Istanbul

Stunning. My favorite of the five perfumes I’ve tested from Gallivant. This blend reminds me of something Andy Tauer would create: a dry, exotic, resinous, spicy affair. The addition of tonka and vanilla makes it different from a Tauer creation though, and I’m happy for that balance of sweet and spicy. Cardamon is the first note I pick up, then this scent blooms without any obvious floral notes. There’s opoponax and patchouli which adds depth, and the reason this fragrance legs, leading to very good performance. Perplexingly, I don’t understand the comparisons to Musc Eau de Parfum Molinard. I tried that one yesterday and it was a scrubber. Even though Musc has a high rating, I found that it turned to urine on my skin and was way too animalic for me to get past. Istanbul and Musc could not be more different, and it makes me think that maybe my Molinard discovery box is off. In any case, I love Istanbul.

Istanbul is a lovely, polite, comforting scent. There is no awkward phase or non-harmonious note. I don’t adore it but I like it very much. On me it is sweet, dry, and aromatic. Unisex. It is well blended and the only notes I don’t perceive from the list above are the bergamot and musk. I’ve had a bottle quite a while—until tonight but I made a nice memory... there was a restaurant worker who had served at our table and complimented me on the perfume. She said she loved it so I pulled it from my purse at the end of the dinner and suggested she try it. She tested, then had such a huge smile that I told her to keep it. She asked if she could hug me. Perfume is so magical—why not make the world happier on spray at a time?

Istanbul is first and foremost a comfort fragrance for me. I don't wear it out and don't wear it when I meet people, new or old. I occasionally have scents like this that I don't want ruined by potentially bad experiences. This is my fragrance I wear when I want to be held, embraced but it just isn't possible. As people have mentioned, this is spicy and resinous and also has a beautiful vanillic aroma. It's perfect and hard to analyse without going too in depth. This doesn't need to be analysed at all. It's just perfectly comfortable. Lasts so long, too. 15 or so hours without reapplication.

Of the Gallivant perfumes I have tried this is my favourite. The initial scent is a combination of leather, smoke, spice and vanilla all mixed in together. It is not a scent for those who like to smell of fresh flowers. There is a sultryness to it though not grubby. It lasts well on my skin eventually fading to a scent that is like caramel. I find myself sniffing my wrists. This is going on my list of favourites. I could happily wear this during the day or at night but for me living in the northern hemisphere definitely a winter perfume.

This is amazing in every aspect. Smell, uniqueness, and performance are out of this world. It’s in that vein of dark, creamy, and spicy genre but completely different than all of them. Remember this, never trust negative reviews on Fragrantica because these same people leave negative reviews on fragrances that haven’t even been released on here. Buy a decant and be ready to be amazed. I sprayed the inner bend of my arm 9 hours ago and I’m still surrounded by a scent cloud. This is absolutely stunning.

Picked up this gem recently and wow. I can't keep my nose off of it. Although i wish they offered it in a 50ml bottle it doesn't take away from the beauty of the fragrance. Lots of spices followed by heavy resinous amber and vanilla. Projection is good for the first 1-2 hours then settles into a skin scent, longevity is amazing on me as i get around 10-12 hours on my skin. I believe this to be a masterpiece if you like grand soir and its DNA you have to get your nose on this. 10/10 imo

This is nice. Spicy ambery vanilla for everyday use and even office/work. This scent also lasts a surprisingly long time on skin. I consistently get 8-10h. However, similar fragrances usually projects a lot more but can also be a bit too much for certain situations. If you’re expecting the projection of e.g. grand soir then you’ll be disappointed. If you want an everyday, easy to use spicy amber you’ll be very satisfied.

This is very nice, a warm fougeriental, yes, I made that up. Woody spicy amber with vanilla and lavender, it has a masculine touch but is very unisex. I find it very warm and comforting. I don’t get the cold alcohol thing like others have mentioned and that makes me wonder if there is a batch out there that was too new and had not macerated long enough. Nothing ground breaking here but it is an enjoyable fragrance.

I like it, it's not your ordinary amber fragrance, I get the cardamom, vanilla, tonka bean and amber, but then I get a fresh twist of tooth paste, but in a good way. I just got this so haven't been able to try it for more than an hour but so far it's pleasant. Update: 3 hours later and the two sprays on my arm is almost gone, this isn't a powerhouse so don't be afraid to spray it 10+ times

This is divine! I would say this is a super smooth vanillic patchouli and amber scent. Patchouli is the lead role at the opening, and then the vanilla and amber/resins quickly come on the scene. I also get a fair amount of the bergamot...which comes across like a lemon dessert to me. This is like a combo of Cormandel, Dior Addict, and Kalimantan with a bit of Lira thrown in. LOVE this.

Love, love, love this absolute beaut. I'm not even sure what does it for me over other scents with similar profiles, but it's one that just feels cosy and yummy but still has enough freshness to not feel cloying or heavy. I normally steer away from the sweet gourmandy vanilla/tonka heavy scents and they are both obvious here, but not in a way that's too much at all. Just gorgeous.

Smells very much of incense and spices...lasts 12 hours and sometimes even more on my skin. Projects like crazy, i've had people several meters away asking about the incense smell. Cant really wrap my head around the people that gets poor longevity and projection out of this...its borderline nuclear on me. Perfect for the nordic climate with three rather chilly seasons.

Lovely labdanum, has been my main thought upon sampling this! I am very surprised labdanum isn’t in the list of notes. It’s ambery and rockrose-y and spicy and warm. Pretty linear and fades after about half a day, but pleasant throughout. It reminds me a fair amount of L’Occitane Labdanum de Seville, now sadly discontinued, so if you miss that one, try this.

I tell ya, this thing NEVER gets old. I have my bottle from 2018 that I got from a friend and I think it may still be my favourite scent of all time. Its toward the end of the bottle, though, sadly so I use it very sparingly. It is the warmest, most comforting scent imaginable. Absolutely nothing compares.

Sweet, warm vanilla/amber - really lovely. Nicely blended and easy to wear. I tried this today and I really like it a lot. It’s not as complex or as sophisticated as grand soir or Ambre sultan however it’s great if vanilla and amber are your jam and you want a quiet, subtle, close-to-the-skin scent.

This scent is amazing! It is an elegant, cozy, barely ambery amber. It’s very round, someone compared it to musk ravageur and that’s a great comparison. This is to spicy amber what aquarelle is to painting. It’s transparent and light. LOVE!

It smells of a trip, pleasant and warm. I get cardamom, vanilla, amber, sandalwood and Tonka. It is a warm and sweet hug. It has something sharp right in the beginning but mellows beautifully.

This scent is a spicy Amber It really works well, and I bought a 30ml after trying a tester However, this is not for fougere fans imho...don't let the lavender note fool you!

woow that is a masterpiece...to my nose combination of grand soir and coromandel with a sloght gourmand touch...great woods and lavander here

Gallivant does amber well, and Istanbul is a case in point. A sweet amber with warm spices, it is a lovely example of its genre without standing out. It is smooth throughout, mellow and approachable, subtle enough for everyday use. Istanbul is smoothly balsamic from initial spray, punctuated by peppery cardamom up top, enhanced by some aromatic herbal notes. It becomes sweeter as it develops, with dry vanilla evident from the early stages. I get some lavender, punctuating the vanilla-amber with its aromatic brightness. Tonka bean keeps things smooth and sweet as it dries down, with patchouli adding a nice earthy counterpoint. The vanilla becomes increasingly dry, alomgside the the soft, dry sandalwood. It fades to a sweetly musky skin scent, with vanilla lingering until final fade. Sillage and longevity are moderate. It is a unisex scent, best worn in autumn/winter but is light enough to work as a year-round sweet amber. A deliciously smooth sweet amber scent, complemented to perfection by spices and herbal notes, Istanbul is pleasant throughout, good quality and is vaguely Middle Eastern in style, evocative of its name. It is nothing groundbreaking, but is lovely. 4/5.