Ruben

I love this - it leans slightly more masculine than what I I would usually choose, but I do love to wear something a little manly to bed ;). I've pretty much stopped looking at labels - fragrance is fragrance, but this is built truly with a man in mind. I would love to smell this on the man next to me, and whatever lingers when he's gone, but after 30 years together my gorgeous man is still very much anti scent for himself. He rarely comments on what I’m wearing, so I have well and truly given up.This is very much a glorious classic cyphre with the usual suspects - woody, mossy, lavender, and a lingering bitter citrus that keeps it sharp and fresh. But it's been built in a new way - and the longer I wear it, the more I think I could come to love this on my own wrists. It's manly, it's modern, it's classic, but it has a little something that keeps my nose drifting back to my wrist. Overall - it's got a good punch, lasts forever, and will work everywhere for all occasions. I purchased my sample and the contents and opinions are mine.

A heritage fragrance, one that evokes a sense of old-world refinement; a man in ageing times. Close up on skin it smells like a fireplace to me. However, when I'd get whiffs in the air I began to smell a lot of the citrus and orange blossom. Earthy, dry and a large smoky-mossy component that gives it a real vintage base to it, this is what consumed most of the scent for me. I thoroughly enjoyed wearing this, it's masculine, a good performer and is unique enough for someone to look twice. Transitional enough to manage in the day and night in my opinion - this is a real signature scent. ~ A freshly-showered man in his rocking chair, the scent of aftershave oils rubbed between his fingers, lavender sprigs drying in the corner, and a smell of smoke drifting from the fireplace.

Citrus, oakmoss and lavender in unison. A beautiful mix, I must say, and it reminds of what my dad used as after shave back in the day. Not exactly my cup of tea, but damn, this is made well.

I ordered 6 samples: Gretel, Wicked Mistress, Fall, Masquerade, Tobacco Jam, Muse plus an extra of Habanera and they threw this one in as a freebie I suppose and I’m glad they did because I never would have thought to try it but it might actually be my favourite of all the 8 samples I got! Errr to describe it briefly it has that kinda rubber tire smell that I usually associate with vetiver but thats not listed as a note... sorry I am bad at describing scents lol. I suppose it’s more masculine and I don’t wear many masculine scents (other than Interlude man by Amouage, an all time favourite of mine) but this is one of the few masculine scents I would actually wear!

Similar notes to Vigour but a different way of looking at the same theme. Where Vigour is a little one-note, this is more layered. The citrus sits alongside the lavender here, rather than the lavender taking on the leading role, and as it dries down it becomes a little more bitter / mossy. It's not for me, but it's nicely done.