Bedlam

I've tried 5 out of my 9 samples from Frater now, and Bedlam is my favorite so far. The blurb describes a love story gone horribly wrong, with one of the lovers eventually ending up in an asylum - hence the name. Bedlam does seem to tell a story - it is multi-layered, abstract, and richly detailed. To my nose, everything revolves around a sharp orange blossom - the green, almost animalic smell I associate with the scent of real orange blossom floating on a California breeze. At the top, the orange blossom is accented by citrus and whiskey (though I wouldn't have been able to put my finger on that if it weren't listed. This is not a boozy fragrance.) In the heart, Frater lists "Ceylon spices" and hay. It definitely gets spicy in the heart, almost like a jalapeño. In the base, I get a very satisying combination of musks, lots of cedar, and lots of tonka. Vanilla and patchouli are minimal to my nose. I also would guess at something like ambroxan - as it's a little salty on my skin, almost with a popcorn vibe. Unisex. Reminds me a lot of Tonka 25 by Le Labo (which was orange blossom, tonka, and cedar), as well as Love Don't Be Shy by By Kilian (spicy, animalic orange blossom; but Bedlam obviously lacks the loads of marshmallow sugar).