Cosmos

My collection is vast, and spans a lot of different scent profiles across a lot of different avenues but some of my favorites always tend to be those warm smoky fragrances. By chance when I was out shopping with one of my besties the other day we stumbled upon a House of Bo display and I reached for Cosmos to try. When I sprayed it on my hand to skin test a nearby sales associate all but tackled me to know what it was I had just put on because it smelled so good and was just wafting through the store. This scent is addictive. The alcoholic whisky and food fire smoke smell start out strong upon application but neither are overpowering. I don’t get “bbq” from the wood fire, rather a sweeter smoke and start to pick up some of the incense. After a few minutes the whole scent comes together and that’s when it really wows you. This is not for the Sephora girls I’ll say that. This is drinking a smoked old fashion in red lipstick alone at a jazz club and being the most commanding and mysterious presence in the room It shares some qualities to Kilian’s Angel’s Share and Maison Margela by the fire place and Jazz Club but both aren’t nearly as complex as this. The dragons blood note in this adds something truly magical and addictive. It is definitely a unisex fragrance but I think the attitude of the wearer will impact perception of this greatly. It makes me think of tarot readings by a wood fireplace, the room is only lit by candles and the warmth of the fireplace light and there is incense burning. The person doing your reading exudes power and sexuality and confidence. They wear red lipstick. They might actually be divine, and not some etsy/tiktok witch. There’s a faint smell of baked goods but not vanilla or cookies... something old world and they offer you a slice of something delicious with tea before reading your tea leaves. The energy in the room seems to crackle and the sweet smoke wafts through the room. They sip an old fashion and tell you in detail without ever asking a question all about your past, and the answers you seek about your future. You only speak to say thank you for the tea and baked goods. There is magic in this room.

When I first gave this fragrance a try, I was beyond excited given the marketing and notes descriptors, expecting something unique and challenging. I was right on the latter. This fragrance isn’t unique, it cleanly lands in the Haltane/Oud for Greatness realm. Rich, abundantly gourmand, Smokey. This can be almost overwhelming at first if you aren’t used to bold fragrances. I forgot I had this in my collection until today. I’ve been working on actually wearing something different everyday and here we are. This fragrance is bold, so spritz lightly. At first it is loud, vibrant, sweet, even screechy. There is maybe a large dose of super amber in this. After it settles though, the smoke comes forward and the woods go ultra dry, almost like kiln dried kindling. It really is amazing how void of moisture this fragrance feels. Much like a vacuum. I don’t know if I’d go full size on this, but I almost never buy full size bc I can’t commit to one thing. This is a great fragrance, the cacao is well executed, it has a curiosity to it that really makes me think about the fragrance, and it’s pleasant!

I’m going to have to agree that this smells like Oud for Greatness but I don’t believe that scent profile is worth the price tag. This fragrance takes a different approach to that “hospital” oud that’s kind of dry from OG and really makes it part of a ensamble. I’ve had my sample for a couple weeks now and I didn’t really think too much of it on initial spray... but I understand it now after going back to it over and over again. I recommend everyone do the same if it’s not something you like on initial try. Alberto Morillas did a fantastic job with this fragrance. It’s meant for date nights or nights out in general. I’ve handed my sample to several people and all of them instantly freak out about how great it smells and spray it on themselves. 😂 it’s a beast performer and the sillage clings to the air. When smelling it on someone from a couple feet away, it smells sweeter from the cocoa but the heavy incense is still present. This is absolutely full bottle worthy and I’ll be getting mine soon.

I absolutely love this fragrance. I’ve never been disappointed by a House of Bo fragrance. This is probably my 2nd favorite next to Casa Blanca. I was a bit nervous to try just because I wasn’t sure what to expect with a “metallic gourmand”, but this has been a quite addictive addition to my collection. The praline adds a delicious caramelized sweetness, but it’s balanced with the smoky and boozy notes, making this lean a bit masculine. I normally don’t care for oud, but the oud in this fragrance is very pleasant and reminds me of oud satin mood. Don’t get me wrong, it smells nothing like that fragrance, but I could see this being oud satin moods hot masculine cousin that’s been sitting by a fireplace. Overall, this is a 10/10. I have the travel size but will be upgrading to a full bottle ASAP!

This is so sexy to me. I received a sample through the Scent Sanctuary FB group. I definitely get the metallic notes in the opening along with the smokiness. As it dries the Martello notes fades for me but the smokiness remains, which I enjoy. I pick up the cacao, the leather and the orris throughout the remainder of my wearing experience. They all have a lasting presence but they’re smooth and velvety to my nose. I sprayed this fragrance around noon and could still smell it when I took my shower that night at 9pm. I could even get a faint whiff on my skin after. Again, this fragrance is smooth and not beast mode at all but it does last. I think this Cosmos is unisex but leaning masculine. I would LOVE to smell this on a man. I really enjoyed my wearing experience.

Cosmos was love at first spray for me. I know it’s marketed as a metallic gourmand but it gives off such a witchy vibe to me! Deep, dark, and mysterious at its finest. The dragon’s blood incense is especially lovely here, while the cacao feels like a light, subtle dusting. I’m not especially fond of oud but it is done so well in this fragrance! Completely inoffensive. It stays on beautifully, 8 hours in and it’s still present. The fragrance feels perfectly unisex, balanced and neither overly masculine or feminine. Cosmos is a scent to wear if you want to be noticed, it’s elevated and sexy. Great for fall & winter yet I think you could wear year round as an evening out fragrance.

This fragrance is unique (but not weird), like no other in my collection. Cosmos is reminiscent of outer space and being a space lover (we can see aurora borealis here) the scent story fits. The fragrance is well-balanced and sophisticated. It lean's masculine and the metallic note gives a sparkle, especially when sprayed on fabric. I performs differently on skin than it does on fabric so we spray it on both. I like how balanced the leather is with the whisky and if you don't like gourmand, no worries... it barely fits into that category. Must try!

I was given a sample of Cosmos for my honest review. This perfume is not what I expected In a good way. It is beautiful and has an ethereal quality to it. First wear I could not stop smelling it. From the initial spray to the drydown it matured into a smoky yet creamy scent that is absolutely wonderful. I wore it by itself to get the full range of the scent and this would also be beautiful layered. I definitely will purchase a larger size for myself. This scent is soothing and intriguing and the longevity and sillage are great.

I see the connections to Haltane. The sweetness leans fruitier despite the cocoa & praline notes listed. Prominent synth leather note on top. Very intense fragrance, you don’t need much to make a statement. Would be a great date night or going out scent, not so much for the office. Definitely not what I expected.

I really love this scent but the longevity and projection are average for the price you pay.

I received a sample through FB Scent Lounge in exchange for an honest review. There’s something truly intriguing about Cosmos. On both paper and skin, the scent remains consistent—projecting boldly with impressive longevity (my skin usually eats frangrances), after full 1 hour workout, this is till going strong. This is a fragrance that feels completely unisex; the notes don’t stand out individually but instead weave together into a complex, evolving tapestry from the first spray to the final dry down. In my mind this is a celestial, scientific, and creative—an atmospheric perfume that transports me straight back to my college engineering labs, crating, tinkering, building, conjouring. It evokes memories of metallic drill presses, soldering irons, the ozonic tang of circuitry, and the blend of student colognes lingering in the air without being photorealistic, it is more of a hint of a point time, and an obvious doppleganger. Wearing it is definately an immersive experience, a sensory time machine to a specific place and era. While I wouldn’t reach for this as a daily signature, I find myself compelled to keep smelling it. It’s deeply memory-inducing and I genuinely enjoy fragrances that whisk me away to another world. I may not buy a full bottle, but I’d keep a decant around just to revisit that atmospheric nostalgia and experience something truly different.

This one had me unsure at first. It’s not in my usual scent profile, and the metallic opening was sharp, so I braced for something industrial. But once it settled, I started to get it. There’s this energy that immediately reminded me of New York. Not the romanticized NYC; the real, gritty, unapologetic city. The dry down stayed true to what I smelled on paper, but it mixes beautifully with my skin. The metallic edge softens into something smoky and dimensional, though it leans a little more masculine than unisex to my nose. I thought it might be overpowering since it clung to a test strip for days, but on my skin it’s surprisingly wearable. A spray on each wrist and one behind each ear is the sweet spot. It projects enough to get noticed without taking over a room. If I had to describe it in one line: an elevated biker bar... in space. Metallic, smoky, leather bomber jackets... dangerous, but polished.

You get a swirling tornado of weirdness and intensity and slightly clashing notes when Cosmos is first sprayed. Oud, peaty whisky, stainless steel. It’s a little overwhelming. But as it dries down it completely smooths out, and becomes very pleasant and almost familiar. To be honest after the first couple hours it really reminds me of Tom Ford Ombré Leather. It’s that kind of buttery smooth verging on sweet, crowd pleasing leather. It’s unisex although perhaps leans a little traditionally masculine. But anyone can wear it. The projection is enormous, it leaves a trail and it lasts literally like 48 hours on skin unless you scrub it away, probably due to a more than healthy dose of Amber wood type stuff..

I received a sample through Scented Sanctuary in exchange for an honest review. House of Bo makes such beautifully blended fragrances and Cosmos is no exception. It is a masculine leaning fragrance with a strong smokey note. The leather also shines in this composition with the slightest hint of sweetness beneath the bold notes. This is a long lasting fragrance with great sillage. If you are a fan of leather and smokey fragrances this is a must try. I tend to prefer sweeter fragrances but still find myself going back and smelling this one over and over again.

The opening is fantastic, there’s some fruity nuances from the Cacao and the Dragon Blood, subtle but they make a difference in an otherwise sweet-resinous composition. It’s dark but with sparks of light, a game Alberto Morillas knows how to play, using the whiskey, musk and mineral notes to poke holes through the dense cloud of oud and resins. The drydown smells like the leftovers of a bonfire before dawn, smoked woods and incense.

I really liked this perfume surprisingly! It's such a nice otherworldly smokey smell to me! I really get the smoke and coal notes! This would be so nice on a man/unisex!

A beautiful fragrance that feels elegant and timeless. It’s not overpowering, lasts well throughout the day, and always leaves a lasting impression. Truly a joy to wear.

One word: oud. The opening is similar to Oud for Greatness. The dry down is closer to Ombre Nomad. Good stuff, but beware, this is not for beginners. Very pungent.

Not an influencer but I got early access. I’ve had it for about a week so far and I have thoughts. If you are looking for a complex, sexy, gourmand THIS IS NOT IT, if you can wait for it to come to major dept stores do it so you don’t purchase blind like I did. I have to be honest I have owned 6 HofBO fragrances and I sometimes feel like I have been duped because of the marketing, packaging, and ethos. I love the brand aesthetic, I appreciate that they are parfum concentration (don’t love that $30 price increase on the 40ml though), but the scents aren’t always cohesive and don’t always coincide with the scent description. Thinking back to Bombon which is billed as a white floral gourmand with marshmallow, bergamot caramel, and cognac with floral and fruit accents.. The reality is the lychee and lily combo suffocates the scent and makes it smell more like a shampoo than sophisticated gourmand. I have to say Cosmos suffers similar issues. Cosmos is billed as a metallic gourmand and I hesitate to call it a gourmand. Upon first spray you are assaulted by smoked leather and incense, then you get hints of praline and cacao, finally you get more leather, wood, musk, and whiskey. My hesitation is this scent has Jekyll/Hyde tendencies . When I got this scent it was about 15 degrees warmer..in warmer weather that praline is fighting for its life and the scent is a smoky leather musk bomb! Now in cooler weather the praline becomes a little more pronounced and supported by the cacao, Cosmos becomes smoother, palatable and much more gourmand adjacent. Side note there are moments though where there is a scent of coriander or dill which could be the metallic part and it is confounding. This scent becomes a skin scent within an hour and the sillage is pretty intimate. It’s pretty masc leaning (if it matters to you). I honestly don’t love this scent on me alone it’s better layered with Infinitoud by HofBo (makes it a little more sexier), Reptile by Celine (grounds it a bit and gives lift) and Baccarat Rouge by MFK (fortifies the praline but cuts the sweetness of Baccarat). House of Bo makes their fragrances in a way where they are easy to layer with which begs to ask the questions; When will they make a fragrance that stands on it’s own or Why am I paying 200-400 a pop for a layering wardrobe? TL:DR The brand gives luxury but doesn’t always deliver on their scent promises Not a traditional gourmand despite the notes Masc leaning Concept feels original but the scent doesn’t feel special Sillage is poor and it turns to a skin scent quickly; but the skin scent is long lasting Off note that might be from the metallic accord that smells like coriander or dill Smells like leather>smoke>incense>musk>whiskey>hints of praline + cacao Smells better and closer to a traditional gourmand in colder weather. 200 usd for 40ml, for essentially a layering scent in this economy is diabolical Verdict: Despite what any influencer tells you, there is no need to run to get this fragrance you can definitely walk or crawl if you want to try it lol. Don’t buy blind, test in store, get a decant, or buy the HofBO discovery set. Learn from my mistakes scent besties.

I tried a tester and sprayed 2 little pumps on my bottom wrist. My partner said, "Whoa! That's strong." They were about 5 feet away from me. So, it PROJECTS really well. It smells like the incense used in a Catholic church to me. It's very smoky, no doubt about that. I had to wash it off after about 10 minutes because it's quite strong. I'm not saying it's unpleasant; it's actually quite beautiful. Also, it is more masculine-leaning, but I think a mysterious-type woman could wear this, too. In my opinion, you have to be VERY confident to wear this scent. This is for sure an evening or date-night fragrance. When I read that it had a "metallic" type of note, I was interested. After spraying, I would say it's the smell of freshly welded or freshly washed metal — if that makes any sense. Overall, it's interesting and unique.