Cold Blooded

Continuing my exploration of the house of Curatrix, today I'm turning my attention to their fragrance Cold Blooded. What initially compelled me to acquire this particular sample was the distinctive and prominent gunpowder note. While this is undeniably an unusual inclusion in a fragrance, it's actually not my first encounter with it. I previously reviewed Xerjoff's Don, which also featured a gunpowder note, and I thoroughly appreciated how it contributed to that composition. Now, I'm keenly interested to see if Cold Blooded will not only incorporate it but potentially even improve upon it. Let's get into it and discover what this fragrance has in store for me. Opening The opening is a bold declaration of smoky intensity, intriguing spice, and a comforting nutty warmth. The primary notes that immediately register are smoke, chestnut, pimento, and gunpowder, with chestnut and smoke standing as the most prominent. The chestnut immediately captures my nose with a warm, nutty, and subtly sweet accord. Its composition is remarkably similar to the chestnut note famously utilized in Emporio Armani's Stronger With You Absolutely. Trailing closely behind the chestnut comes the smoke note, imbuing the opening with a permeating yet never overwhelming smoky presence. Next, pimento and gunpowder weave into the composition. The pimento imparts a warm and spicy supporting accord, synergizing beautifully with the chestnut and subtly recalling the pimento note found in Hugo Boss The Scent Elixir, though not quite as "in-your-face." Lastly, the gunpowder lingers gracefully in the background, a unique smoky accord with distinctly sharp, almost metallic undertones. As I noted, my only other experience with a gunpowder note was in Xerjoff's Don, and this particular rendition is strikingly reminiscent of it. There's also a subtle brightness in the opening, which I attribute to the pink pepper, acting more as a nuanced modifier than a prevalent note. Dry Down The dry down solidifies into a powerful expression of smoky depth, continued nutty comfort, and sturdy woodiness. The primary notes I discern are smoke, gunpowder, cedar, and chestnut, with smoke and gunpowder now being the most commanding. The dry down is, quite literally, a "smoke show," with the smoke and gunpowder blending seamlessly to create this distinctive, sharp, and metallic smokiness that defines its character. This robust core is then joined by chestnut and cedar. The chestnut maintains its warm, nutty tonality from the opening, but with its inherent sweetness slightly amplified. Lastly, the cedar lays a firm foundation of sturdy woodiness in the background, devoid of the "pencil shaving" accord that this note can sometimes carry. Performance The initial projection is remarkably strong, effortlessly filling a room with its presence. Sillage matches that intensity, leaving a notably heavy and discernible scent trail. Even after approximately four hours, the projection remained robust, holding strong at around six feet, and the scent trail was still easily noticeable. At the seven to eight-hour mark, the projection had softened somewhat, settling to about three feet, and the scent trail, though much lighter, remained perceptible. The fragrance ultimately receded to a skin scent around the nine-hour mark, demonstrating respectable tenacity. When to Wear Cold Blooded presents itself as a distinctive fall and winter fragrance, ideally suited for evening wear. This is precisely the type of fragrance that excels as a bold, stand-out choice for a special occasion, but its specific character suggests that it might be its primary best use. Its rich and nuanced depth makes it perhaps too intricate for everyday casual wear, while its eccentric and overtly niche profile might be too striking for formal events or a typical office environment. Blind Buy I would not classify this fragrance as a safe blind buy, primarily because it embraces a heavy-handed approach to its smoke and, particularly, its novel gunpowder accord. However, if you possess an appreciation for smoky fragrances but find yourself weary of the ubiquitous "incense-y designer smoke" notes, this is absolutely worth exploring for its distinctive interpretation. Final Verdict Cold Blooded proved to be a smoky masterpiece that utilized the gunpowder note with exceptional finesse. It never allowed the note to become acrid or off-putting; instead, it blended it beautifully with the chestnut and smoke, forging an olfactory experience that was both unusual and remarkably addictive. Not only did Curatrix, in my opinion, execute the gunpowder note more skillfully than Xerjoff, but they also thoroughly surpassed Don in terms of performance, delivering the strong and long-lasting projection and sillage that I've come to genuinely expect and appreciate from this house. Cold Blooded is undeniably a fragrance I could envision adding to my personal collection. However, as I've articulated in my previous reviews, the customer service experience I encountered with Curatrix has unfortunately left such a profoundly negative impression that I find myself unwilling to purchase their products at this time. Perhaps later down the road, after they've had sufficient time to reflect on how they choose to treat their customers, my stance might soften. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: Sillage: 9/10 Versatility: Low Mass Appeal: Low Gender: Masculine Value: Overpriced

Cold Blooded by Curatrix is a beautiful composition. This is a fragrance I adore from first spray to its final whisper. It begins with a slightly sweet, slightly fruity, slightly spicy, brightness, that's cloaked in a smoky, nutty, woody veil. The gunpowder note here isn't like fireworks—instead, in quiet intensity, it gives the fragrance its rare edge. It shapes the fragrance into something truly unique and unforgettable. After about 20 minutes it softens into an ambery, balsamic warmth with sweet florals and wood, that's carried into the dry down. The patchouli finally makes its appearance in the dry down and it's a gorgeous earthy powdery patchouli mixed with all the other notes. An absolutely stunning fragrance! What I love most is its balance: bold but wearable, distinctive without being overpowering. It can easily be worn casually during the day, yet it transforms beautifully for evening. Curatrix has created more than a perfume here—it is a presence, a quiet armor, a source of confidence. It belongs proudly among the treasures of niche perfumery.

The notes may paint a different picture than what this scent actually smells like. This is subtle, mysterious, and understated, not loud and overtly smoky. It’s extremely well blended at that. Opens with a creamy, richly nutty and warm roasted chestnut note a touch of sweet pimento berries. The heart is where you get a cold and powdery gun powder note, don’t think smoky and dry, but subtly soft and bitter. There’s a touch of sage too to freshen up the scent. The dry down is a sweetly woody and still warmly nutty scent with remnants of that cold powdery gunpowder from before. Cold Blooded couldn’t be a more fitting name for this.

This is truly a work of art. The opening is warm and nutty, with a spiciness coming through. It quickly brings in this smokiness that stays throughout the whole fragrance. It smells comforting, but there is a sharpness that comes through in this one, probably from the patchouli, although I don't find it patchouli-heavy. The dry down on skin is this intoxicating warm and spicy skin musk. That gunpowder is really transparent on the dry down, which makes it so unique and unlike anything I have in my collection. This could easily be a signature scent for the weirdos.

A very unique fragrance! My memory does not serve me well enough to write a robust review but I recall the pepper taking me for a whirl (in a good, impressed way!) after I picked up on it seconds after initial spray. This is smooth, rich, yet thrilling at the same time.