Type B

Smoky leather with a touch of smoked bacon in it and sharp birch tar, plus a healthy dose of white pepper. Luckily, I love all the ingredients listed, so this strong beginning doesn’t put me off. At first smells more like stables with dinner being cooked nearby. Or for some reason I picture a sugar shack deep in Ontario winter forest – it would have been the right settings and smells for wearing Type B. I cannot say there is anything typically masculing about it, totally wearable by a woman. Quietens down quickly and is a very comforting winter scent all in all. Would I pay 120 $ for it? Probably not. But until my sample runs out and it’s still winter with tons of snow, I’m gonna enjoy having Type B in my purse.

First I will say : I prefer "Solar Donkey Power" ! ... Ok, I'm not entirely sure if there is actually some Cloves in this composition (although I highly suspect there is), or if the various named notes in combination are instead the cause for a "clove-ish" type note to arise (???). But I'm posting this as a warning to probable "clove-haters" out there, (of which there are many ;o), that there is a decidedly clove-ish character to the opening of this scent. (Which always has that "dentists-mouthwash" vibe to me unfortunately). And this is exactly what "Type B" reminds me of during it's opening moments. However, I will also add that being a birch-tar lover, the birch-tar "smoke" is somehow making the "clove-ish" facets much easier to accept. As they actually work well together. Also, it thankfully retreats and then assimilates into "Pepper" soon enough, and we then lose the "clove" altogether. "Type B" starts out decidedly strong and smokey. But don't be fooled, as 30 minutes later the birch-tar smoke quietens down considerably, and the whole scent veers into a much softer lightly peppered leathery-woods vibe. Quite pleasant and even somewhat comforting, though a little "safe" and average after such a distinctive and promising start. So, I believe and suggest that haters of both "clove" or "birch-tar" shouldn't really be put off sampling "Type B". As the scent soon becomes very different from what it's like in it's first moments. (Yes all scents do to a certain extend, but this one ever more so !). ~ All in all, it's nowhere near as brutal and heavy a scent as the notes might suggest, transforming into a much subtler scent than one would expect. Personally I'm quite enjoying it, although being a birch-tar lover I was left wishing the "tar & smoke" oomph had lasted longer into the scent's progression. ~ Nice but not as good or original as I expected. In fact, Vibskov's "Solar Donkey Power" scent, which he did with Six Scents (Series II) was in my opinion much better than this one. (Or even Type A or C for that matter). ~ Sillage and longevity are average.

Notes: black pepper, sulphur match, cedarwood, vetiver, gaiac wood, birch tar, coal tar, leather. I just tested Berlin and weirdly I perceived the notes exactly in the opposite way to the one provided with the description given with the informative brochure. IMO Berlin opens with birch tar galore (smoky leather) and a synthetic pungent/fizzy note that may be what they call the "sulfur match". Quite impressive if you're into stuff a-la Lonestar Memories or Tar/Garage. Unfortunately the fragrance dries down into a woody (cedar) peppery base that resembles way too many modern masculines (Bang anyone?). Not bad but I'm somehow unsatisfied. Rating: 6.5/10