Fatih Sultan Mehmed

My skin really amplifies apple notes, so that's what I smelled most strongly for the first ten minutes: a crisp, sweet apple on a woody base. It kind of settled down after that, allowing a truly gorgeous ambergris to shine through. I also smelled the oud quite clearly (and was surprised to see it so low in the list of featured notes, because it's pretty obvious to me), as well as a lovely dry-yet-smooth cedar. I can't really distinguish between the individual floral notes, which seem a bit blunted to my nose, but the idea of a flower garden does make it through, just in a rather subdued way (as if you were smelling the garden as you passed under its walls, rather than being allowed to take a walk through it). An earthy, oh-so-slightly rough patchouli peeks through, bringing in a darker aspect to the experience. There's a hint of lightly-smoky vanilla there as well - not obvious, but it's that little drop of je ne sais quoi that this perfume needs. Something in it also creates the illusion of black pepper, although I'm not sure what it could be. The drydown turned out to be relatively woody, with the cedar most apparent and the amber and benzoin giving it a richly opulent feel. This, in my opinion, is a chypre of the best tradition, bringing a new twist to a relatively classic note pyramid by playing with proportions and showcasing ingredients in a decidedly modern way. It's not cutting-edge perfumery by any means, but given the inspiration behind the perfume, I think it makes sense to work within a more timeless framework, rather than bringing in experimental elements. I enjoyed every minute of it, and so far it's probably my favourite among the Fort & Manle line - not necessarily in terms of sheer artistry, but just because of how wonderful it makes me feel when I put it on.

The scent is a work of art... Surely one of the most beautifully blended fragrances out there. None of the notes are particularly pickable at any one time, but the blend is just masterful. A superb blend of fruity, floral and woody, without leaning towards any one in particular. The only real note I can orientate is the vanilla, which isn't there as such, but you get this soften to the scent as the vanilla comes in and it just rounds the scent off superbly. The sillage is the downer for me, as it just doesn't punch, and that's a crying shame as it's so nice, you just want everyone to experience it. The longevity isn't a world beater, I get around three hours, but within an hour it's very much a skin scent. Despite the sillage issue, I find myself consistently reaching for this as I just can't get enough of it. If it just packed a bit more punch, I'd have found perfection. I adore it nonetheless, though. From working my way through the discovery set, I made FB purchases of Bojnokopff, Amber Absolutely and Fatih Sultan Mehmed. They are all excellent in their own right, but this one in particular is the best scent, by a long margin. If you're going to full bottle any from this excellent house, I urge you to plump this one, despite the sillage issues.

Firstly I'd like to thank my darling husband for my surprise samples of all the delicious Fort & Manle range. What a gorgeous enabler! My interest in Fort & Manle was piqued really recently, my eye was caught by Fatih Sultan Mehmed. This fragrance is hauntingly beautiful to me, I use the word hauntingly as it just follows you, with whispers of of every note. This isn't a loud sillage monster because it doesn't need to be, but you notice it and other people do, it is a quietly, personal luxurious scent. Unfortunately (to my nose) this doesn't evoke the scent of a palace garden with its beautiful Turkish roses. This smells to me as I imagine the man Fatih Sultan Mehmed himself smelling, the scent of salty, clean skin on his cheek, the heavy silk he wears fragranced with the air and flowers from his walk in the garden, his hand still holds the scent of the sweet apple he has just eaten, hints of burning incense, attar oils and although not listed black pepper nuances. Would I like this in my collection? Absolutely. Although, I do need to sample the other six offerings from this outstanding house....but there was no way Fatih Sultan Mehmed wasn't going to leave his mark first.

I am reviewing this frag based off the sample I ordered. Its quite a beautiful scent and I really like it. Its a sweet woody ambery fragrance with some incense vibe. The combination of notes and accords rocks. To my nose, it leans just a tad point towards the feminine side but definitely unisex. Formal or semi formal get up would be best to style this frag and seem more appropriate for cooler weather. Probably caters towards 30+ age group. Projection and performance may not be the best considering its price point and that's the downside. Simply gorgeous but wanting in terms of longevity and projection. I'll give this juice an 8/10 “Let us spread the scents of peace and kindness. The two most beautiful fragrance in the world that will cost you nothing and will get you a totally different kind of compliments” 🙏

It is clear on first sniff why Fatih Sultan Mehmed was chosen as one of the finalists for “The Art and Olfaction Awards” in 2017. A blend that screams opulence & sophistication, infusing sweet juicy bergamot and crisp apple with immaculate iris and radiant tulips (tulipan) accord that blends in with sensual musk adding a feeling of royalty, cleanliness with a twist in the heart,introducing subtle use of oud and noticeable patchouli for some earthy woody nuances to darken up the olfactive experience a bit. Ambergris adds the final touch to this majestic fusion in the heart and base creating an airy sweet and salty contrast to the blend, somewhat aquatic floral, but simultaneously earthy and dark, this scent is the smell of life. Fatih Sultan Mehmed is a perfume of profoundly magical proportions.