Prolixe

Prolixe is my favourite of the En Aparte collection, one that has unfortunately left me feeling slightly disappointed. I’d had high hopes for these fragrances, and where Outrecuidant - the one I thought I would like the most - has the most tenacious fruity pineapple note that never manages to mature on my skin, Irrévérent, though beautiful and seamlessly constructed, does not present me with anything new (it reminds me of a handful of other French perfumes I own and hugely appreciate). Prolixe opens in a way that reminds me very much of Hermés’ “Un Jardin Apres la Mousson”, with soft, aromatic cardamom and a fresh, almost aquatic ginger. Perhaps it is the rose accord, which is there from the start, that is the watery type, like it is adorned with morning dew. All these notes combined, against the backdrop of gentle vanilla sweetness, smell like pandanus water to my nose; refreshing, exotically spiced, and quite edible. This stage lasts on my skin for a good thirty minutes. After this point you get the smoky warmth of olibanum developing, the warmth bordering on lactonic, much like how benzoin resinoid smells on my skin. There is a smooth creaminess like sandalwood that weaves through making Prolixe feel fresh and cooling to me, even though the spices, rose water, and milky facets encourage this fragrance to lean slightly gourmande, though it never grows too sweet. The performance is outstanding on my skin, emitting a milky, sweet tobacco cloud for hours each time I move. Sometimes you catch remnants of the aquatic spices of the opening, and the watery rose, at other times a honeyed halmaddi incense. Really beautiful.

A gorgeous woody gourmand Oriental, Prolixe is yet another superb new offering from HDP who have really upped their ante with the three offerings of the ‘En Aparte’ series. The perfume opens on a gourmand note of grapefruit, pineapple and cassis. The heart has a pronounced saffron surrounded by cardamom and orange blossom. The perfume settles into a powdery bed of sandalwood and cedar surrounded by hints of leather, patchouli and labdanum. Like it’s name, the perfume suggests a prolific, confident and unafraid gentleman who is somewhat unconcerned about what other people think of him. Masculine leaning with pronounced sillage, projection and longevity this is a perfume designed to stop people in their tracks to figure out the strange wonderful beast of a smell that is beholding them. Enjoy!

A wonderful and powerful scent. Reminiscent of my childhood, playing in my father's rose garden. Opens with spices and precious woods, with a wonderful rose rising after some minutes, the intense floral attack modulated by spices and resins. Earthy notes and superb precious woods support the rose. Rose and earthy tobacco linger for hours. A picture of a rose bouquet sitting in an exotic hardwood vase, in the corner of a smoky jazz bar. The DNA of HdP is easily recognised. The scent is exquisite, intoxicating and on the heavier side. A spray or two goes a very long way. Excessive application will overwhelm the nose. A fantastic cold weather perfume, or a bedroom scent when lightly applied. A sensual and graceful smell - a tier above most designer scents.

I tested this in Jovoy Paris and straight away got myself a bottle. The opening is so delicious, it was instant love. A hazy, spicy saffron melds with the warm, tart sweetness of pineapple and orange blossom. The leather here is like soft, velvety suede. It's not too gasoline like, no allusion to oud, just a nice, natural leather with prominant patchouli adding a dark richness. The sweetness of the fruit lasts for about an hour, after which the floral elements become more pronounced. The texture even turns a little powdery and there's a hint of vanilla beneath it all. This I think is completely unisex, and the character it projects is sultry, mysterious and alluring. A good date night perfume.

I'm loving Prolixe. I'm on day 2 of sampling the three new offerings by HDP, and this is my favorite. Im picking up a good synthetic Oud, with leather and cardamom over a bed of rose petals, and 8 hours later I can still catch whiffs of myself. Impressive. At the 8 hour mark Prolixe is softer, as expected, but it hasn't turned to a skinscent. This is not sweet, it feels well balanced on me. I think the shoulder seasons of Spring and Fall are a perfect fit for this fragrance. I'm going to pick up the small .5 oz size and see how much I love it before committing to a full bottle but this one is unique.