Lampblack

Lampblack fulfils it's promise of light vs. dark in some style, it feels like a dark rubbery mutant solid heart surrounded by kaleidoscopic orbiting gasses and sparkling motes of light. As deadidol mentions it definitely has a CdG synthetic feel, but with some meat added to the bones, the vetiver and opening citric notes adding a natural comfort that only seems to further highlight the alien futuretech synths. The dark side also hides some delightful associations and surprises (more of that later). What's remarkable is the fact that the sparkling thin gassy grapefruit accord maintains itself to the close, maintaining the light vs dark dance for the full duration, I've no idea what synthetic molecule achieves this but it works wonderfully here, it reminds me a little of nu_be Sulphur in this respect but applied in an even more successful way. CdG lovers I would be awfully surprised if you didn't wet yourself over this. Lampblack opens with a lifelike citrus grapefruit, with a little sparkle. Shortly after an accurate ink note joins and these two sides define the opening stage. The transition to the heart seems to strip back the grapefruit to a thinner more persistent synthy note, and the ink note morphs slightly, now exhibiting a light rubbery facet. The combination can come off a little sweaty, not a cumin BO sweat, but more the slightly sharp smell of sweat breaking through an anti-perspirant. There is also a de-rooted vetiver (ala VE) and some kind of musk that seems to add a compliant solidity to the heart underneath the swirling mid to high notes, this identifies a little like toasted circuit board lurking around. As Lampblack moves to the drydown the earlier accords remain in an attenuated state and a plumy berried note is added. The effect of this is to add a very slight nauseousness on the periphery that reminds me of the ghostlike form of cyborg wet dog. From there it looses the berry notes first, then the darkest rubber and fades to a close with grey vetiver and the radiant grapefruit synth sparkle. I know I've mentioned some odd concepts above but it's what I'm feeling, but in no way does it come across in a nasty or skanky way, it's more of a artificial digital fascimile of an organic impression. It isn't a beast in strength or projection, but seems to have a pronounced radiance much in the spirit of Timbuktu, and longevity seems good at 8-10 hours. 4.5/5

Respectfully, I couldn’t disagree more with the previous reviewer who says this scent is nothing new and has pretty poor performance; I think if this scent is not exactly like anything else, yet has familiar characteristics, then that itself makes it something new and interesting. Familiarity can be a good thing. In fact, I always get compliments when I wear it (just 1 spray) and it lasts for hours on me with good projection. Of course perfume can behave differently from person to person, which I think a lot of reviewers don’t keep in mind.. Also, while I wouldn’t consider this a minimalist perfume (though I guess you could), I think minimalist scents ABSOLUTELY belong in perfumery. There’s still an art to it. I don’t judge a perfume by how complex it is anyway; I judge it by its wearability and how often I want to wear it. I keep coming back to this one, which is a testament to its overall effect. Luca Turin, one of the most respected perfume critics, wrote that Lampblack is “...stylish and salubrious,” and I definitely agree, even if scent is highly subjective. Also, $125 for a bottle is not necessarily expensive for the concentration and quality you’re getting, imo. Many perfume extraits and oils go for way more. If you compare this to a more cheaply made perfume, of course it’s going to seem very pricey. Samples are always a great option...Anyway, this scent is DOPE. EDIT: To any reviewers I disagree with, I still respect your opinion. And this is mine. Btw, I’m pretty sure this is not an eau de cologne.

The zip of freshly rolled ink on a brayer; wood and paper pressed together with giant steel rollers; the faint whiff of deodorant as the printmaker bends over the press with a block in their ink stained hands. Sunshine streaming through an open window as motes of sawdust catch the light; that same sunshine bathing a new print, drying on a rack just out of the way. Lampblack, oh my god, Lampblack. I bought a sample, intrigued by descriptions of it smelling like printmaking, but without high expectations as I'm a wood block printmaker myself, and figured it would just smell like people imagined printmaking must smell like, and not the actual thing. It smells exactly like the actual thing. From the nagarmotha lending the scent of freshly carved wood and freshly torn paper, to inky notes that couldn't be any more accurate, to the citrus and spice reminiscent of a clean studio and a clean body, this scent is a work of artistic genius, and an incredible tribute to wood block printing and printmakers themselves. This will be the first scent that I buy as a full sized bottle, and I already know I will return to it often. Additionally, this scent works very harmoniously with my go to deodorant (Old Spice Captain) and my usual working hands lotion (a homemade blend with calendula, geranium, and wild orange), it's the first scent I've tried that I don't need to wait until my other scents fade some before applying.

Well this fragrance caught me a little off guard but in a such a good way. This Smokey vetiver, citrus concoction has my immediate attention from the first spritz. I can see the CDG interpretations that come to mind in other reviewers thoughts but to me stands alone in it's dark yet tame delivery.To gain a better understanding about what Bruno was trying to achieve in this unique offering I had to understand the title "Lampblack" which I was told represents the pigment of Indian Ink. I remember in my Grammar School days with pen,ink and blotting paper those odors immediately came to mind. But this masterpiece is so much more than that smell with it's subtle nuances. A relative newcomer to the fragrance industry I can see Bruno's artistic talent in this genre by his devotion to detail and yes you can be one with the progression of notes weaving their way and encompassing you in a trance. I think with that in mind Luca Turin has become a fan of this presentation giving a more than a respectable 4 out of 5. A winner indeed. This is one you will be enthralled to enjoy. 9/10

Previous reviews are right, this isn't, per se, anything terribly new or unique, I can think of at least half a dozen scents with very similar notes. But for me it's the most exact and evocative ink scent I've encountered - the precise smell of my art studio in college, a thing I hadn't smelled in years. Wet india ink and thin textured sketch paper, a creaky old wooden easel with rusty hinges, charcoal you've accidentally wiped across your cheek, pencil shavings and those moldable rubber erasers, your nose pressed against the textbook, bitter linseed from oil paint and the plaster of someone else's sculpture drying across the room but when you're next to an open window and it's late May and you can smell cut grass and hot tarmac and fresh air outside. I love this. I can't even be bothered to try to tear apart the notes because it's such an intense memory scent for me that I don't want to complicate it. Plenty of CDG perfumes are similar and Andreea Maack's "Coal" is very close and IMO a lot more wearable, but I love Lampblack so much more.