Soul

Great fragrance. Although technically unisex, it works very well for me as a man. I've noticed this scent smells quite different on my girlfriend's skin than it does on mine. It smells softer, less woody and more feminine on her. Apparently that's due to the differences in male vs female skin chemistries. Which is good news if you like unisex scents but don't necessarily want to smell like the opposite sex. Smooth, warm, inviting scent. It is an Eau de Parfum with very good sillage, projection and longevity. A small amount goes a long way, which makes this very economical, despite its niche pricing (which is still moderate for a niche fragrance). As a YSL M7 Oud Absolu owner, I'm not really getting the M7 Oud Absolu vibe with this fragrance. Which is fine by me. Both scents are great, but I love this one and am glad it's different to M7 OA. As an Interlude Man owner and appreciator, I'm also not getting the Interlude vibe either. Interlude is like getting smacked in the face with a baseball bat made of frankincense, while this fragrance is like getting kissed by a woman with soft full lips and long dark eyelashes. Interlude is stridently authoritative while Soul is smoothly sensual. Soul is also wearable in a wider range of situations than Interlude. The dry down is definitely better than the start. It takes about 30 minutes or more for the full complexity of this scent to reveal itself, so you need to be patient. But your patience will be richly rewarded. And after a longer period of time, say four or five hours or more, the scent will become even softer and smoother - more like Grand Soir by MFK. I agree with other reviewers who are shocked that this fragrance doesn't get more attention, because it certainly deserves more. I also agree with another reviewer who mentioned MFK Grand Soir. I like both fragrances and can smell their similarities, but they are different enough to appreciate in different ways. Highly recommended.

Costume National Soul Soulful. In the most exciting way possible. A person who wears this unisex beauty is perhaps the one who would take unraveling step by step. A glance into his or her humour will take you a step closer to a peak at their soul maybe? A shared smile together evokes a reciprocity coupled with honest apprehension. Charming nonetheless. Playful nonetheless. Measured? Yes. But boring in no way shape or form given that you remain at the same wavelength. The biggest compliment I can give Soul is that it wears like a Frederic Malle fragrance. It absolutely smashes it from the get go. All of you might have had the experience where from the very first spray you realise this is going to be amazing. Well this is that. And it's no surprise to be fair. The guy who did this does fragrances from FM as well. And as long as I've heard and seen (with Cyber Garden and I) Costume National don't hold back either with creativity or with the names that crate their fragrances with Antoine Lee and Julien Rasquinet creating the one's mentioned respectively. That aside this is a complete scent. Not many hit the olfactory bulb in such a rounded fashion as this one does. You're greeted with Oud,with Vanilla and just when it hits the oriental territory you've exciting nuances like Cardamom and Pink Pepper. Never very dull or muffy because Ambergris is always there giving this composition a beautiful breathability about it. Finally,the transition between the notes is delightfully mysterious. It changes and chops every now and then. Never stable. Never boring. It's a Kendrick Lamar verse when Kendrick was at his prime. Full of vibrancy, nostalgia, colours and charm. Costume National Soul,Mi Amor ♥️

Yet again, Costume National has bewildered and bedazzled me in one fell swoop. I'm a huge fan of 21, another of their fragrances that doesn't seem like it should quite make sense in theory, yet is absolutely captivating on skin. Soul has a very similar effect. For a long time time, I didn't seek it out, both because I had trouble finding a sample, and because I half-expected it to be just another boring synthetic amber. Once I was able to try it, though, I knew that it was anything but! Fischer84 below outlines the bizarrerie of Soul very well. The ambergris at its heart—which is incredibly bracing and salty—seems like it shouldn't work well with the equally realistic oud, which brings a dark, resinous, almost smoky quality. The two actually play together quite well, as the oud grounds the ambergris and prevents it from becoming too marine, while the ambergris's headiness elevates the heaviness of the oud. The cardamom, pepper, and bergamot create a sparkling spiciness, and the patchouli and vanilla round it out with some leafiness and smooth, sweet warmth, respectively. Later, the ambergris clings on, its salty edge softened a bit, and the oud is tempered more by the sweet vanilla. The blend and progression are superb. Taken together, this makes for an extremely refined, sultry, and unique fragrance. It's become one of those I wear in situations that call for both tranquility and confidence, along with Chanel No. 19, L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme, and Boudicca Wode, not because they smell at all alike (they don't), but because there is something strong and natural buzzing below their calm, refined surface. I feel that it infuses and fortifies me every time I smell it on myself.

M7 is the oud prototype for so many western perfumers and houses. Don't get me wrong I love M7 (the original and Oud Absolu) and sport it every autumn, but I am not looking for a clone or something similar and Soul by Costume National thank goodness is its own stand alone fragrance. First, the opening is very sweet with cardamom and citrus, the oud is there but muted a bit by the leather. The oud is a bit skanky but very tame. The patchouli runs in and adds another layer of earthiness and stamps out the oud a bit more. There is a sweet vanilla note that comes in at the base and is just great and not at all cloying. Soul is then covered in a fresh, slightly minty and salty aura with the geranium and ambergris. So yeah the notes run to the base and do not evolve much more than that. What does this all mean? Well, there are quality separated notes that form a very rich fragrance, that works very well in cold weather. The performance is decent (needs maceration). However, Soul is not groundbreaking and very linear. Does this fragrance earn its spot in a fall/winter rotation? Yes, Soul is a solid performer and gets the job done on a day or night out in the cold. The only drawback is that this composition lacks fun, uniqueness and ultimately.... Soul.

Deep down in your soul So I once wrote about Promise by FM, it is by the same Master Perfumer - Mr. Ropion. Promise is rich, deep, and bright via the fruity apple and rose combo, it interesting but fell short of a masterpiece. I wondered how that scent would smell like if it had oud. Guess What? Soul by Costume National is the answer! This smells very similar to promise but dare I say better? Certainly more value for money and certainly still interesting. What is striking is the "tangy apple accord" is apparently created without any apple actually in the frag. I think it is coming from the oud and ambergris, possibly patchouli. It could be tricky for a lesser skilled perfumer. Classic Dominique , he creates mimic accords by blending different notes like Rose and Cuir doesn't have Rose or Leather. This scent has a rich dry-down and the amber notes start to take over after the tangy opening and "Oudy" mid. Truly, his skill shines in this scent. It is ideal for fall and winter and a night out. Costume National boasts about high quality ingredients and this master perfumer shines as this scent is rare and should be sought after for the enthusiast and the pacifist alike. "A beautiful soul is never forgotten" - 4.64/5