It Was A Time That Was A Time

This fragrance has so many negative ratings I feel compelled to post a defense. Not just my contrarian instincts, but surely with the launch of ELDO’s I am Trash, which also seeks to find beauty out of decay, we can reassess It Was a Time that Was a Time. The description from the brand references environmental cataclysm, a community by the sea, liberated gender expression. I get it. But there’s something more vegetal than marine about the fragrance to me, which is very earthy and comforting. The smoky ambergris and suede note is really well done and what drew me to try this fragrance in the first place. What makes this challenging for me is the immortelle note (missing from the note pyramid here but listed on other sites) which has a sweet overly ripe feel and does indeed call to mind decay for me. All combined it succeeds in portraying a progressive community thriving in isolation, growing their own food, wrapped in suede for warmth. I’m reminded of the Amazon show Forever with Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen - a different plane of existence, bonfires by the sea, full of challenging but welcoming people.

I don t get why this fragrance has that much of a negative rating it is pretty similar to Zoologists Squid but way darker and way more incense and sweetness, the quality is there, it is dark, smoky the ambergris is really noticeable with its semi sweet salty frehsness, foesn t deserve the hate

I don’t go for these types of fragrances but it was strangely comforting to my 22 year old self. It was gifted to me and I miss it. Heavy on incense, musky animalic notes. I’d buy it again just for the nostalgia.

I really adore this one as well and don't get the negative publicity. It is strong and quite wearable.

A really special perfume, marine and incense, sweet ink. Smells like a gothic little mermaid