Mahogany

A seemingly forgotten discontinued fragrance among the Etro oeuvre, Mahogany showcases the black pepper and the more nuanced animalic facets of wood. It has a certain human element that is often lacking in woody scents. This is not a Disney interpretation of wood, all wide-eyed, bugging out, smiling and antiseptic. This is raw, rough around the edges—with no splinters, however. Mahogany is quite understated, and that is a positive quality for sure. The prickliness isn't overwhelming as there doesn't seem to be an overload of Iso E Super or Timbersilk (if there happens to be at all). There is indeed a marjoram note at the top (which I can discern working with the herb in cooking and using the essential oil), and this where the necessary contrast comes in; otherwise, without that and the bergamot, this would be quite heavy, dank, and murky to start, much like old wood that's been rendered swiss cheese-like by woodland insects lending to its decomposition. There is that moderated shade though, and that's what's appealing about this. It strikes a balance between the clean and the defiled/decayed just so where when wearing it, you feel a yin yang. This is all underpinned by musks, vetiver, and just a suggestion of amber, so that in the dry down, the progression seems complete. Mahogany simply "is." It's a zen wood. It's a composition that lays bare the feeling of wood, without asserting itself, all muscled and sinewy, scratchy and dominant. It's stillness in fragrance form.

#etro #mahogany is an absolute revelation!!! It smells of something I can’t place, it’s familiar but not like anything remotely in fashion these days. Very vintage, like uncool 80’s perhaps early 90’s dawn of the aquatic, outlying flanker. Does it remind me a touch of Guy Laroche Horizon? That’s a pretty hideous ‘Manimal’ of a fragrance so I might be being a bit mean/inaccurate because this is very pleasurably musky, certainly later on and Horizon is an openly stinky, B.O and melon lolly, seaside mashup! The opening is a spicy, herbal thing, has a boozy, fresh transparency, it’s zingy with citrus but it’s one of those low lying scents which build overtime, their angularities gradually smoothed over. The name Mahogany suggests wood no? I’m not a moron for thinking that right? But although I’d loosely describe this as a woody musk, it’s not really all that woody, certainly not a positive wood note, except perhaps sandalwood adding to the creamy, pink hue of the musks in the drydown.

Spicy and woodsy. Similar to Le feu du Vesuve. Dry, not overpowering. Unusual, unisex. Use sparingly. I would love to find a bottle, as my little sample vial will be empty really soon. 🙄