Tempo Eau de Parfum

Update: We are in the heart of Springtime here in Baltimore. This really pops in the warmer weather: 80' or less, this is still fine. It's not a heavy fragrance. I do pick out a powdery Iris with the violet, that others mention. I have since purchased two of the best solo patch frags; Classic Patchouli and Lorenzo Patchouli. They have taught me that Tempo has more Patch dominance than I first thought. But I like this better for the other nuances. This is not as sweet as Classic Patchouli. I'm very pleased with the fragrance. It's a very classy and sophisticated patchouli. The bitter herbal mate, is a very unique scent that makes a great accord with the patchouli used. Mate was originally used to make a drink by the South American Indians. Very groovy, seriously my #1 Patchouli fragrance. Patchouli is often a secondary note, here it is much more than that, but the patchouli doesn't dominate the fragrance either. There are 3 different kinds of fine patchouli essences used, so I'm proberbly smelling some variety of patch, I never smelled befor, but it's very refined and unique patch, slightly medecinal, chocolaty, earthy, nutty. There also seems to be a very fine balsamic note used. It actually reminded me of Diptyque's Benjoin Boheme, their Benzoin fragrance. Benzoin has a nice nutty quality. I think one of the 3 patchouli varieties used here in Tempo, has a nutty quality, and that's why in reminds me of Benzoin. I think this will become a Dyptique classic. The composition is brilliant, it's unique, because of the mate/ patch accord, it's slightly spicy, and has a rosy tone from the pink pepper. Tempo is simple, yet intriguing, complete fragrance that is very pleasing and wearable. The mate plays an important role, and it's what I like most about this fragrance, as it makes an accord with the patch. Mate is a very dry, earthy, slightly bitter tea. It goes really well with the refined earthy patchoulis used. Mate is medecinal also, so it blends well with the patch medecinal quality. Mate is a bit like nutmeg, but more aromatic. The pink pepper adds some zest, the bergamot, freshness. There's a really nice violet leaf note. A recent reviewer highlighted the violet, and I think he's right: The violet patch accord is the genius here. It beautifully balances the earthy patch, and makes it moist and watery! The pink pepper is a little spicy, but it's also rosy. So together with the violet leaf, there is a bright floral nuance; a peppery rose I could say. The Mate also ads to a soft spiciness, but it's not too spicy overall. Clary sage usually has a leathery quality, but this Clary sage, is more earthy, like regular sage, and has a lavender quality. The sage and mate are making an accord with the patch. In the drydown, you get more of a straight up patchouli dominating, but it's soft and nice. This is a light Oriental Patchouli fragrance, so it's great for Fall and Winter, but it's fresh and luminous enough to be enjoyed durring Spring, and cooler Summer days. The projection is softly moderate, longevity is good. The Perfumer Olivier Pescheux is a great perfumer, who has done a great job here, as well as other newer Diptyque fragrances. This is a unique patchouli fragrance. Even if you don't like patchouli dominant fragrances, you may very well like this. Rating: 9/10 God bless. John 3:16

I dreamt about this perfume even though i used to dislike it. I dont know if it stemmed from the fact i was excited for fall for once in my life or if it was a divine message. But the day after i went to the store and smelled it. I was shocked! How could something i disliked so much suddenly smell so amazing? About a month later i decided to purchase it. And indeed, it holds up to my dreams. I used to really think patchouli was gross (even though it was one of the smells i enjoyed most when i was younger) which made write off Tempo as a whole. I realized the issue isn’t patchouli itself, it is just perfumers not being good at their job (sorry). A natural patchouli doesnt have to smell crude and moldy and metallic, even though that is what most patchoulis on the market smell like. It all stems from the heavy handed use of all ingredients to create something overly loud and powerful instead of something refined and beautiful Tempo, although a straightforward fragrance, is full of layers that add to its refined wear. It is a patchouli first and foremost, and you wont be getting a different scent from it every day. It is not complex, yet shows you many facets. You start with a short lived camphor note that is more reminiscent of medicine than pine trees, but in the best way of course. Then, you get something slightly citrusy, never taking over and never being the star of the show, but brightening up the patchouli in a way that seems convincingly natural. It does not smell like bergamot + patchouli, it smells like the patchouli leaves already have citrus compounds on their own. Diptyque loves pink peppers, yet i am very anosmic to it. I havent found a perfume where i can detect a pink pepper note, so i cant say much on that. I dont know what clary sage smells like either... I believe the violet leaf note should be turned into violet because... it smells like violet and not the leaf. Theres nothing aquatic or fresh or vegetal or cucumbery going on in this perfume. Instead, it is soft, powdery, dreamy and mysterious. This is further backed up by the ingredient list that mentions alpha isomethyl ionone, which is basically a violet note. I think this is what makes me love Tempo as well, a powdery balsamic dreamy and airy patchouli ... The mate is most prevalent towards the drydown, and it does stay for a long time along with the violet. Mate adds this dry cocoa powder effect to patchouli which already has aspect that naturally. I always detected a bit of bitter earthy cocoa in yerba mate but that may just be me... The perfume ends up smelling like a very refined, dreamy patchouli that never goes dank or swamp like. It smells elegant, deep, vintage and edgy. It reminds me a lot of coco mademoiselle, even though they are veryyy different. It was my grandmothers favorite perfume and i think smelling it again at my aunts house after reminiscing her 10 years after her death triggered this intrigue in patchouli. So crazy how memories affect our perception on smells. I went from loving patchouli to hating it and now i want to get into it again

Tempo has to be appreciated for the vibe it gives off to the wearer. I tested this on a paper strip a while back and didn't think much of it. It wasn't until I got into patchouli fragrances that I fully understood what a beauty this fragrance is. I own Reminiscence Patchouli and Guerlain Heritage EDT and whilst both of those are excellent patch forward fragrances, they aren't perceived well by others. They just aren't modern enough and therefore, aren't very wearable for me in my late 20's except on certain occasions. I was intrigued by Tempo mainly as I was looking for a LIDGE alternative after hearing current formulations, EDT and EDP were extremely weak. I found that to be true and also found that whilst there are similarities to LIDG, Tempo is ultimately a more simplistic and modern take. I detect pink pepper in the opening followed by an immediate dose of patchouli. It's a highly refined patchouli note that gives off just the right amount of dusty and hay-like qualities with elements of cacao appearing here and there. After 30 minutes or so, the dustiness settles and transitions to a wetter and greener experience as the 'olfactive accident' appears - violet leaf. A brilliant addition to the fragrance. I thought to myself "who would have even thought to put violet leaf in this?". I guess nobody did- it was supposedly an "accident" but one I'm happy about. The patchouli and violet leaf complement each other very well. The violet leaf lifts the composition with an ozonic and wet quality. However, the earthy nature of patchouli ensures the fragrance is still well grounded and the violet leaf doesn't turn gasoline like. It does steer the fragrance into manly territory for me but in my case, that's a plus. It gives off the vibe of a casual man / gentleman who is most often caught in smart-casual attire. Think shirt and jeans with leather shoes or boots. It would also make an excellent signature or work scent for that reason. To clarify on differences / similarities with Guerlain LIDG EDT - the main difference is of course the absence of violet leaf. LIDG does have green elements from the tea and hibiscus however, LIDG has an old worldly feel probably due to a presence of Guerlainade in the heart. It's what reminds me too much of Heritage when I wear it and why I didn't get on with it. They are still very reminiscent of each other but the differences are quite distinct once you pick up on them. Performance is great for me. However, olfactory fatigue does set in after around 3 hours. This might be why people don't seem to be getting the performance they hoped. I can pick up a jacket that was sprayed with this a day, or even a couple of days after and I can smell it clearly again for the next 2-3 hours before going anosmic. I'm not sure anyone else could pick it up though so bare that in mind. Perfectly wearable in all conditions except high heat. Overall a solid 9/10 and one that will be in my collection as long as they continue to make it.

What a bold and beautifully crafted fragrance this is, it's both clean yet quite dirty, herbal and almost medicinal yet sweet and refined, the artistry and skill of Olivier Pescheux's role in creating this should definitely be praised. On my skin it's (as you can imagine) an overwhelmingly patuchouli centric scent with a lot of Maté and Clary sage just behind it, with the very edge of the fragrance being characterised by a slight peppery tinge and a soft violet leaf; the Patchouli in this is first and foremost a dry, dark an dirty patchouli, whilst still also smelling clean, ever so faintly chocolatey and powdery too. And the Maté as well, adds to the dark and dryness of the patchouli by amplifying those aspects whilst also providing an aromatic, herbal, and slightly medicinal nuance that gives the patchouli a fair bit of complexity even before the other notes are even mentioned. And of course we can't forget the smaller yet still important players of this scent which are the pink peppers, Sage, and Violet leaf, reiterating on the point earlier about the peppers, they do add a nice tinge and body at the end of each whiff you get of the scent, that adds an almost addicting quality ontop of the deliciously dirty patchouli. The Sage and Violet leaf add a much needed smoothness and accentuate+balance the aromatic and earthiness out really well, while providing a pleasant layer of complexity you wouldn't expect from a patchouli scent at face value. Performance wise I get around 9-10 hours which is excellent, and I get a firmly medium projection with it giving you a nice scent bubble and trail for multiple hours into the experience, in addition, this fragrance is perfect for all seasons outside of super hot days or humid days As it might become too suffocating or inappropriate. as for when to wear this, this could be dressed up or down, but due to its Elegant and bold nature I feel like dressing it up would do wonders for it; it leans slightly masculine in my opinion but a Lady could easily pull it off provided she enjoys it and rocks it confidently. In conclusion, its easily one of my favourite Patchouli fragrances and is deliciously dirty in a weird but good way, definitely on the more maturer side so people my age group (early 20s) might not be able to appreciate it, but with an open mind I feel like many will grow to love this scent. This only is beaten by Coromandel, T.I. Monkey Special and Le Lion for my favourite patchouli fragrance, but thats not to discredit this, as those 3 in my opinion are masterpieces in their own ways. Artistry done right and to a high quality, splendid wearing experience. A comfortable 8.2/10

Sillage sillage sillage! And what a beautiful sillage it is. This fragrance is so utterly clean and well blended. Olivier Pescheux has created a experience that I am grateful to wear. The clary sage comes through creating a cloud of herbaceous green, cool in nature, sexy, yet tranquil and confident. Patchouli is in nearly everything on the market, but when done well can be such an experience to be had. Here, it's been formulated in such a way that you get a gorgeous cloud that trails endlessly, leaving a steady stream of class veiled in the air. You get patchouli in the base, but also in the top and mid. It feels like each stage it goes through has its own specific experience and is blended to perfection, in my opinion. As it matures on the skin it's woods kick up as it becomes peppery, rounder and grounding. This is definitely a meditative scent to me. Very clean, transcendent, versatile, and a sparkling joy to wear. You've got to try it if you love patchouli forward fragrances.The longevity here is heavenly, and the dry down is superb. I enjoy this throughout the seasons, but I feel it really shines in spring🌱 fall🍁 and winter❄️. Less is more with this. I tend to be an over sprayer but have learned to not go overboard with Tempo. A friend of mine and I were going out one day and he asked if I could suggest anything for him to wear. I offered him a few things and he chose this. He gave one spritz to each each side of his neck. I could smell him potently wafting everywhere we went, all day and into the night. It definitely made me reconsider my typical 8-10 sprays with it. No wonder I would get so many concerned looks when I wore it.🤦🏻 I feel it might be best to not really exceed 2-3 sprays with this one. Four sprays might be pushing it. This is entirely unisex, though I can see how someone might think it leans more masculine. I tend to not worry about that kind of stuff. I have many male targeted fragrances and they all smell wonderful on me. This honestly doesn't seem masculine or feminine to me. Just simply down the middle with a really enjoyable experience to be had. Get yourself a decant and give it a try. You may fall in love. 💚

This was an enemies to lovers type of ordeal, but now we may be lovers for life. I'm biting my lip just thinking about the next time I get to spray Tempo on my forearm and go about my day, being reminded every now and then of my perfectly acceptable investment. I just cannot get over the Diptyque bottles. Ugh. Tempo was a hate for me, at first. I found the patchouli stanky, the sage ranky, and the mate manky. I was actually offended that Tempo wasn't as easy going to me as was Philosykos and Eau Duelle, and that my third ever experience with Diptyque was not a love-on-first-sniff. Treacherously upsetting, and I didn't return for a good few months (for external reasons, of course. I'm no drama queen.) I soon forgot about what Tempo was like, fell in love with the bottle, and went back to see if I could convince myself to splurge again for what was probably not even that bad. It wasn't that bad. It was great. Much greater than I remembered. I was actually enamored and I cannot recall why I disliked it in the first place. Tempo is slightly medicinal and dirt-like in nature. The patchouli is fragrant, kind of green, and kind of sweet, but not in a weird synthetic annoying way. The bitter tang from the tea and the savory sage just wrap it all up in a nice bow. As it dries down, each layer wafting its way up to my nose in cordial pleasantries, it becomes more and more salient. The patchouli loses its medicine and succumbs to its coy nature, complimenting my skin in every way I want it to. It's not nasty, but it sure is nasty. On clothes, after a fun 18 hours, it becomes actually like dirt. It's silly to me how much it smells like dirt. I used to work in a lab where we worked with Streptomyces, the bacteria found in dirt and the bacteria that gives dirt its iconic smell. You guessed it. The remnants of Tempo smell like Streptomyces bacteria. I'm not even disgusted; I'm impressed. Definitely a 10/10 scent for me, with 9/10 longevity and 8/10 projection. 10/10 bottle. Jeez.

Now THIS is a fragrance I can really love! I am not one to chase fragrances made by candle makers, or purveyors of room fragrances; however someone suggested I try Tempo and I'm so glad I did. Wow...this fragrance is so me, it really is!! I'm not a fan of dark, syrupy patchouli fragrances, nor am I a lover of church-y, masculine incense notes. But Tempo seems to match the best of these worlds and for me, Diptyque gets it completely right! Initially out of the bottle, I am not a huge fan. Not sure what to expect, I detect strong and overpowering PEPPER (not a fan) and citrus...like fizzy, hit my nose, overpowering pepper & fizz. Pushing through, a delightful blend of patchouli emerges, patchouli that is balanced by violet leaf, Cleary sage and mate. I imagine the mate, sage & violet leaf even out the intensely dark & syrupy nature that can be patchouli, thus contributing to the unique balance of this beautiful & delightful scent. Not so sure what makes this read "incense" on my skin but for some reason, I frequently detect that fragrance, or note (which I love). Now, I am not a perfume expert but I imagine the addition of sage & mate give this fragrance its balance of herbaceous burning incense. Hours into my application, I find myself sniffing my forearms & wrists. Hours in, wafts of smooth, soothing patchouli with mild incense elements frequently hit my nose. I would say longevity is pretty good at 6-8 hours and silage is moderate. This is not a fragrance that remains close to the skin, nor does it scream 60's hippie, or head shop. To my nose, while the patchouli is definitely present, the sum of the parts makes this fragrance special. In general, I like this patchouli fragrance a lot. I'm going to give it a few tries because in the end, it may be full-bottle worthy for me.

Diptyque are so good at creating timeless classics. I think it's the only house that makes me want to rebuy their perfumes when the bottles run out. Orpheon, Eau Duelle, Tam Dao.. Everytime i try an expensive perfume, one of the first things i think is "maybe i can find a cheaper inspired by". With Diptyque i think it's hard to achieve it though. There's storytelling depth in their perfumes and they evoke real emotions when experienced (for me at least). When i first smelled Tempo, the first thing that came to mind is.. a dark colour corduroy jacket. It brings this timeless retro vibe, classy and casual at the same time. Mature and moody. Rain in a forest and a cozy wood cabin. It was not an instant love and the first time i tried it i thought it was pretty simple and linear. "Oh ok, it's a patchulli based perfume with a retro vibe, nothing special.." But as with every Diptyque, you just want to keep coming back. They are so safe and reliable, you want to have them around and grab whenever the occasion. You just know they will do the work, you will be subtly noticed, lift your mood and give a nice backround scent for you to remember the occasion by. When talking about perfumes, i usually take it lightly.. they are just something to wear on the daily, an accessory to make you smell good. But when it comes to Diptyque, this house makes me think of perfumery as a real art, something that can really change your perception when wearing one of their perfumes.

I did not expect to enjoy Tempo as much as I do. It feels very simple, herbal, bitter, and touch spicy and powdery, none of which I usual care about. As a top note I get just a bit of a dusty pepper which stays for multiple hours (actually it smells more like elemi, perhaps an unlisted material?). Immediately I get a dense herbal patchouli, more so leafy than rooty or soil-like, reminds me a bit of overly brewed tea. It's quite scruffy and fuzzy, clearly a bit bitter, but if you focus you take note of a powdery violet veil, smoothing everything out. Tempo is a fragrance that feels like it normally wouldn't exist, like it would be rejected and eliminated from the market. Yet it's scruffy green woodiness just seems to bring you to a peaceful mood. I always appreciate when I come across something different, and this is definitely the good type of different. One point to consider, this type of fuzzy green patchouli may remind of Indian rugs, as they are traditionally infused with patchouli to protect from moths. However I don't mind the association whatsoever. ps. I don't get LIDGE here, so if you are looking for a replacement, this is not it, however it is vaguely in the same ballpark, maybe

It is May and a fairly hot and clear day in the countryside here in Foshan, South China. Humidity is freakishly low today for this time of year. I bought this perfume in October last year and thouroughly enjoyed it in Autumn (hot autumn because it's still hot and humid until around the 2nd week of November). I sprayed over 5 hours ago and I can still smell it clearly after 4 sprays. I will test this a few days from now when the humidity and heat go back up. I hope this survives the Chinese summer. On my skin I get mostly violet leaves and I'm glad (I am one of those Dior - Farenheit original formulation snobs). I love patchouli, but to me I dont really smell it. However, I do feel the weight of the patchouli when I breathe in. It seems to be the substance that holds all the other notes together. It's bright, it's sexy AF, it's pretty, it's easy to wear and in my top 5 fragrances of all time. Totally unisex. I am lucky it works on my skin. My friend tried this because she loves the smell. Side by side, mine smelled bright and strong and on her skin was dark and weak (one hour later it was gone). Sample first and good luck. It's gorgeous.

Ah, patchouli. The note that either makes you smell like a sophisticated enigma or a 1970s thrift store couch cushion. Diptyque’s Tempo lands firmly in the former category—this is patchouli done right. From the first spray, Tempo greets you with an earthy, herbal dryness that feels effortlessly refined. No cloying sweetness, no sticky resins or vanilla. Just a beautifully blended, airy patchouli wrapped in sage and mate, giving it a cool, almost meditative quality. If patchouli was easy to talk with, had effortless style and impeccable taste, it would smell like this. The longevity is fantastic—expect it to stick around longer than that one guest who “just needs five more minutes” to leave your party. And yet, it’s never loud or overbearing. It wears like a tailored blazer: elegant, versatile, and perfect for day or night. If you’ve ever avoided patchouli for fear of smelling like an incense shop exploded on you, Tempo is your redemption arc. Dry, sophisticated, and effortlessly chic—this is one of the best takes on the note. Wear it, and enjoy the subtle compliments from people trying to figure out why you smell so damn good.

a mesmerising mindfvck of filthy and fresh . . . smelled this at the diptique shop a few months ago and was instantly OBSESSED. i do love patchouli, so it’s not exactly a surprise, but this particular blend had me in a chokehold. the maté makes the patchouli even more earthy and dirty and soily, but the violet leaf is so fresh and clean and bright. the drydown is all camphor and benzoin and spices, like the traditional powdered incense Japanese monks use to scent their robes . . . but then i’ll get hit with an occasional splash of crisp, juicy greenness. it’s irresistibly confounding, how these opposite sensations complement one another. the high pricetag and snooty saleslady put me off purchasing it back in June (although i did return to sniff it a few more times over the summer), but now that fall is here i finally caved and scored a grey-market FB. i had been trying to recreate the Tempo vibes by layering Lord of Misrule (addictive but too syrupy-sweet) with Rifaaqat Adorn (gorgeous but too violet-heavy), but it doesn’t compare to the real thing. 🌿✨

This fragrance is flipping amazing.. I heard it’s similar to Javanese Patchouli which I wanted but this one scratches that itch for sure so it’s off my radar for now. This has the soul of the old hippy patchouli (which I’ve always kind of digged but wouldn’t ever sport it as a fragrance, too over worn and sometimes by people I wouldn’t want to smell similar to) but no worries it’s not the old world vibe at all.. this is so earthy but in the smoothest way possible, rich and deep and pleasant with other notes that perfectly compliment this type of patchouli used. I would say it leans pretty masculine but catch its slight feminine vibes from time to time. It’s dark, mysterious and sexy while also a little fresh and uplifting and inviting. It projects very well and lasts all day on me and especially clothes. No need to overspray. Great for cool and cold weather, I doubt I’d sport this in heat. Very high quality, I love this.

TLDR;: on me: Spearmint, a sweet mint from the get go till the next day on clothes. Powder sugar dusted mint cookie. Soft, blended, moderate. Wow, just wow. I am a woman. When tested on paper to my nose this initially smelled somewhat like a pine forest. First spritz on my wrist immediately turned into a sweet camphorous scent - this is what reminds me just like many of menthol/mint. It is absolutely beautiful. I understand why so many label this as more masculine, but it really depends on your skin chemistry - on me this takes on a sweeter side. It is definitely a menthol, citrusy perception I am getting. Gorgeous. After 4 hours it’s only the memory of a faint sweet skin scent. This only blooms on skin - it is undetectable to my nose on clothes. Unless I take a break from it after, it is very much clinging to clothes I realized, so much so that only washing the clothes will remove the scent.

This is maybe the most beautiful patchouli smell that there is out of there. I own several patchouli scents: coromandel, pardon, monsieur, and tempo. This one is wet and damp kind of patchouli but at the same time bit spicey from the pepper and airy! Specially the airy aspect makes this smell of a extreme natural and comforting patchouli.. I’m in love and this is absolutely unisex and not masculine leaning at all! I’m in love as I’m with coromandel and pardon. Monsieur on the other hand is a pure masculine bomb of patchouli and dark incense! Back to this.. it’s comforting, and makes you grounding. Don’t spray to much as the magic is in the airy aspect of this beautiful one. Longevity 10 hours but turns skinscent after 2.. but to be honest it does linger and bubble the whole day around you. Not sure if everything is natural in this but diptyque does it again feels extreme natural!

This scent reminds me of the smell of soil after a refreshing rain. The atmosphere has that clarity as you look out over the land. And the air has that natural clean earthy smell. The sky is still cloudy but sun rays are beaming through cracks in the clouds heating up the atmosphere, soil, stones and various objects in the area. Amazing! It does have a vintage feel about it. But what's more vintage than what I described above. Imo natural aromas may go out of fashion but they never go out of style. This has the mark of timelessness on it. I know just about every fragrance contains synthetic materials but this is so well blended that nothing, to my nose, comes off as synthetic. A fellow fragrance lover posed this question recently, (paraphrased) "What fragrance do you like to wear on rainy days?" His was Green Irish Tweed. I had no answer then. I believe I have it now:)

Love, love, love! What a masterpiece! It leans heavily on the masculine side so I am not yet sure if I can pull wearing this off, but I cannot stop sniffing myself. Of one thing I am certain: My life won't be complete until I have it! Later edit: I wore it again and asked my friends for feedback. I heard all sorts of interesting opinions, such as: dust, grass, and makeup powder. And class. Personally I would say that it reminds me of the most powerful impression I have of Magie Noire since my childhood. May not be accurate, but my guess is that the patchouli note stood out the most for me at that time. * Longevity: Very long lasting. Could still feel it after showering and washing my hair. * Sillage: Soft enough if applied sparingly. So far no one noticed it unless I told them to come close and sniff me. Conclusion: Still my new favorite, love it even more!

In the 1960s, a new fragrance changed the olfactory balance of the world: patchouli. Tempo Eau de Parfum by Diptyque created in 2018 by Olivier Pescheux pays homage to him with three extracts of this enigmatic essence that give rhythm to the composition of their nuances, sometimes reassuring and woody, sometimes impetuous and decisive, other earthy or enveloping. Sublimated by joyful violet leaves, dahlias, lashing citrus notes of bergamot and lively notes of pink pepper. Vibrant notes of surprising refinement. Contrary to its woody scent, the fragrant oil of patchouli is not extracted from wood, as in the case of cedar or sandalwood, but from the leaves of an aromatic plant which in Indonesia is called Nilam. Olfactory temporal evolution is warm spicy with hints of yerba mate. The Diptyque maison never misses a beat.

Festina lente - hurry slowly. My first impression with Tempo, which resonated with the name itself, was of time passing by very fast. Tempo works like some sort of time magic that shows you the past, present, and future at the same time. Patchouli symbolizes the past, done in a current way. And since Tempo is more mature and sophisticated than my present self, it felt like it belonged to a future me I am yet to become. A herbal, aromatic patchouli (in contrast to dirtier, smokier ones I sampled, like Le Labo Patchouli 24 or Margiela's Summer festival) - the mate and sage give it a cool, almost minty twist. It’s perfectly unisex but somewhat bold for a woman. The sillage and longevity are incredible, a single spray lasts forever. I can imagine myself wearing Tempo day or night, any season, for years to come.

Good lord I love this one. It might just be my favorite. I lived in Indonesia for several years and had the privilege of being able to travel to Bali very quickly and easily, which I did on many occasions. In the mornings there, the locals make their ritual offerings, and burn a beautiful smelling incense that I’ve not smelled anywhere else. Despite my best efforts to find this incense, or even something similar back home in the US, I’ve been entirely unsuccessful. However Tempo has proven to be an even better option. It smells almost exactly like that elusive Balinese incense. Every time I wear it I’m immediately transported back to the Island of the Gods—that magical place—and everything is at peace. It might not last that long or project very much, but on balance, damn, that’s OK with me.