Opus 1144

Opus 1144 is aimed at celebrating the gothic style. From architecture to sculpture, panel painting, stained glass, frescos, illuminated manuscripts and all its other artistic declinations. It's a bold and complex fragrance that's so hard to describe just like it's so objectively multifaceted. If you, like me, struggle with sweet fragrances, the opening of Opus 1144 could result a bit challenging for being so incredibly thick and powerful to the point to make yourself questioning your sanity. Forget about any avant-garde trickery or modernist type of perfumery as Opus 1144 is really all about solid classicism. A dense, kind of syrupy, vanillic floral opening juxtaposed to a typically-french citrus counterpart. If you can't deal with its sweetness, I'd say hang in there because the best has yet to come and keep in mind that extraits de parfum are generally slower to properly settle down... The fragrance starts then to evolve into an opulent and decadent dusty oriental that has nothing to envy to a bunch of the best Amouage feminines (the most balmy-oriental ones such as Opus VI, Epic Woman and Lyric Woman). The overall sweetness of the opening is remarkably tamed down by a plush musky-leathery bone-structure that, together with smooth creamy / woody notes and resins starts lurking in the back to then slowly drive the fragrabce towards what is in my opinion its real essence: the majestic drydown. There's definitely something classically french about Opus 1411, something familiarly comforting while all this is paired to a dark nature that gives this composition a brooding character. Like falling into an abyss of powdery decadence. An endless echo that gets lower and lower in tone as time goes by...and it goes on and on and on for hours...darker, more dusty, drier. It's quintessentially gothic and agrees with red / purple velvet and black marble. If you're drawn to bold and complex fragrances, Opus 1144 is a mandatory stop and, trust me, it won't leave you indifferent. Rating: 8-8.5/10

Instant love for me. From start to finish this is an exquisite potion that is easy to wear and totally unisex. I was scared by some reviews and didn't dare to blind buy. A big mistake I made as this is a safe purchase. Amazing opening with a photorealistic feel of huge marble halls, the finest palaces and yet so so wearable!! The blend is so well made that you can feel the vanilla, the benzoin, the citrus and something slightly metallic and incensey but cannot define where is every ingredient separated from the whole. I love the fact that it manages to smell great without being too sweet, or too powdery or strong. Everything is there to be enjoyed without getting tiring. It is powdery in the drydown, yes, but not Marie Antoinette like. In the drydown a strong note of what I believe is bitter lemon or lime (not bergamot) adds a slight gourmand touch that again is far from being foodie. At some stage I thought I was experiencing a fruity vanilla, then a lemon icecream with champagne... but don't get me wrong: it never gets far from the general idea, it simply makes you travel through dark golden sanctuaries (not somber, this is deep and spiritual but not sad!). I am definitely wowed and I am happy I finally find a fragrance of this style that doesn't make me wonder how often I'd reach for it. It could be everyday in colder months!! I have liked in the past other scents such as Chypre Palatin (too elegant and powdery for my style), Dulcis in fundo (too sweet and gourmand) and some Guerlains from l'Art et la matiere (gorgeous but too expensive for a similar treat). This is somehow close to all of those but without the things I struggle with. Plus it is downright unisex unless you are a guy who finds anything with vanilla challenging. I'm in love with this. I can't find a single "but...". It transitions ten times in 10 hours without a single flaw. Go buy a bottle before it gets reformulated my friends!

They don't make 'em like this anymore, folks. Yes, the opening is a bit assertive, but once it smoothes out, it evolves into the most symphonically beautiful treatment of resins that I have ever encountered. The iris here takes on both powdery and waxy facets, creating a beautifully rounded texture. I can understand the Gothic associations with candle wax and red velvet that others have noted, but I'm afraid that my contextualization heads toward the mundane rather than the sublime - it's like eating a birthday cake, blown-out candles and all, with citrus sponge and vanilla buttercream icing. Delicious and decadent. Having read the prior review, I'm afraid that this might have been reformulated - does anyone know for sure? This review is for the juice in the all-grey bottle, not the black-and-grey one that is currently shown on the Twisted Lily and Luckyscent websites. Hmm... Luckily, the bottle that I have will likely last forever - longevity is almost 24 hours with just one spray, and while the projection isn't enormous, it definitely has the extrait quality of changing the very air around you, if you know what I mean. I could imagine a reformulation of this being fairly interesting, as it is somewhat monolithic and I think that it could possibly benefit from being given a bit of room to breathe, but at the same time, I wouldn't mind being smothered to death with this stuff. It's just that good.

“The Basilica of Saint-Denis... is of singular importance historically and architecturally, as its choir, completed in 1144, is widely considered the first structure to employ all of the elements of Gothic architecture... The site originated as a Gallo-Roman cemetery in late Roman times. The archaeological remains still lie beneath the cathedral... Abbot Suger’s great innovation in the new choir was the replacement of the heavy dividing walls in the apse and ambulatory with slender columns, so that the interior of that part of the church was filled with light...” —Wikipedia Gothic cathedrals are made of both heft and ascension, shadows and light, and so is Opus 1144. the color brought to mind is pale yellow, a vision of Heaven: two generous handfuls of lemon-orris powder, tears of elemi resin and jasmine absolute held up to the sun, a sandalwood rosary... go to bed with its slightly sticky amber vanilla, wake up the next morning to the surprise bonus of pipe tobacco. Opus 1144 finds a balance between the elements of ether and earth, bringing light to the darkness. similar to Shalimar and Habanita, but enough its own thing to stand well apart. musical accompaniment : “PPP” by Beach House /current extrait

I don't know about the whole Gothic architecture imagery and whatnot -- what I smell is an indulgent lemon/lime dessert, as in THE lemon/lime dessert of your dreams. So sweet and tart at the same time, it makes your mouth water and sides of your tongue ache. Then vanilla and powdery bliss that lasts ALL DAY. This may be either a nightmare or nirvana depending on your taste, to me it is divine. I'll share a couple experiences I had while wearing this. First, I had been holding my toddler and then gave her to someone who said to her "oh you smell just like a baby, all powdery." I don't use baby powder on her so it was definitely the Opus 1144 that had rubbed off. Also, I was on a trip and had a travel sized Lady Speed Stick in "Powder Fresh" with me which I hadn't used in long time. When I put it on, I was reminded a bit of Opus 1144. Now let me tell you, these experiences did not deter me from buying a full bottle! But again, some may be very put off by the mere idea of their fragrance smelling like baby powder or "powder fresh" deoderant. I do see the similarities to Shalimar, but I'm very happy to have both. If you love Shalimar and powder, this is a must-try!

اونوم 1144 " حرف هست ولی کلمه نیست " گاهی اهالی اهل هنر یک تابلوی هنری میبینند و برای همکاران و دوستداران هنر تعریف میکنند که به فلان شکل بود رنگ امیزیش و طرحش فلان بود و بهش نمره و امتیاز میدن و قیمت گذاری میکنند . اما گاهی برخی کارها هستند که نمیتونن تعریفی بکنند ازش . فقط میارن و به دوستانشون نشون میدن چون نمیشه حق مطلب رو در صحبت ادا کرد . این برند برای من به همچین مثالی تشبیه میشه و باید بو کرد تا فهمید چی هست و برای چی اینجوری هست. یکی از خوش ساخت ترین و پیچیده ترین کارهایی که در زندگیم تست کردم این هست . به هیچ وجه اگر با اثر هنری در عطر اشنایی ندارین سمت این کار نرین چون چیزی جز دافعه و پشیمانی نخواهد داشت . تاکید میکنم حتی اگر عطرباز هم هستید بدون علم اینکار رو تست نکنید چون بعدا پشیمونی میاره براتون و اسپویل میشه این کیفیت و هنر. اگر بخوایم عطرهای نیش رو سطح بندی کنیم کارهای این برند در درجه بالا قرار میگیرند و اگر کسی مفهوم عطر رو در زندگیش فهمیده باشه به کیفیت کارهای این برند نه نمیگه . پخش نسبتا خوب ماندگاری بسیار بالا رد بوی بسیار خوب از مشخصات پرفورمنسی کار هست. بازخورد هم دافعه زیاد داره و اکثرا خوششون نمیاد چون کارهای این برند اصلا جنبه پوششی و بازخورد نداره ولی این کارشون نسبتا خوش پوش تره .

really unique. sharp-citrus-balsamic opening. opulent. evident the well-known initials of bergamot and elemi then we move to a thin and non-invasive iris-lipstick enhanced by a beautiful orchid that makes it seem like short black tom ford orchid. needless to say that the white musk is unfortunately present and makes it too feminine for me while the bergamot and elemi do not give up the grip while the cashmere wood enters forcefully. a slight gray amber rounds everything. while a strong benzoin and sandalwood make it creamy. orchid always very present. and then it's a symphony of non-gourmand vanilla. even if at times I feel cocoa. balsamic-citrus-vanillic-opulent sometimes creamy. amazing performances. my nose burns. an imperial perfume for the woman who knows what she wants. a classy woman with a skirt slightly above the knee with a wide slit, a dull red lipstick, a plentiful neckline. she is a determined woman but with a gentle manner. a woman who smokes and drinks good Italian red wine. a vintage woman but attentive to fashion. 9/10

I cannot stand how good this is! As others have noted the opening hour is a little challenging - the profusion of notes presents an opaque yellow-green veil that rests heavy on your nose for the first hour. Shortly thereafter, the vanilla sweetness lets up a bit to reveal a floral heart dancing in and out of view lifted up by a smooth layer of leather. All the while, noticeable ambergris breathes freshness and a certain saltiness into the composition. This stage excites me. It is like licking vanilla custard off your lover's neck - it's intimate, slightly sweet, raw in the way human secretions are wont to be. This will sound like hyperbole - but I swear that after taking a couple of deep whiffs around the 2 hour mark I lost my wits and I stared into space in a stunned rapture. This is liquid joy.

If i try to ignore the bergamot accord its actually not bad, but that bergamot is so synthetic cleaning product and cheap it’s annoying ————————- EDIT1: I take that back.. god im just a sucker for pretty bottles and unique snobby artisanal perfumes am i. The bergamot now smells nostalgic and rotten in a good way. I feel like i stumbled upon this perfume in my dead grandfather’s belongings. Like a cologne he was wearing in the 50s before he lost the bottle only now i found it. I don’t know what am i gonna do when the sample runs out dare i put this in my wishlist ? ————————————- Edit 2: i now own a full bottle .. This shows the importance of sampling and fully wearing perfumes instead of strip sniffing while having olfactory fatigue

Wow! It's a big hit with me. A dense rich citrus sweet resinous masterpiece. A bright INTENSE bergamot opening wrapped around warm vanilla sugar, unctuous resins and precious woods. It is a very complicated creation that unfolds at leisure taking you on a magical vintage perfume journey. There are moments when the famous Shalimar parfum appears (there is no leather or animalic notes in this) and then is swept away with more waves of resins and aged vanilla. It is after another hour or two that Guerlains L'heure Blue appears. It closes with lightly smoked vanilla. I had to buy a back up bottle and thats a rare event. I can't get enough of it. Similar to Shalimar but no cigar. Shalimar on steroids. Amazing longevity and good silage.

Reviewing a sample from 2025.Opus 1144 was launched in 2015. An elegant powdery oriental with a balsamic twist. Opens with slightly bitter citrus and jasmine, then powdery florals mostly iris. Complex base of aromatic woods, vanilla and ambergris.Sweetened with benzoin.This is so soft and powdery even in the stunning dry down despite all the heavy and rich base notes - even the leather is soft .Very well blended. Not baby powder or soapy. An ode to the original Shalimar? perhaps, but this is more unisex and contemporary. Quality- excellent 5/5 Unisex Performance- very good 4/5 This is an ethereal powdery floral musk scent for a grey spring day in a gothic garden, a bit cool and misty. 9/10

The scent of balm wafts out through the window arch, mingling with the aroma of plaster from the nearby church ruins, all beneath the shade of the bergamot tree. Its really bergamot/powder bomb in the opening. Funny fact: sometimes i start sneezing after application of this perfume. This one is definitely my most popular perfume from all Fillipos creations and i tried most all of them. Im wearing it all year around in all occasions. The dry down is perfect. The combination of elemi,cashmere,leather is very smooth. I agree it have some similarity with Knize Ten This is one of my favorite perfumes 10/10

A very comfortable perfume which reminds me of Kismet and Shalimar. The difference being Kismet is more dense because of the opoponax and Shalimar has a prominent leather note, while the leather in Opus 1144 is buried far in the background . I must have bought the reformulation, because it does not at all feel dark to me. Luckily I do not mind, I love this perfume; it could be my go-to for every day, summer to winter and back to summer again. Edit: I actually prefer it in summer. It feels like an airy lighthearted oriental, caused by the prominent bergamot and the iris. Highly recommended.

Here's what O1144 smells like to me: You're walking around the outer limits of Milan and you find a a banded catholic church you walk in the elemi hits your nose strongly followed by a soft sour citrus you walk around and the smell of the walls develops its not incense but stone soaked in the presences of it and you explore the citrus smell fades and vanilla devolps almost drying out form how powdery it becomes and the as you make your exit the velvet of the pews the smell of the walls sits tight on your clothes' as you wander off. it project well and last about 8-9 hours on my skin

It is unisex, but my wife instantly went 'that's a lady's perfume, I cannot imagine you wearing it'. It's a vanilla and bubblegum sweet base, cozy fuzzy warm and floral lemon. It's bright, lemony, sweet floral and cozy sweet smooth silky creamy vanilla-sandalwood base. This will last you the whole day and everyone is going to smell you - reminds me of vanilla and lemon cupcakes. Not close enough to Edition Blanche to mention it. A safe blind buy, office safe - if you are a woman and enjoy what I've just said. As a man someone might say 'wtf are you wearing?'

Blown away by this. The tight, focussed, hyper-concentrated powdery-vanilla-lime opening is something of a red herring as the dry down on this expands and becomes extremely complex and evocative. It warms into a resinous, woody-leathery floral glow that is at once accessibly pleasant and intriguingly complex, with a somewhat zen-like balance. After testing so many top-heavy scents that seem to put a ton of emphasis on a whiz-bang opening before settling into some bland, gooey sweetness this is a huge breath of fresh, intriguing air. Just fantastic. 8.5/10

I finally tested this gem and must say it is the most beautiful representation of vanilla and resins I have ever got to smell It is like a fairytale in the scarry woods at night It is a secret love-affair between two different persons - - - a forest fairy and a dark demon, but whose love goes beyond this worldly (I hope this word exists) existence I fell in love with this demon and need to feel him at night beside me, in the darkness of the woods by the fireplace and close to my heart I need you, sweet dark temptation!!!

Opus 1144 opens with a bright, citrusy powder that instantly feels like walking into a sunlit cathedral, where stone, incense, and quiet air surround you. As it develops, the iris and orchid soften into something warm and balsamic, touched with vanilla and resins—like polished wood and faint incense smoke lingering after a service. On me, it lasts 8–10 hours, shifting between luminous powder and deep ambered warmth. A fragrance that feels both sacred and deeply comforting, like a private moment of stillness.

Darkened Vanilla with a tinge of vinyl and some sweetened dust. Powdery - nah not as much as you may have been led to believe. Same with the floral aspect. This simplified is elemi, iris on vanilla, creamy sandalwood and subtle leather. Gothic vanilla in an exceptional blend. Nice sillage and extra ordinary duration. Not over baring, professional or casual, unisex and doable for a man in a suit. Mature and unique though there are some lesser inferior comparisons. If its sounds like you its worth the price.

Opus 1144 is unlike any perfume I have tried before. On my skin the bergamot, mandarin and vanilla come forward, creating something that reminds me of a resinous lemon cake. It brings to mind gothic churches filled with altars, statues and flowers, not in a heavy way but in a poetic and almost golden light. I had expected something darker and smokier, but this softer interpretation is just as moving. If I had to describe it in music it would be Golden Brown by The Stranglers. It’s so hypnotic.

Opus 1144 is a truly captivating scent. The opening is bright and citrusy with bergamot and mandarin orange, but it quickly evolves into something warmer and more complex with the addition of elemi and jasmine. The heart notes of iris, cashmere wood, and orchid are beautifully balanced, creating a sense of elegance and sophistication. The base notes of vanilla, benzoin, ambergris, white musk, sandalwood, and leather linger on the skin for hours, leaving a sensual and unforgettable trail.

Very aromatic powdery opening, reminding me of Nivea cream (i haven't smelled shalimar so i can't comapre) As it's drying it remains aromatic and powdery (iris) but also becomes more deep and woody Overall smells very comforting, cozy and clean, which i's mainly atribute to the cashmere wood and vanilla There is also subtle elemi and benzoin surrounding this composition After some time it sweetens up a lot and the powdery soapy clean notes from before almost completely disappear

This house is on a whole other level... Masterpieces galore! This was my least favorite but i still adore it! Please, if you're a fellow fraghead GET YOUR NOSE ON THIS HOUSE ASAP! Opus goes on a little Shalimar-ish but goes in its own direction in the dry down. I will be owning every single creation this house has in its unum line up & cant wait to try the others. I'm in awe... the performance, longevity, sillage and projection is second to none! Wow!

Somewhat sweet with definite dark undertones. Complex and different that any other in my collection. The packaging and bottle are unique, the top being a rock block. Not beastly but u wouldn't want this one to be. First time wearing it and I am pleased. It is not really gothic dark but actually a pleasant fragrance that can be worn at work, casual or the bar. Received as a sample and like it so bought a 100ml bottle w/no regrets.

It's all about that base. I was initially concerned about the lime in the opening as it is one of the notes that I usually avoid but it soon fell back to blend with the whole. This perfume has the richest, most elegant dry down ever. Heavenly. Beyond that I would never dream of adding anything to that which has already been said by the esteemed Mssrs. Alfarom and Colin Maillard. I bow before their superior expertise.

For those of you that need 24+ hours of longevity and sillage that fills a room then look no further. This is a vanilla oriented scent but done in a very grown up manner. Those resinous notes really give it the mature vibe "elemi and benzoin" with a touch of lipstick from the iris. This is a very one of a kind scent that should go don as a masterpiece even though it leans feminine 60/40 in my book.

Amazingly formulated. First thing that hits you is the warmness and sweetness coming in different ways with a little tang to sharpen, like a high end michelin star vanilla lemon cake but the resins just make it so sophisticated. I think the base and spine of this fragrance is where it makes its name. Its that musk mixed with the resins, wood and vanilla that its really making this fragrance.

Beautiful iris, citrus, and incense come together to perfectly capture the atmosphere of a cathedral. This was my introduction to Filippo Sorcinelli, and it will always hold a special place for me. The dry down has some hints of baby powder, but overall it develops into a stunning work of art on my skin. I blind bought it on a whim and don't regret it one bit.

Gorgeous powdery vanilla - quite resinous. Lovely not in your face Iris blanket over the top. Disagree with connotations of old school and Shalimar. Indeed a modern take for a goth. Not quite like anything I know - classic Scorcinelli - if you want a vibey statement perfume for casual use and you like Nick Cave and The Cure this might be it...

On my skin, for the first few hours, this is a bergamot bomb. It's practically all I can smell. After 2 hours I can smell the elemi, orange, vanilla, etc...In the drydown it resembles more Shalimar than Kismet, but they are each different enough in their own right, to own all three. Me? I prefer Kismet but was happy to use all of my decant.

The opening is a bit tough, very sharp citrus with a yawning jasmine and a cloying sweetness. It is definitely pleasant but it’s a test of endurance for sure! Calms down into a wonderfully balanced citric resinous scent with unbelievable performance, has more wearability than most from Unum.

This is love at first sniff. I ordered 7 samples from this maker. This is the first perfume I have tested. The amber wraps me in comfort. The citrus notes tingles and jolts me up a bit before I get too comfortable and bored. The base soothes me, like I have arrived in a safe sacred place.

yummy yummy yummy. Great citrus soft gourmand scent. Totally Totally different from the other frags ive tried from this house however this is really good in its own way. Beautiful blend between yummy gourmand cake mixed with a slightly darker gothic side really really good

Went to the post office today and received a great compliment from a female worker. She stated that I small so good. I believe this affirms great projection and sillage as well as the outstanding scent. This could easily be my new signature scent.

Wore this tonight and my wife said it smells like baby powder, in a good way. Definitely she picked up a powdery sweetness. She felt it seemed more feminine but she liked it on me, much better than the aggressive ouds I usually wear. I like it.

One of my new favorites! At begining sweet, powdery, citrus blast, soon settles down to powdery musky vanillic scent that on my skin is reminiscent of Musc Ravageur drydown. At the same time classical and decadent a bit. Very nice.

With the powder and bergamont, it smells very familiar . . . oh yeah, Shalimar. After trying one on each arm, I actually like this better than Shalimar!

the new edition is very different than the vintage which was a very dark juice and very potent. the vintage is simply divine.

A while back I was searching for something exactly like this and here it is finally - a goth bubblegum! Dark and delicious!

A slightly fresher/less dated shalimar in a cooler bottle. I don’t really like shalmiar but I like this a little bit more.

Scent: 10/10 Quality: 10/10 Originality: 7/10 Sillage: 9/10 Projection: 9/10 Longevity: 10/10 Price VS Size: 10/10

A perfume of etherealness for divine beings, I feel blessed to have this in my hands. This is... baby powder2.

Wow! Just ... try it! What soap or gas station where did you smell that? Nothing like that.

If you wear this and still no one wants you you are going to die alone

Deep, dark, mysterious, sweet and stunning!!!

super fresh, clean, powdery, musky elemi and vanilla with flowery notes, mainly iris and orchid, you can really notice the elemi in this, it has a baby powder quality to it, but it's more mature than that, on the spray there's a fresh bergamot in there but it goes away very fast and turns into more of a sweet bergamot marmalade but it's pretty deep in among the resinous qualities it evolves and matures a lot over time, which is really interesting, it gets a bit darker and more resinous, and despite having no incense, I still feel a gothic/cathedral vibe from it, but more in the architectural sense, the stones that were used, mostly the smooth, clean marble I'm starting to appreciate and love iris more and more, after testing multiple fragrances with it, it's such a nice flowery note that is very hard to go wrong with, and it works so well unisex and even male leaning, which I really appreciate I also completely disagree with the Shalimar comparisons, it is not a dupe at all, the similarities are like, what, maybe 10% at most? it's closer to Florae by Aether than Shalimar, and still, it's not even close, it's like the people comparing Musc Ravageur to Shalimar, which is not even remotely close, that comparison is even worse than this

A coquettish gothic talc fantasy. This fragrance is intensely dense, shockingly so. Brain-rattling. Vanilla sweetness, benzoin warmth, powder, leather, salty ambergris, and an incense-y balsamic profile all collide at once. Elemi is dominant and fully on display: warm, slightly lemony, and lightly spicy, shaping the entire character. At the opening, it immediately brings Yubaba to mind, witchy excess, exaggerated makeup, deep wrinkles. As the incense and powder facets rise, “gothic talc” becomes the clearest descriptor. As for the brand’s own line “the true smell of Gothic” to me it points to Gothic architecture: grandeur, vertical poise, opulence, and those slightly intimidating details. Stepping out of the fantasy and back into reality: the Shalimar comparisons are fair, haha. The cap is also notable: handmade volcanic stone, extremely heavy, the bottle can barely carry it. Tag(s): gothic talc, powder, coquettish gothic, vanilla sweetness, benzoin warmth, elemi, balsamic

Opus 1144 has a beautiful opening. Hesperidic notes together with sublime vanilla and elemi go smoothly together with flower/powdery accord all supported with cashmere, musk, sandalwood and grey amber evoke a grotesque fairy tale feeling to it. Within the development and towards dry down the scent loses its citrussy character, changes into brooding musky phase, which is a lot more demanding from a wearer than the beginning in my opinion. It still preserves the flower/citrus notes there but changes into something odd/elevated and unfamiliar. I love the experience, but it's not an easy to go perfume. It is like a bizarre journey into a different reality. You are driven somehow by it. I will say again grotesque and unfamiliar are the keywords. It's like the grinning skeleton with the veil of flowers attached with chains to the old mouldy-wet brick wall in a gothic keep. It goes well with dim, rainy and cold weather. Certainly worth a try.

This is a step away from what I personally like, but it's still very beautiful. Indeed, my first impression is of a modernized Shalimar, mixed with a caramel aspect that reminds me of the very Madeleinesque scent of sweet syrup. I don't really see any "gothic" evocation either: it's surprising, but it's relatively soft and luminous. It's hard to make the connection between all the notes (we clearly have the bergamot-jasmine-elemi-benjoin-vanilla accord), a sort of grainy, resinous yellow-gold-brown, in that vein. The hold, as always, is perfect (I don't think I've ever been led to believe otherwise: these fragrances are still of the highest quality). Very interesting, and not as aggressive/scary as the bottle suggests. Worth the detour.

This perfume gave me a nostalgic feeling. There's something beautifully vintage about it, perhaps the soft baby powder nuance from the iris. It opens with a burst of bergamot, then after about 20 minutes the iris emerges with a hint of sweetness, settling into a smooth vanilla with plenty of amber in the background. It reminds me of Shalimar by Guerlain, but I prefer this by far. Shalimar has a slightly dirty note that I could never get past, while this feels incredibly clean. There's nothing dark about this fragrance, it's simply old-fashioned in the most comforting way. Overall, I'm really glad I added it to my collection. It's a comforting, elegant scent that I can see myself reaching for often.