Declination in Black

i didn’t know what to expect, because before ordering i thought this would be a neutralized tropical scent. however, the tropical notes mostly round out the rest- the rest of the accords are pretty dominant on their own and mesh together mostly as such. it’s sort of haunting in a way as it provoked a sense of fear as if i was being stalked in a dark lonely alley way. even the name implies a negative turn of events. smells nice, but did invoke something very creepy for me. mostly masculine, but works unisex for someone who wants something ruggedly feminine.

This is a strange one. 1ml dabber sample was lovely on a strip test - dark, complex, a little funky, and had me coming back to the paper throughout the day in that "what *is* this?" intrigue so many of us are hunting for. Almost fruity, almost creamy, with a bright sweetness that struggled against the darker leanings of the profile. No one thing is the star of the show for this. Strong cedar base with a soft, supple leather, balanced with muted hints of vanilla and patchouli continuing the struggle between pleasant and dark, loudly topped by the funkiness of the pink pepper and a LaCroix fruitiness from a light mango. The clove isn't forwardly apparent, but adds a little touch of spice. Could not find coconut anywhere in here, which was a good thing for me. Skin test is where it got weirder, and something ammonic was washing out everything I smelled on the paper. I went back and forth on it so much I ordered a 2ml spray to figure out what was going on, and it immediately gave straight urea on my skin, which only intensified as it dried down. There's a lot to love here, but strongly recommend a spray sample first, especially if the pink pepper/ambergris elements lean pissy on you.