The Mariner's Rhyme

I like how this fragrance is not just unique, but how the overall experience of wearing it evolves over time, almost like the arcs of a short story. (I don’t know if this happened because my nose adjusted to the scent or the fragrance itself matured, but each day felt different.) My initial impression of Mariner’s Rhyme was a blast of harsh chlorine like salt, slapping my face like the waves of a stormy sea. I genuinely felt like a mariner whose ship is caught in a violent storm, and he's thrown overboard, swallowing seawater while clinging to a broken plank, struggling to survive. The next day, the fragrance felt calmer and slightly warmer. The elemi and a faint hint of frankincense became more noticeable, and I immediately imagined our mariner waking up the next morning, washed ashore. His face rests in sun warmed sand, and the air feels peaceful. The anger of the sea has passed, replaced by a soft breeze and gentle sunlight. On the third day, the scent took another turn : this time feeling greener and more floral. In this final chapter, the mariner explores a forest near the beach, where trees are covered in moss and scattered flowers are all over the place. He walks away from the sea, yet a faint trace of sea salt still lingers in the air. Overall, I'm really surprised by the transition and complexity of this fragrance.It was an amazing olfactory experience. This was my first experience with this house and I’ll definitely try more of her offerings in the future. the only complaint i could have is the longevity. it barely makes it to the 6 hour mark, with the sillage turning into a skin scent after about 1.5 hours. I'll still be testing it in more situations to see if it changes. UPDATE: I had this idea that the fragrance might have matured after the first use. In any case I was enjoying this creation so much that I went and bought another Bianchi, the Black Knight. After owning the second bottle I am fully convinced that some "maturation" happens with Francesca Bianchi fragrances because now I see both my Bianchis changed dramatically in just a few days. Now I understand why associated scents like PVC rubber boat or Stormy sea mentioned in some reviews are not present in my fragrance because most people tested using the 1.5ml sample and that is not enough to observe and detect changes in the scent. My final take on the Marine's Rhyme is that it’s a beautiful calming chypre fragrance that feels slightly powdery and warm. It’s incredibly cozy and soothing and sometimes I spray it before bed. It helps me sleep like a baby no joke. scent: 9.5/10 longevity: 6/10 sillage: 6/10 uniqueness: 8.5/10

Texture Galore === I remember rowing and rowing Not moving an inch A man shouting I think i felt resentment Yet I know i felt content I Looked around the boat Felt the breeze, I felt the sea Don't recall reaching the shore it doesn't matter anymore === Starts with a beautiful citrus, For me citrus openings aren't about the specific note/fruit. rather the feeling of a spark that brings the smell, it sets a stage of brightness from the opening. Here we have the first beautiful aspect of this fragrance: It is crisp almost mentholated. This brings coldness and weight. In cold weather it sharpens when its warmer it gives the feeling of water protecting you from scorching sun rays. This texture reminds me of ice, brutal in the cold, soft and soothing when its warm. The aldehydes of that were in "Love for sale" Make their way in this scent, its more menthol and cool air as opposed to this almost itching vibrancy that something like No. 5 Chanel has. Don't go of thinking about mint, or any aromatic plant. This is a feeling you get when there is a mentholated substance around you....not the actual smell.... Moving on. Even though I'm a fanboy of this perfumer, this scent didn't impress me the first time i wore it. After i gotten the bottle and now wearing it frequently i can confidently say: This is a work of art. Back to texture as theme, for people that grew up around the sea: This feels like home, like sitting at a non-tourist beach sort of tired from swimming in rough waves. Undefined saltines, and mineral roughness. Nicely balanced by a comforting vibe. That for me is inherent of the sea.

In salty dark, where tides pull deep, A bottle glows,*The Mariner’s Rhyme.* Oakmoss hums low beneath the waves, And Iris emerge from the soul. No words are spoken,none are known, Just footsteps on the wetted sand. Like her, in black dress dragging tide, I carry silence in my hands. A piano plays where none can hear, Beneath the moon’s cold mercury glow. Ambergris drifts like buried song Lost verses only hearts can know. This scent is not worn,it arrives, Like love that dares not speak its name... Salt-stung and solemn, true and strange. Extraordinary Chypre The Mariner’s Rhyme is a fresh and bright chypre with dominant iris. If you took out the ozonic notes, what’s left is a beautiful classic chypre soaked in iris. I always enjoy how Francesca Bianchi modernize classic fragrances. This is not only a marine scent to me. It’s way bigger, way more complex, way more emotional. Imagine the movie, The Piano 1993. It reminds me a lot of that movie. Lush forest, fresh air, sea breeze, moist earth, dewy leaves, passion, kindness, beauty, turbulence of emotions, hope, secret sexual affairs and love. All in a beautiful island. Bianchi’s DNA (Animalic Orris) is prominently present in it. This time orris is fresher and brighter and its pair with ambergris. Very lovely. Very shik. Performance is also very good. I think The Mariner’s Rhyme is one of Francesca Bianchi finest works.

This is a wonderful perfume. It's art. I have a keen interest in the poem Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner because my mom did her master's thesis on it, which I read when I was 12 (I had nothing to read, there was no home internet back then lol.) My first serious academic reading and I got to discuss it with the author for the next 40 years. So I was really excited to try a perfume that is an embodiment of the poem. And it is amazing! It's beautiful in the way that waves are beautiful. Not an alluring beauty but the beauty of deadly nature. Blue waves and sea salt, the creak of the wooden ship. Nothingness to the horizon. Perfume, perfume, everywhere, nor any drop to drink. 10/10 I need a full bottle. I need two bottles, because I want to give one to my brother. I can smell the deep blue sea. Which is a form of desert. Blue like that is devoid of life, deep and far from any shore or reef. This is the sea of the Leprous White Lady, life in death, the goddess who is both alive and dead, the winter that comes for you in the end after all the leaves have fallen and there is nothing left but the mistletoe. Nothing left but sacrifice, in a liminal space between earth and sky-- or between sea and sky, the ship of the dead man, the cursed albatross-killer, waiting the absolution that comes only from Hel.

The Mariner’s Rhyme is perhaps the fragrance which detaches most from Francesca’s usual signature style, yet still retains her enigmatic charm deep within. This is an intensely marine and aquatic scent, with so much depth it feels like staring into the bottomless abyss of the ocean. Ambergris dominates, this provides the bulk of its characteristic salty and marine feel, elevated by the ozonic notes listed. Grapefruit lifts this into the sky with its bright and juicy facets, reminiscent of how the sun sparkles against the rushing waves of the sea. As it develops, the scent is then grounded and pulled back in by the dense thickness of orris, oakmoss and incense which perpetuates the idea of the dark ocean depths. It’s a fantastic creation. If you’re a lover of marine and aquatic fragrances this is a must try in my opinion. I’m conflicted whether or not I want a bottle as it’s not my usual style at all, and yet something keeps pulling me in. I imagine I’ll cave at some point and buy a 30ml.

I was very curious about how the name of this perfume would make me feel, and was a little hesitant, because I don't really like watery perfumes. When I first smelled it, I immediately thought of the "sea". And it wasn't the sea in the general sense of the word, as I have been to before, but the sea of Favignana, near Sicily, where I once spent a summer. When I rode around the island on the back of my tuna fisherman friend's motorcycle, when I went to look at the Roman mosaic fragments and the remains of the dock on the rocks of the sea, when I searched for Roman glass fragments scattered in the fields, when I entered the prayer place in the dug hole. The humid air that clung to my skin, the scent of driftwood and seawater on the rocks, and the scent of vegetation in the fields and by the roadside all came together to bring back my memories. As I always say, I like perfumes that give me imagination, images, memories, etc.

I'm on the edge with FB perfumes. I tried a couple thinking I'd fall in love but I could not tolerate them on my skin. This one though is nice. it opens with typically marine notes (even if they aren't in the list). On opening it's as marine as comptoir pacific aqua motu to me (!). This marine fresh layer stays but then other notes creep in. You'll get the typical slightly animalic "smell of your skin" that is a signature of most FB fragrances. It adds some warmth and depth to the somewhat coldness of the marine opening. I can smell something spicy in there as well, but not sure what it is. Maybe the lavender ? The floral notes are there but still discrete in my opinion. It's a marine frag, not a floral one. Overall I consider this one to be unisex and far easier to wear then most FB fragrances. It's quite long lasting (as always) and quality is great. Most interesting marine fragrance I've smelled in a while.

Very different profile from my usual favorites, but gosh this is delightful. Smells like a thunderstorm rolling through a coastal citrus grove. Very ozonic, oceanic, and citrussy. I normally find florals such as lavender and iris to lean very soapy, but they add a really nice earthy petrichor dimension when paired with the oakmoss and ozonic notes. I bought it on impulse cause the name intrigued me, and I'm so thrilled that I did, first oceanic scent that really hits home for me. 8/10

This is a masterpiece from Francesca Bianchi. It opens with some nice airy ozonic notes and is complemented with some ocean saltiness. The saltiness is palatable unlike that of Megamare which was absurdly salty. Over time as this dries down it just keeps developing, uncovering layers of complexity and a nice mushiness. Love this scent, definitely going to cop a bottle some time. If you like marine fragrances I’m sure you will enjoy this one :)

Very difficult first half hour. It's intense, nauseating and remniscent of swimming pool toilets, but then it transforms into one of my favourite ever marine scents, go figure. The chlorine note never fully subsides but it blends in acceptably after the horrror show opening. Definitely her most unique perfume, both within the world of perfumery and within her line, as many of her other scents smell almost identical to me.

I just received mine last week on Friday and I was not expecting it to be sooo beautiful as I thought, I'm not a fan of ozonic/marine fragrances and this one has become a favorite so quickly having in mind I,ve had it for a few days. The iris its done beautifully and well paired with the other notes. Something here reminds me the fluffy feeling as in Eyes closed by BYREDO. This is a more commercial fragrance by Francesca.

Is this how a cursed mariner is supposed to smell? Maybe. It's a softly cold fragrance with a surpringly long lifespan for something that's also so gentle. TMR has a lot of my favorite notes, like oakmoss, lavender, Iris, and frankincense, so of course I really like this. On my skin, oakmoss and iris usually come off stronger than other notes which is the case with this one and probably why it's not so oceanic for me.

I can’t get enough of this mysterious, wonderful scent. The first day I wore it, I felt a bit skeptical, it leaned slightly masculine. But a few days later, it’s as if it has evolved in my mind into something truly special. It smells like the color indigo, with a hint of violet, and that’s exactly the world I want to exist in. On top of that it lasts all day, and even into the next (on my skin).

A gulp of the ocean and a breath of ozone as you fall from somewhere aloft the calm of the sea, you slide down the cliff edge collecting dirt and salted stone, alas you don't fumble because you're somewhat ethereal and glid here calmly: your new home: the waves. Refreshing, calm, early morning late evening, a book, the rock pools, the stone, the sand, a perfect summer fragrance. 10/10

The Mariner’s Rhyme is a complex marine chypre that is a bit of a study in opposites. It’s transparent yet rich, earthy yet ozonic, spicy yet fresh, sharp yet powdery. It may sound like a lot, and it is, but it works and never becomes too much. This is unisex and performs well. Not a safe blind buy, but I recommend smelling it if you can.

Without any prior knowledge, I bought this perfume, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The initial spray reveals a delightful iris scent that I truly appreciate, followed by a combination of marine notes, wood, and vetiver, which adds depth to the fragrance.

A marine iris scent! More pleasant than other in the same genre. I have always wanted to own an aquatic scent which does not overdo itself. This could be the one. Yes it is a bit salty and maybe even synthetic, but it is great and I am impressed.

Alter ego of the perfume "Sex and the Sea". The smell of her body after coitus on a rubber mattress in the summer heat on a lonely beach in a sea bay is depicted in "Sex and the Sea" and this is the smell of my body after that act 😇.

An amazing, long-lasting fragrance that captures the essence of a maritime adventure. It's a perfect addition to any perfume collection for those who appreciate complexity and endurance in a scent.

This reminds me of taking your first deep breath in Ireland and so even though I don’t gravitate towards any of these notes, I love it...immensely

@calitrav Etruscan water! Nothing tricky or dirty about it, it's solid, mature and masculine.

That crisp morning sea breeze in the middle of summer, before the heat of the day kicks in

Smells identical to dior homme sport added with some iris

A waxy soap with seaweed inflections. The top notes according to the brand: citrus, calone and/or dihydromyrcenol, lavender, and elemi. I can pull the calones and dihydromyrcenol notes and textures for sure, but hesperidcs, no not really; maybe something a touch zesty and oily like rinds. Speaking of a touch oily, there is also something herbal, therefore these two notes/textures are likely an effect of dihydromyrcenol, but lavender and elemi doesn't immediately come to mind; it's a bit conflagrated, in Bianchi's typical style, thanks to her standard orris and tree moss reaching far up into the perfume. The heart notes according to the brand: orange flower and iris. There is something sweetly floral, but it doesn't call to mind orange flower until the last dry down, but orris, yes, as mentioned, Bianchi's much loved orris is present in spades. It takes quite a while, but the orange flower does eventually come through more clearly after the ozonic notes, oily herbs, orris, and tree moss begin to dispense, presenting as a sweet floral rather than a citrusy sweet floral. The orange flower is not clearly defined, so its identity sort of gets lost in the bucket load of soapy and floral musk. The base notes according to the brand: ambergris, tree moss, musk, patchouli, and incense. Ambergris, no, not really. There is something definitely salty but could just as easily be the ozonic material(s), and there is nothing particularly gray animalic to speak of. After the ozones depart from the top, nothing calls to mind ambergris. Tree moss - the brand says they use oakmoss repeatedly in their perfumes, but no - yes there are plenty of damp and woody notes. Musk, yes, Bianchi's thick and dense, slick and sticky, and soapy musk that is used in nearly all of her perfumes is present in abundance. Patchouli and incense, no. So, I'll repeat what I said at the beginning: waxy soap with seaweed inflections. With what I've said I'm sure the reason for saying soap makes sense, due to the musk and orris and herbal notes, but the connection of the ozonic notes and the damp and woody tree moss makes me think convincingly of seaweed. Some soaps have a tendency to feel hydrophobic, in that they leave your skin feeling like none of the moisture from the water you use with the soap has quenched your skin. The Mariner's Rhyme definitely has that feeling, thanks to the parched oily texture of the orris. If we are at sea, we are on a very old seawater-soaked wooden ship in the high heat of summer, where salty water is all around but not a bit of quenching moisture in the heat can be felt. The perfume takes on sweeter florals in the final dry down thanks to the big bucket of musks that have already been taking up a lot of space in the perfume, so your thirst does get quenched a bit but not exactly satisfyingly. It's quite unique, and certainly a stand-out perfume for the brand that tends to too often repeat themselves. Bianchi's signature density and swagger is here, but, interestingly, she's given this perfume a couple new characteristics not yet seen from the brand with a light-filled and light weight execution - even as an extrait - as opposed to typically heavy and dark as are nearly all of the brand's other perfumes. Another venture into left field that is identifiable as a Bianchi but doesn't misstep whilst in terra incognita, so brava, Sig.ra Bianchi. But, I don't know that I want to splash a lot of hard-earned cash to smell like seaweed soap over and over. If the florals were better defined from the musks and orris, the ambergris was more pronounced, and/or the transparent/missing notes actually there, I would probably be more compelled. Quite good, but not full bottle worthy for me.

Ozonic, salty grey ambergris, a calone-like aquatic note, citrus. Strange... genuinely strange as a composition. There are also a lot of herbal and aromatic fougère facets accompanying it. This is one of those scents that feels both warm and cold, and it resembles none of FB’s other fragrances... It smells both like iodine-coated metal and like enveloping baby powder. Here too, as in Etrus, there is a mossy vibe, but it feels a little more restrained and very well integrated into this composition. This scent inevitably pushes me toward dystopian thoughts. I once read an excellent book by an excellent writer, called Tiamat, about sailors experiencing paranormal events in a submarine. It was completely claustrophobic, and everything in it must have smelled exactly like this... I am happy to have experienced this atmospheric scent. Someone a few posts below said: "an iris aquatic fougère" > I 100% agree. Tag(s): ozonic salty, marine, aquatic, warm-cold, mossy, aromatic, powdery, metallic

No joke, reminds me of my grandfather. No he wasnt a captain in a ship. Opens up with lemon sour patch kid. idk why it smells like that on my skin. Than it forms into a irisy, dry woody, citrusy vintage, kinda like a old house. Its aftershave from the 20th century, that has been left in an old dusty cabinet. Than gains its citrusyness again. It kinda reminds me of dior homme sport or H24 by hermes. It maybe blindby friendly if you like old aftershave scents. To sum it all up: Opens up with citrusy, sweet, kinda sour patch kids-like. then forms into a dry woody, irisy, citrusy aftershave scent from the 90s that has been left in the dusty cabinet for years. I LOVE IT 7.8/10

Interesting composition. An iris aquatic fougere. I really like the opening that is fresh green and sparkling but as it transitions to the mid the papery iris/orris does something weird with the oakmoss and elemi and comes off a bit like a powdery cleaner, something that I’ve smelled in a freshly cleaned hotel room. Not sure if I like that stage. It goes back to a salty fresh aquatic dry down that I enjoy after a few hours. It’s not linear, and it evolves and projects quite well. Maybe it will grow on me, but similar to Pelagaos (another iris aquatic which also smells a bit like a cleaning product to me) it will still not be something I reach for often.

Interesting...a lot...ozonic, mossy, earthy, fresh spicy...I would like to encourage FB to make more parfumes that diverts from her typical DNA if I could, because there you can see how refined pieces she can do even outside her safe zone. This is not pale green-blue fragrance, more of a grey-blue-purple one. Even without smoke and tobacco notes its a bit sultry, not too light. Id have no problem to wear it even on a night date. Its beautiful on women and you can get a sturdy hint of rubber in the meaning of high shiny black boot with a solid rubber platform like sole ... a sexy one.

This is a great, salty and marine fragrance with a small hint of the funkiness that some Bianchi compositions go all-in on, but this isn't a difficult or unwearable niche house thing. It smells great and when I've worn it around friends they've said the same. It actually reminds me of a louder, longer-lasting and better-projecting version of Erolfa by Creed. They aren't identical - Erolfa is meant to be worn closer and is much lighter, but they have a similar vibe of salty, marine air.

I love this, but not for me - for a man in my life who was a mariner. It is realistic sea water, salinity, which is a bit dirty, a bit seaweedy. The drydown has a chlorine note that I don’t think I could handle for extended periods, but it’s great perfumery. I’m sure this smells like a room spray The White Company used to sell when I worked there back in the day. I loved it too.

Silvery-white clouds of fog wafting off the sea, clinging to iris petals on the shore. Large metal fishing rods. Droplets of cold rain. A mariner walking off the boat, crunching dune grasses underfoot, browsing the local bookstore/head shop. A unique and comforting fragrance. Primary notes of metallic ozone, iris, crispy lavender, salty air, dry moss, and incense.

Very nice dry ozonic citric opening, extremely unique, dries more conventional suede powdery iris. Great performance.

Creamy warm sea notes, aromatic and earthy. I am enjoying it! Smells luxurious and very high Quality!

The Mariner’s Rhyme by Francesca Bianchi opens with a blast of salty, cold sea air—sharp, ozonic, and incredibly realistic. For a moment, it feels like other modern niche marine scents, evoking crashing waves and cool wind. But then it quickly shifts gears and becomes something much more interesting. The signature Francesca Bianchi iris makes an entrance—dense, waxy, and earthy as always—but here, it’s different. This time, you also get the soft floral side of iris, not just the rooty, buttery part. That floral nuance is carried beautifully by neroli, which adds a fresh, slightly green brightness that keeps the scent from becoming too heavy. As it dries down, the salty marine & Iris vibe slowly fades, and you’re left with a warm, slightly sweet amber base. There’s a subtle mossy green touch in the background, giving it an earthy, grounding finish. It’s smooth and elegant without losing that wild, atmospheric edge that Francesca Bianchi does so well. This one is totally unisex and would definitely appeal to fans of marine scents, but even more so to iris lovers who are looking for something a bit different and more layered. It’s like an ocean breeze meets a moody, floral heart—unexpected and gorgeous.

If we consider this perfume as an act of art, which is what every perfume is, whether good or bad, then here we have a masterpiece. Despite the use of some aromachemicals that slightly scratch the throat and burn the nostrils (Calon, I hate you!), the creation is highly impactful and evokes interesting associations. It probably won't bring you many compliments, but it is a creaton that will not leave people indifferent. It is certainly polarizing and will cause controversy, and whether we like it or not it is something new and provocative, for which we can congratulate the creator.

The Mariner’s Rhyme is that rarity, a realistic ocean scent; it actually does smell something like ocean air, not (too much) like harsh chemicals. It’s reminiscent of the smell of sun-dried seashells, and a little bit of shining sea spray. Ok, yes, it’s a *little* harsh. But there’s a lovely pearlescent shimmer around the strong “ozonic” note. At length we land on a chalky iris with a little bit of an herbal quality. All in all, this is a pretty successful example of a marine fragrance. Bright white throughout: blinding sun, clear air, bleached seashells.

It smells like storm on the seaside. Huge waves, violent sea, green algae, sand with broken shells from clams and mollusks that were alive just few hours ago, even the smell of moist concrete, everything is in here and then some. Had it been a painting, I would have liked it more. It is too turbulent for a perfume, it makes me anxious that my little raft would drown in it. Though, because it is a Bianchi, I give it credit and try to love it. Hopefully, I will.

smells nothing like the ocean, actually feels more like a not so interesting leather - rubbery - resinous base with some sourness in the opening. Quite disappointing tbh. the drydown changes deeply, acquiring a salty and fresher character. very surprising evolution!

Sonbahara ve yağmurlu günlere daha çok yakıştırdığım bir koku. Karanlık ve dalgalı bir deniz hayalimde canlanıyor bununla, yazın canlılığı yok. Özgün bir profil, Prada Infusion D'Irıs 'in karanlık hali gibi hissettiriyor.

Initially I get a genuine cow leather smell. Good. A bit later it’s a lasting nasty cucumber smell. Not good. ): Also, it doesn’t have that powdery accord like the other FBs.

marine fragrances always feel like 90s yankee candle scents, this is no exception.

first, I hated it. It hit me like a sharp oyster note, much like what I had experienced with Cocoyster by Salum and Atlas by Sarah Baker. I kept thinking to myself, “No, this is definitely not for me,” yet I couldn’t stop bringing my hand back to my nose to smell it again, and again, and again. A day later, it was already on my wishlist. I always find it so rewarding when a relationship with a fragrance I end up loving starts from a place of dislike. It’s in those moments I realize my olfactory senses are evolving. Now, let’s talk about TMR. From an analytical perspective, the fragrance reveals each of its listed notes with precision. They all come together to create something well-structured. There’s a bright, almost high-pitched citrus opening; two aromatic, resinous, incense-filled sides; and a salty, powdery base of ambergris and iris. It doesn’t evolve much, but that’s fine—it works just as it is. On a more poetic level, to evoke a clear association through words, I’d say TMR brings to mind a very particular image. This fragrance leaves me speechless because it genuinely reminds me of the cold air before (not during) a storm. The storm front is still far off, but the air is already electric, buzzing with ions and ozone. TMR is cold and ozonic, yet somehow it holds an inner warmth. Between the grey clouds, a gap appears, letting a faint beam of light—somewhere between silver and gold—fall onto the sea. The mood is deeply meditative, but there’s an underlying tension. The elemi and incense lend a sacred, almost spiritual dimension, as if something profound is about to happen. If I had to assign a color to this fragrance, it wouldn’t be just one. I see the iridescence of mother-of-pearl, also due to the “shell” accord that comes through. I’ll use it sparingly, alongside my peacoat and elbsegler hat, when the time comes for the sea and I to have a conversation.

Alright, this is a blend reminiscent of Dans Le Bleu Qui Petille, Dusita's Pelagos, and Eldo's Secretions Magnifiques. It opens with a unique, creamy ozonic note that has a ""wet dog hair"" scent, combined with a smoky, salty, marine-like incense similar to that in Dans Le Bleu. The smokiness here is dusty and earthy, and while it doesn't align with what I consider to be an ""orris note"", it can be described as the foundation of a mossy, resinous Fougère instead. Duration-wise, it's still detectable on my skin after 6 hours, but it's not projecting much. Interestingly, this fragrance deviates from Bianchi's typical creations, lacking the sweaty, peachy, leathery sweetness characteristic of her other works. Both this and Encounters (and to some extent Byzantine Amber, despite its leathery notes) represent a shift away from her usual base, which is intriguing. Overall, if Mariner's Rhyme didn't include the unpleasant ""wet hair"" note, I would find it much more appealing. But for now, it goes into the resample jar.

Dusty orriswith a waft of sea water in the sillage only, first on. Smells kind of like laundry dried on the line, but the orris (whatever is reading as orris anyway) is dusty and powdery and dry, and flattens every bright note. Overall, it’s sadly powdery and one-note. REALLY reminds me of grandma’s house in Yakima: sun heated dust, clean cotton, a sharp hint of split wood. Unsure how I feel about this as a personal fragrance, because it makes me feel like an old woman. After scrubbing, or the equivalent of a full dry down, I get the sea notes again; fresh, clean citrus but still with that sharp wood I don’t like.

On paper: Salty, sweet and round. Hint of liquorice and anise. An aquatic sweetness that reminds me of Profumum's Acqua di Sale. On skin: Mint and salted stones. Other than that, very similar. Not my style at all but I can appreciate a marine scent without the harsh, piercing qualities. Very realistic.

@calitrav: The Black Knight. The Dark Side. Etruscan Water. Byzantine Amber. The Lover's Tale. The last one is not typically traditional, but a guy can definitely pull it off. All are grand compositions but top of the heap would be The Lover's Tale, though some around you might not care for it.

An ozonic floral iris with a bitter sharp green base. The iris flower is lovely, but it doesn’t really go well with the composition. Date of Purchase: 15th of January, 2025 Source: 1.5ml Official Sample

It’s unbelievably close to Sibet by Slumberhouse. I prefer the Slumberhouse if I’m going to wear this type of leathery iris scent profile. There are too many synthetics for this to smell really deep.

Her perfumes sound interesting, I wonder which one a man whose tastes tend to lean traditional would be most likely to enjoy ?

Inky aspects of Zoologist Squid with Tauer’s Phtaloblue. Perhaps considered a flanker to Guy Laroche’s Horizon (?)