitely be your jam.

Bought this as a gift for my SO who normally likes unisex, spicy and fresh fragrances. The opening was quite sweet and flowery, more floral than spicy. Then it settled into an interesting woody spicy blend. The ginger is very authentic, and the cardamom mimics the scent if hemp rope in a cool way! Personally I liked it very much. Not sure if it's something I could wear myself as the sillage is quite strong, but on others it's fascinating.

This reminds me of a lighter, fresher, more pared-down Black Saffron. It’s even got the leather (I’m genuinely surprised there’s none listed in the notes, so strong is the leather impression!), but none of the raspberry aspect of the Byredo scent. For that reason I think this one feels more traditionally masculine, though of course it can be worn by anyone. I can also see the comparison to Lutens’ ginger scent, though this one is ‘cooler’ and less reminiscent of actual food and drink. I think I will stick to my Lutens, but I’m glad I’ve had the chance to sample.

Very spicy, very woody. The cardamom does a wonderful job softening up the scent a bit. Unisex but definitly on the masculine side. I can tolerate spicy scents, but this only works for me paired up with a fresh (maybe floral) scent. Tried it today layered with Burberry's Sheer Brit and I smelled absolutely wonderful. Not a safe blindbuy!