Acte d’Amour Furtif A.N.

This one is nice, way better than Les Ombres Fantastiques which I already tried and was disappointing. It has a spicy-woody tone, opens with pepper and cumin, which is not Body-odor like. Then there is a faint touch of Iris, which is not powdery or lipsticky, just to make the blend not too spicy and give it some air. There is something on the drydown which makes this fragrance a bit more masculine than unisex, but I don't think that's amberwood, it's maybe just the cedarwood, and the cumin, which stays for the whole duration. The drydown reminds me of Declaration Cartier. It's a good spring-fall scent, and the performance is way better than Les Ombres Fantastiques, but lasts only 4-5 hours with a moderate projection.

Started with a dusty cherry tobacco note, the ‘leather chair in the office made of cherry wood’ vibe...Then the middle note of cumin got so straight in the face that got me coughs and headache. Had to go wash it out although the start was up to my liking.

smells like an indian cuisine on my skin, probably because of the cumin

A cumin bomb. This is pretty much Cartier's Déclaration with the cumin turned up to 11. It's not bad, but there is no reason to opt for this over Déclaration, especially given the price. It wears in the same airy, gauzy, molecular way as the Cartier. (For a more exciting curry spice experience, sample Lumpur by Honoré Payan!!)

Somewhat forgettable apart from a long-lasting pencil shavings cedar and a sweet(ish) accord of iris, cumin and amber. I guess I should try Declaration since I enjoy the idea of this. Maybe that one has more complexity and interest? 2 out of 5.