Tuberose Absolute & Sandalwood

This is heavenly. I’ve always been a musk and spice lover, but am hankering for tuberose lately - but the ‘wrong’ king of tuberose tends to induce an instant migraine. I adore Fracas on others, but she stamps on my head with stilettos if I dare wear her. Carnal Flower teases me and lets me enjoy her 50% of the time, the other 50% it’s adoration from afar only. Cochine’s Tuberose & Sandalwood is a very friendly tuberose - she’ll happily accompany you on your daily errands, reminding you that she’s there every now and then with a cheery laugh. She’s not the type to lure you on a shopping trip, then rough you up in an alleyway and steal your purse. On me, the sandalwood is playing a very subtle supporting role - there on a long inhale, but only if you’re looking. It gives the tuberose depth, but never overshadows it. Everything here is so balanced, but you’d expect that from Maurice Roucel. Sillage isn’t huge, neither is it insignificant. Longevity on me is roughly 6 hours, with it becoming creamier once the lemony top notes have worn off. Gorgeous!

It was love at first 'sniff' and I'm not even a huge tuberose lover! This perfume is just gorgeous! A fresh, green opening, slightly powdery floral notes with a bit of sweetness in the heart & creamy sandalwood in the base. You won't find any sharp edges in this composition; it is very well balanced, natural smelling & made of high quality ingredients. The scent is ultra feminine, alluring, just beautiful; perfect for spring & summer, even autumn. I will definitely add it to my collection.

Usually pepper seems to be amped up on my skin, but not in this one. It’s just a light kick in the first seconds of the opening. After that it’s creme de la creme with a thick tropical ylang mellowing the instant flickering rush of tuberose and a powdered veil of iris. Dry down is very smoldering; subtly smooth and expensive leather made even more exquisite and alluring by the depth of luxurious and lush sandalwood. Heavenly. Really! Damn it’s good 😍

Cochine definitely love using tuberose in their fragrances, with Tuberose Absolute & Sandalwood being their most intense. It’s also one of their best, that is, if tuberose is a note you scan stomach - as there is no hiding from it here. The tuberose itself, thankfully, doesn’t smell like that sickly bubblegum that a lot of tuberose fragrances have, instead it is more supple and bright, favouring a dense soapy facet instead. To counter this, a copious amount of ylang is present which flattens the tuberose with its buttery, creamy smoothness, alongside sandalwood and orris. It’s all rather lovely, until that black pepper hits you in the back of the throat unnecessarily. There’s a running theme with these Cochine fragrances, that for the most part they smell great, but there always seems to be one note which I don’t get on with, somewhat ruining my enjoyment of it. They’re all pleasant, but none have been loves for me, this one included.

It’s a unisex composition that opens with a light citrus accord touched by a subtle hint of pepper. After a short while, tuberose comes to the forefront, intertwined with ylang ylang and iris accords. Although tuberose dominates, it is neither overly sweet nor old-fashioned, or granny-like, instead, it’s classy and elegant. The composition is grounded in leather and sandalwood notes, which lend the fragrance depth and a slightly earthy character. On my skin, longevity is around five hours with moderate projection. It is definitely a scent worth trying.