EO No 2

EO No 2 Parfum. This is one of the best smells, not perfumes, but smells ever for me. Curious how I never made a dedicated post about it. Granted, I have lost track of all the various iterations and such, I can only speak of the early versions that I own and am familiar with. I still remember when this perfume came around and serious fragheads were dying to get their nose on a natural deer musk perfume. Many tried it and commented that they didn't get the musk whatsoever. I understand that. After years of being fed synthetic musk accords, or worse, white, aka "laundry" musks, our nose needs time to adjust to a natural musk bomb like No 2 is. Moreover, let's not forget that a significant percentage of the population is anosmic to musk and other similar compounds and aroma molecules. My experience with No 2 was much alike. I could not identify the musk on my first 2-3 wearings. But I learned the material in tincture form and some attars. Later, coming back to this, all I could smell was the Musk. Today, it feels so overwhelming, so upfront that I can't smell much of the other stuff in the fragrance. EO 2 is the MUSK. It is an ode to this beautiful, rare, and misunderstood material that boasts tremendous complexity and pheromonal prowess. Everything in this composition plays along but never deters from the main player. Besides the musk, I get plenty of spices (especially cumin and coriander) and woody notes. The second version (2020 or so) does showcase a bit of rose and more up-front tea notes, but I feel that the OG and the Kashmir are pitch dark and butch cutting those "weak" links out. This perfume smells like bottled testosterone. If the Spartans used cologne you be damn sure they sprayed No 2 before charging in battle. This composition feels ultra-masculine and rough. Bone-dry, no sweetness, just a gallop of (slightly urinous) Siberian Musk that saturates a harmonious blend of savory spices and creamy woods. It doesn't get more "close-to-nature" than this. I never smelled anything remotely similar to it. Ever. I don't think there will ever be. Prin's Onthamara comes closest, but that one goes full death metal. This composition is a cultured and sophisticated beast that wages war and hunts during the day but reads and indulges in classical music and meditation during the evenings. It is a harmonious and well-rounded blend, not just a mindless brute. IG:@memory.of.scents

FROM RUSSIA WITH HELLA LOT OF (lawful) LOVE.... When I heard Ensar Oud came out with a new fragrance that's all about musk I was both excited and nervous, sceptical and hopeful, and as curious as one can get. You see, I have been searching for that perfectly raunchy, thrilling, erotic, as I love calling "kinky fuckery" musk scent for as long as my fascination with perfume goes back. Lo and behold, nothing came even remotely close to how I have envisioned my perfect scent of lovers embrace. Some musks were too gourmand (Musk Ravageur, which I love dearly, but for other reasons), some were too safe (Musk Aoud, another firm favourite of mine, especially in the Absolue Précieux concentration), some were down right unwearable *for my personal taste* (Salome. I appreciate you deeply, sweet vintage musty furry darling, but you and me, in any close proximity, it is just an impossible situation!) Yet nothing sent those shivers down my spine, trilled me like the touch of a lover, would. EO2 took exactly one whiff to stop me in my tracks. This was it! The initial hit of semi-bitter citrus is joined by most voluptuous, plush, velvety, blood red, jammy, honey speckled roses with wisps of white and green intricately weaved through, and just a touch of pepper to add warmth and spicy nuances to the bouquet. I pick up cloves, hints of cinnamon and cumin which works so incredibly well with the sweet, resinous, and almost chewy heart of the composition. It keeps that initial freshness but not in a carefree, playful, summer scent type of way; but a more grown up, darker, self assured kind. Before you know, somewhere between the floral, spicy, resins laden heart and the base, the true magic happens!! The star of the show - musk - comes tumbling and crashing in with such force, its presence cannot be denied. But then again, why would one want that!? Beautiful, sensual, soft fuzzy feel with hints of that sweetish, slightly urinous signature of real musk, one which smells so raw and unstripped, just like the mother nature intended, envelops the composition in its spell... EO2 is so seductive, no limits nor restrictions, it should come with a warning label....

Parfum review. I am in the minority that love this perfume much more than EO1. For me, all its notes are so harmonized and complement to each other. I enjoy every single phrase, from the citrusy rosewood puncturing the ambery spicy opening, the rose playing peep a boo, the syrupy jasmine, to the sumptuous sandalwood and resinous oud drydown. The high quality musk is so recognizable for vintage perfume lovers like me. It is an undertone that does not draw attention but to strengthen the overall composition. I totally agree with RogerM72’s orchestra conductor analogy. Some perfumes have wow factors and contagious energy like rock and roll while others elegant and homophonic like classical music. Imho EO 2 is the latter which could be perceived as boring. It may not be for everyone’s taste but definitely a must-try for those who appreciate exquisite materials. Finally, Kafkaesque’s got the complete note info from Ensar himself: Top: Cumin, French Cedar, Pink Pepper, Rosewood, Basmati Rice, Coriander Heart: Black Tea, Turkish Rose, Clove, Papuan Sandal, Jasmin Sambac, Himalayan Rose Base: Siberian Musk, Mysore Sandal, Rockrose Resin [i.e., labdanum resin], Papuan Oud, Timor Sandal, Australian Sandal, African Civet.

EDP version This one really impressed me. On my skin the opening was fairly dominated by coriander and cumin, with a slight pepperiness and baking spice. the spiciness is rounded off by a lovely rose and just a hint of jasmine. I detect some woodiness as well, but it's difficult to pick out individual notes. All of this is supported by (if not subservient to) a refined animalic muskiness, which over time the other notes eventually soften into. Towards the end of the wear, the composition becomes a bit resinous, sweet, and slightly leathery. I assume this is attributed to the labdanum, oud, and sandal melding with the deer musk. This reminded me of the dark forest coriander/woods aspect of Memoir Man and the sexy cumin/musk aspect of Salome by Papillon, but with a next level luxuriousness of a big dose of deer musk. EO2 is definitely among the best of musk-based fragrances.

As opposed to the review of the great rbalkris, I must say that my nose distinguish very well the musk note, especially if sprayed twice. It is true that lots of other notes accompany the musk, but to me it feels very prominent and authoritative, as if it was an orchestra director to whom all the other notes, single musicians, look at and obey to his leading and at the same time tame him. I agree with rbalkris when it comes to quality and I feel to add that the blending is superb. Thank you EO for having us smell the true stuff. Price is a little too high, though, please bear in mind that true perfume lovers doesn't mean wealthy people.