Alpha

Alpha, in its deep forest green bottle, captures in the olfactory the essence of masculinity. Constructed of notes and blends that correspond to the attributes that define an “alpha male”: nobility, strength, courage, vigor and honor; this scent is a true green woody incense lover’s dream. Choosing not to follow the classic “eau de cologne” formula, this cuts right to the chase with an opening of cedar, sativa (herbal and green with hints of flowers and spice) and the most beautiful cypress note I, personally, have ever experienced in a perfume. (And I adore cypress!!) The body of this perfume is composed of incense. Not sweetly burning smoking cheap cones made of sandalwood and amber available everywhere in head shops...but a stunning blend of Egyptian frankincense resin and Christi’s own blend of exotic incense powders. Down to earth yet strong in a tender way, this scent reads as possibly overbearing or at least brusque. It is neither of these things, but is instead an idyllic blend of cool forest greens paired with genuine woodsy notes fused with incense. Its finish of brown and white copal (natural resins) with creamy subdued sandalwood and heavenly oak moss paints, from start to finish, a perfumed picture of strength and beauty as big as all outdoors...but intimate enough to be cuddled right up next to. Sillage: good Longevity: above average Overall: 4.5/5 The notes mentioned in the above review were given to me by the perfumer herself. It is important to note that many of Christi's creations contain close to one hundred (some as many as 350!) ingredients and a note list does not a formula/recipe make. I have smelled many natural perfumes and ALL of House of Matriarch's (to date) and I keep coming back to this one in particular. Its intense but gentle masculinity is perfect for a nature loving man, but also for women to get in touch with their more projective yang energies. Though this perfumer is concentrating more on her Haute Perfumery line (the cobalt and copper bottles) the Ultra-Natural line is still available on the HoM website in 3.3 ml sprayers, 15 ml bottles and the original dark green frosted hand-painted flacon pictured above; however when remaining inventory is depleted no more will be made. When I want to get out to the woods to meditate and commune with Nature but can't; I spray on Alpha and it is the next best thing! EDIT 7 May 2019: Though this has been "vaulted" by the brand; "Fitnessence" remains available. It contains far more notes than Alpha, woven in a more gossamer manner, yet it has that absolutely astounding cypress note/accord that made me fall in love with Alpha in the first place. One other thing about this brand and its customer service: when in correspondence about a special order Christi's assistant learned I loved cypress/arborvitae smell and has included small boughs of northwestern pine, along with a complimentary natural fibre black chamois-like cloth for polishing one's cobalt and copper bottles. I will treasure my remaining vintage jus (3.3mL extrait and 5mL travel spray) and remain positive. WOO also was vaulted then returned gorgeous as ever in a sapphire flacon. Smell swell & be well fragrant family & fellows, GP xox

I've only had one wearing of this so far but I'm impressed. I expected this to be more green and foresty but it's actually more like tam dao's evil basement dwelling twin. I mean that in a good way. It's an extremely dry sandalwood cedar combo (are those "exotic"?) with some greens and incense swirling around in the darkness. There is a peppery punch that cuts straight through the blend that kind of makes me think of Guerlain's Songe d'un Boise but this is more idiosyncratic and blunt (once again, in a good way). The incense is extremely subtle at first but over time the sandalwood moves over and this dry, natural smelling burned incense-ash note becomes much more prominent. I totally love this for its masculinity and power. I get more of a chopped-wood vibe than a fresh-coniferous-tree vibe as there is nothing rooty or airy to imply a forest floor or a breeze through the trees. If you found tam dao a bit too simple but you still want something that conjures up images of freshly chopped logs at night time this is definitely worth checking out. Longevity is above average sillage is quiet. 7.5/10

This is very real interpretation of smokey woods. I think most of people of the Northern West Coast will appreciate understand this forest interpretation in scent. It is calming to me, smells like the smokey woods of a fall day in a forest. There is a mild almost nutty sweetness that appears and then fades in background the entire time. Aromatic green note evolve then into earthy deep coniferous forest. It is transforming on skin as time goes on making for very interesting scent. Overall is calming great scent, more masculine. Blackbird is my favorite from this house, but Alpha and Epiphany are close second.

Well the first thing I picked up with this one was a strong note of cannabis. Not sweet green, herbal, sensi type cannabis either more of a dark, afghan black type resinous hashish vibe. In fact just to be specific (I only know this due to a misspent youth) it smells like a hashish that I only came across once called 'manali' it was a spiced Thai stick kinda hash and came in triangular sticks like a toblerone. Anyway It starts out really strong... earthy and woody but once that top note mellows it's very much a straight sandalwood dry down, pretty lack lustre frankly but as I've worn it now and changed my mind about it...and I don't hate it. It's similar to 'Devotion' from the Achtung collection in that its very heavy smelling but the difference is as I've mentioned, it gets better as it matures. Just not for me...I can't understand wanting to smell like a sandalwood incense stick...give us some more notes please!!! Anything different this fragrance had to give is gone very quickly after 30 mins or so. Ambre Vie is much more wearable for a man to me.

I've got to say looking back at my original review of Alpha I've changed my mind somewhat. I wore it again recently and found it to be an absolute treat, not that it smelled any different and not really that my perception of the fragrance had changed but my tastes and appreciation for the care taken in delivering these naturals, definitely has. I don't want to disappear up my own bum here but to quote myself..."Who wants to smell like an incense stick?" ME!!! I do!!! The 2018 version of you, thinks 2013 you, is an utter boob not just for that statement but because I should've bought a bottle back then as sadly, Alpha is discontinued. It's a sweet unicorn now.