Mystic Experience

This is wonderful, but not everyone's cup of tea. Musk is the strongest note to my nose, followed by coffee and then equivalent doses of amber and sandalwood. I'm unfamiliar with the Black Afgano that this is compared to in the "similar" section, but I can see some parallels to Nasomatto BA. Very thick and dark, set on a creamy base. This is much sweeter and easier to wear than BA. The musk does give this a sort of "old man" feel (according to 4 21-25 year old women I got opinions from) but it's still very pleasant and is far from offensive. I get a ghost floral note somewhere in the composition that resembles a deep, rich rose but is difficult to pin down. Performance is excellent, unsure how anyone could say this has poor performance unless it's due to olfactory fatigue. I sprayed 3 times around 930pm last night and it was still strong at around 1030am this morning. Projects very well for the better part of 4 hours before settling down, but doesnt really become a skin scent until around the 8 hour mark. The scent is fairly linear but does have some slight changes throughout the wear. Thins out throughout the wear after the initial dense opening. Overall, a great addition to any collection. Very unique, takes bits and pieces from fragrances such as Roja Musk Aoud, Mugler A*Men, and Nasomatto Black Afgano but certainly does enough to separate itself from the others mentioned. I would avoid this in warm weather, and I think it's best worn as a nighttime fragrance. Opening 8/10 Mid 8/10 Drydown 8.5/10 (all 3 are similar with slightly different nuances) Uniqueness 8.5/10 Longevity 10/10 Projection 9/10 Overall 8.5/10 I thoroughly enjoy this fragrance and am impressed with its performance, but again it's not for everyone. I wouldn't reccomend it as a blind buy unless you are familiar and satisfied with Roja Musk Aoud, Mugler A*Men, and Nasomatto Black Afgano and want something that finds it place somewhere in between the 3 of them.

🌙 Mystic Experience (Initio) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mystic Experience is one of those rare fragrances that made me look forward to autumn before summer was even over. It's warm, sensual and incredibly addictive without becoming overwhelming. The vanilla here isn't gourmand or sugary. It's wrapped in incense, woods and resins, creating an atmosphere rather than simply smelling pleasant. There is a subtle similarity in spirit to Pegasus. Not because they smell alike, but because both share an elegant, beautifully crafted approach to vanilla. They feel refined rather than loud. This isn't my choice for work or everyday errands. For me, it's an evening fragrance. The kind you wear when you want to slow down, enjoy the moment and let the scent become part of the atmosphere. Mystic Experience doesn't shout. It quietly draws people closer. One of the sexiest fragrances I've ever worn. Not loud, not aggressive, just effortlessly seductive.

This is one of those fragrances for me which turned from "meh, it's ok" to "I love it!" I got this perfume last year in the summer and thought it was very bland when I sprayed it to test. I finally brought it out this month to give it another go... and I fell in love! 😍 It's a very warm creamy comforting scent which just makes you feel cozy on a winter's day. I believe the sandalwood here makes this perfume so creamy but all the notes are super well blended. It is not an intense fragrance but it lasts forever which I didn't expect from this perfume initially. I am so glad that Initio is so consistent with the quality of their fragrance 😁

I had heard about a couple of the other Initio scents, but not this one, so I was surprised when it was this one that completely captivated me. Warm, musky, sweet woods with coffee! Blended so well and the scent trail is lovely. We were in Nicaragua several years ago staying in a cabin overlooking a beach, and this scent reminded me of the screened-in lanai where my husband and I would sit and have our espresso in the morning, taking in the view, me just out of the shower in the plush hotel robe, surrounded by the trees and the natural beauty of someplace new and undiscovered. Mystic experience indeed.

i’m really surprised to see this as one of initios lower rated fragrances. it’s one of my absolute favorites from the brand, maybe 2nd place. it makes me feel so cozy, like i’m sitting in a winter cabin with the fire going while it snows outside, sipping a cup of coffee. it reminds me so much of winter, especially those snowy days in december and january. i have no complaints about the projection of it either. a lot of initio fragrances are quite loud and project all day so it’s nice to get an offering from the brand that is much closer to the skin. it does last on the skin all day as well. such a gem

Fragranza sublime. Dall'unione felice di Intoxicated Kilian e Herat Coquillete nasce questa meraviglia. Da un soffuso e incensato caffè si espandono volute di mirra, ambra e hashish, donando una dolcezza sottile e narcotica. Il profumo è elegante e spirituale, davvero procura un'esperienza "mistica". Ha molte sfumature, incenso ambrato, mirra ascetica, fiori d'oppio gioiosi come dervisci tourneur che danzano. Ci si sente in armonia con il mondo. Peace and love, con sensualità. Ottima persistenza, una nuvola di bellezza che mi avvolge per molte ore.

this brand just doesn't make bad fragrances... I am impressed every time, and it's only about whether it's more or less of my thing This one leans a little bit masculine in my view, with the dryness of oakmoss in the opening. But the balance between musk and amber is great, probably the first one I smelled where neither is too dominant. I don't get any coffee, but maybe because it's just well-blended to give off the dry, 'serious' top note. Can recommend to any male

Beautiful woody amber vanilla with a coffee note. If Absolute Aphrodisiac and Blessed Baraka had a baby that they spilled an iced coffee on, this would be it 😂. The coffee note isn’t heavy, thick, or bitter. It really is more like you’d find in an iced coffee blend. Mystic Experience is sweet, ambery, slightly syrupy and has the distinctive Initio musk at the base. Ladies, don’t be afraid of this one. It is gorgeous, especially on a cold winter day. 100% unisex

Pretty good dark fragrance with coffee. not light, sweet coffee like anything like amore cafe or awake but a dark coffee closer to black phantom without the chocolate. Alongside black phantom mystic experience performance isn’t particularly the best but when i spray it on my clothes i can smell it on myself after a 9 hour shift and going to the gym after. projection weak but i don’t care for overly strong fragrances. well done coffee imo.

I have 11 fragrances from Initio and a huge collection of fragrances. This is my fav Initio! It is gorgeous. The sillage and projection are great. The perfume itself is absolutely beautiful and creamy. The coffee, amber and sandalwood all standout but it is also beautifully blended. The musk grounds it. It is just stunning, and I love it! I will never be without this one.

Really nice! I get a decent dose of coffee, but the best way to describe this coffee is if a vampire sweetened it to its liking. Amore caffe is something like as if the tooth fairy sweetened their coffee, idk if this is making sense but i think im just tryna encapsulate the darkness of the coffee here. Not bitter in the slightest but it is quite different. 8.1/10 for me

Really nice smokey sweet musky oakmoss based fragrance with an incredible dry down. WHAT A GORGEOUS COMPOSITION. It does remind me of Black Afgano but less harsh & much better imho. This one's a keeper & definitely staying in my collection. Get your snotbox on this one with the quickness while the deals are to be had. Soon the prices will definitely go up! AGAIN!

I like this much more than Blessed Baraka. It's in fact pretty much Blessed Baraka with added coffee which makes it more warm and cozy. More gourmand. It's a very high quality fragrance that smells the same from first minute to the 8th hour. I really wish Initio could start selling their fragrances in 30 ml or 50 ml bottles.

I feel like I must have smelled a different fragrance than half these reviews. I had this as a random free sample and hadn't looked at the notes at all. What I smelled was a powdery, musky amber that drove me wild. I immediately bought a decant. It's superb.

Gourmand coffee musk with animalic undertones, still noticable after 6 hours, but not a projection monster by any means. I wouldn't purchase at retail but if you can find it from a discounter, I'd say it's well worth the buy.

The best thing is that not a typical coffee syrupy scent, rather it is more woody, and the coffee note here is more dusty than sweet. Although it starts sweet in the first few secounds, but thats more of ambery sweet opening.

This is my favorite from Initio! I have 7 of their perfumes in my collection, and I love all of them. But this one is just special. Very unique. LOVE at first sniff and every time I wear it, it just makes me happy.

I love this, smells so good on me. Longevity isnt much of a problem but people say the projection sucks, while i dont disagree, i think light fragrances are nice too as i not a fan of overly strong stuff.

Wow very nice. I smelled maybe most of the Initio perfumes and they never disappoint. This one has depth, is mysterious, dark, I get a slight rum scent that is not there.

Mystic Experience is an ambery, musky and powdery fragrance, just a slightly touch of coffee scent, smell addictive and very sexy, it is so beautiful.

Absolutely amazing my favorite from Initio and one of my favorites overall although my only complaint is the silage is pretty bad

Very unique gourmand scent. Love it ! Its like black afgano and side effect fragrances mix combination.

Warm, cozy, gourmand-adjacent goodness. Have thoroughly enjoyed this mystic experience.

Amber, woody perfection! I love Mystic Experience! One of my favorites from Initio!

I love this scent! It has a lovely dose of coffee as well!

Embarking on a Luxurious Journey with Initio's Mystic Experience Initio Parfums Privés once again demonstrates its mastery with the fragrance "Mystic Experience." This scent is a captivating blend of notes that takes you on a mesmerizing journey, revealing layers of complexity and depth. From the first spray, the warm embrace of woody and spicy accords envelops you, creating an enchanting atmosphere. The combination of earthy and mossy notes adds a touch of nature, grounding the fragrance in a harmonious blend of natural elements. The heart of Mystic Experience reveals a sophisticated interplay of amber and powdery nuances. It's a sublime fusion that exudes both opulence and comfort, making it suitable for any occasion. The powdery aspect is delicate and refined, adding a subtle touch of elegance to the overall composition. The inclusion of coffee in this fragrance is a stroke of genius. The deep, rich aroma of coffee weaves seamlessly with the other notes, creating a sensual and intoxicating quality. It's a fragrance that not only stimulates the senses but also leaves a lasting impression. As Mystic Experience evolves, the musky and animalic notes emerge, adding a seductive and primal allure. The dry down is a lingering embrace of warmth, leaving a trail of sophistication that captivates those lucky enough to catch a whiff. The longevity of Mystic Experience is commendable, ensuring that the enchantment lasts throughout the day and into the night. The quality of ingredients and the craftsmanship behind this fragrance are apparent, showcasing Initio's commitment to creating truly exceptional scents. In conclusion, Mystic Experience is a testament to Initio's mastery in the world of perfumery. It's a fragrance that invites you to indulge in a sensory adventure, a journey that elevates the senses and leaves an indelible mark. If you seek a fragrance that combines sophistication, warmth, and a hint of the mysterious, Mystic Experience is an absolute gem.

Genuinely cannot figure out people who compare this to Blessed Baraka. The profiles are like night and day, and I say that because Mystic Experience is not that much of an experience, it is pretty bland. It is a typical musk-dominated moderately sweet scent with a boozy opening. Either I forgot what coffee smells like or I can't notice it here (disclaimer: my experience with most coffee scents has been like this). This isn't to take away from the scent as a whole, because Initio does a great job at balancing the materials to still make the scent smell good - I'm just left wishing for more as someone who owns multiple bottles from the house. To add, both the sillage and longevity are incredibly subpar. Longevity likely in the 3-4 hour range, sillage basically zero beyond 20 minutes. Very similar to the experience I had with some of the MFK perfumes where they just didn't last. Edit: When I tested the scent indoors, it had no kick. My experience with the scent in a cold (below 0 Celsius) weather environment is that it gets good push and remains true to the DNA, leaving a moderate sillage, radiating in arms length. As a whole, I guess the value proposition isn't too bad, but it's not exactly okay either. I'd layer it on top of something darker.

Normally when I think of projection/sillage I think of how far out people can smell a fragrance when the wearer isn't moving. This one has a close projection in that regard; HOWEVER, the scent trail it leaves behind a moving wearer is massive. I walked inside a building and a few seconds later someone followed and said "Walking behind you it's like the air has been cleaned." I left a room for a minute, came back, and another person said "I love this cologne." I can't think of another fragrance I've worn that had such a large and lingering scent trail like this one with only four sprays (wrists and neck). The intro on this is literally intoxicating because of the perfumer's alcohol. Unfortunate out of a niche really. After the alcoholic nonsense fades it turns into the whole scent profile: amber, coffee, and musk (which adds the powdery accord). Quite nice actually.

Really nice take on the black Afgano DNA, like an office friendly flanker. The coffee isn't too strong, the amber is great, and the sandalwood is ultra smooth. It's a good performer and a good value compared to black Afgano because the bottle is bigger, if you can find it discounted around 140 to 150. I'd definitely buy this over Gucci Intense Oud which is also great, but newer bottles have performance problems. This also smelled like it's got a pinch of tobacco in the early stages. Is it as good as BA? That's debatable, I'd need to try them side by side. I'd say it's pretty close, but loses a point for not being original. Reminds me of Armani Prive Cuir noir after wearing it more. That is an amazing fragrance, with terrible performance, so I'd still choose mystic experience. ------------------------------------------------------- Scent 8.8/10 Performance 7.8/10

if you took black phantom and removed the bitterness and chocolate, that's what the opening of this reminded me of. they're both in the same scent/situation category, dark gourmands for nighttime. very unisex. the opening is a woody coffee note, not a bitter black coffee but also not super sweet coffee; a good inbetween, leaning towards the darker side. as the fragrance dries down the coffee fades and the woods get sweetened in an almost vanillic fashion. think the amber is coming across to me as benzoin-esque. settles down as sweet, faintly musky woods. sprayed it on my arm over 12 hours ago and i still smell it when i press my nose to it. don't have much else to say about this one, it's good but nothing special imo. gonna have try it again to see if it grows on me. 7/10 i think. good but doesn't stand out to me.

Mystic Experience by Initio is a soft, intimate fragrance that leans into warm woods and amber. It stays closer to the skin, not loud or attention-seeking. The opening is gently earthy, with soft sandalwood and a mossy nuance. It develops into a warm, woody-amber scent with subtle spices. Completely unisex, this is a “quiet confidence” kind of perfume — ideal for those who appreciate mellow, skin-hugging scents with a clear amber core. It’s pleasant and comforting, though not particularly unique or bold. Still, it has a certain understated charm that might grow on you.

I just secured this and I do say I'm pretty pleasantly surprised. In my opinion the scent is dark, delicious, and a little seductive and sweet too. My initial impressions are a solid 7/10. The opening is nice. I notice that this scent does definitely sit closer to the skin too though. I got this for around 130 instead of the retail 350. Is it worth 350? Absolutely not. But if you can find this below 200 I'd definitely consider picking it up. I would recommend this scent if you're more of a quiet, reserved guy.

All I smell is sandalwood. For that matter, it is the most photorealistic sandalwood I’ve ever smelled in a fragrance, i think musk helps achieving that. I don’t smell coffee at all but ambery note rounds it and makes it cozy. Great fragrance over all. If you like sandalwood this is a great one, if you expect coffee, this is not the one.

damn. smoooth cappuchino style cofeee not black bitter no very smooth sandalwood also and some amber touches making it a truly like the name says a mystic experience. don't smell this up close let the air bring it to you and it's crazy good!!!!

This one is pretty good! Could go masc or femme. I don't think ima get the bottle but I am curious how this would layer with a rose scent. 7 out of 10. Great fragrance but you have to be pretty close in to smell it after an hour or two

7/10 SCENT 2/10 LONGEVITY Nothing new well blend!

Mystic Experience Initio Parfums Prives (USD 85, 614601, April 2016) First Impression Mystic Experience is my 3rd acquisition from the brand and this is solely blind buy due to price factor. I was blind-brought 2 Carnal blends before and my experience was ok to alright. I have been looking at this bacuse of coffee note and I love amber and musk. This one, slightly better than my first expectation. When first applied. I thought for a second, this is so familiar, this is quite like PdM. When I about to record my first impression, I notice Hamid Merati-Kashani so I understand. I almost receive the certain element from Pegasus Exclusifs. Now, this is barely sweeten and take full route to Powdery Sandalwood x Musk quality, enhance by Arabian Amber (if you kinda.. understand how it smell like), in this is not overly heavy. This is amber they used widely across the niche fragrance early 20's. PdM, Xerjoff. The amber that almost Oudy. I kinda like the coffee note in this. it's unsweeten. Not overwhelmingly strong, it's ok. Powdery sandalwood in this, doesn't have green edge. It hints at Alexandria II’s style of sandalwood for my nose just no floral and no sweetness. Musk in here, recall bit of Montale musk, not as sharp, rounder. The scent is linear and bland (in a good way) I means, the concoction of scent is good. and It should be very safe for majority of scenario, I think this one sure do a safe fragrance.. I think around the price I got is good but for something like USD 170+... You have better one to spend your buck on. Another work by Hamid Merati-Kashani that quite similar to this is he for YSL, exsitique embodery just not as earthy and no floral. I do personally enjoy this one. I believe for any modern oud fragrance lover, you can consider blind buy. Score 7/10 ==== Further update, the same day. I really like Mystic Experience as the time passed by. The scent is deepening as long as the scent is siting on your skin. It is 4 hours post wear, my first application spot was left with sexy amber musk. The 2nd spot, 2 hours post wear. It just very right amount Smooth powdery sandalwood. That have sexy tint from amber and musk. I don't think this is screemer and I can see this can be signature scent for someone. with Passive Aggressive with Claim appearance, the scent leans masculine in imho. This isn't top note catcher, this is for smooth and linger. Score increase to 8/10 ===== Full wear (update on April 13, 2024) Yes, I am still much enjoy the scent when wear. I wear this 2 time already. Work very well in both heat or cold temp. it mostly the smooth woody with coffee experience any way.. But.. yes this do fade fast. I wore this like 15 sprays or something all over body. at 07.30 hrs. and when it reach 12.30 hrs. I barely perceive anything on my skin. The longevity is either lack luster or it just merge so well with the skin I am not sure. Anyone who prefers smooth soft ambery fragrance could be easily enjoy Mystic Experience. Score : 8/10 (Consider longevity aginist profile 7/10) Longevity : 4-5 hours Projection : Soft Classification : Leans Masculine Summary : The Smooth Wood and Amber with twist with coffee. (But hey, you have got yourself a coffee why leave so soon?)

This is my take on the Initio Mystic experience. On the first spray, I get a warm, dusty, musky, powdery aroma. The individual notes are not easily distinguishable: at least, I cannot separate them. The coffee note is subtle, more like a faint roasted hint far in the distance, wrapped in musk rather than a strong presence. The overall impression is creamy and airy, not overly sweet, and very well balanced. As it settles, it quickly becomes a skin scent. The projection is minimal, which can make the scent feel linear from afar, but up close it is not as simple. What makes it unusual is how the notes are presented. I get the powdery warm roasted coffee in the distance, followed by creamy woods and musk. Rather than following a typical progression, all the notes appear together, but they evaporate at different speeds. It is hard to explain, but this is not a typical perfume. From a distance, it may seem linear, but close up, the complexity becomes noticeable if you pay attention. To put it simply, it reminds me slightly, around twenty five to thirty five percent, of Black Afgano. Think of it as a distant cousin a powdery, creamy, safe version more polite and less in your face. The scent is inoffensive and easy to wear. It is not a groundbreaking perfume, but it is pleasant. Perhaps the only challenging aspect for some might be the musk, though it is not dirty or animalic. Overall, this fragrance feels quite plain and understated, and to me, it is quite basic. For me, it is far better than the overrated syrupy Side Effect that I personally cannot tolerate. Mystic experience also reminds me of slightly sweet make up smell ? I don't understand how someone can find this perfume dark...

Multiple reviews reference this as a performer of a fragrance, is the performer in the room with us? I’ve sprayed this on my arm, wrist, back of the hand ... no matter where I spray it or how much I just don’t get great performance. It’s a shame because I like the scent quite a lot. It see the comparisons to black afgano because of the green notes mixed with a smoking musky quality. Black Afgano is much more in your face while mystic experience is much more mellow (albeit too mellow for me). Mystic experience also changes drastically on my skin after about an hour or so with the green notes being all but gone and the scent becoming more coffee, maybe a little vanillaish with a hint of honey .... It becomes a gourmand basically. At the point that it transitions though I can’t really detect any projection on myself and even as a skin scent it seems very weak. I think you could get a similar but better performing experience with a couple sprays of black afgano and a couple sprays of maybe Kilian back to black.

Initio's site, and others, don't list the oakmoss, but I do smell it (like the Eucris oakmoss). I don't know what's creating the blast of sharpness at the opening. I get mossy, floral, spicy, woody and in that order. I don't get coffee. If it's amber it's not like any other ambers I experience IE not that honey ish warm leaning vanilla or benzoin amber, it's not detectably separate at least. Ingredients aside from the opaquely described "parfums" then includes coumarin, alpha-isomethyl ionone (synthetic violet?), hexyl cinnamaldehyde(synthetic jasmine?) . It's ok. If you want a less moody than eucris mossy floral with some wood and spice certainly worth a go.

Linear amber heavy scent with creamy sandalwood and slight coffee-esque background note. While I find the scent generally likeable and have received complements I'm not sure I can keep wearing it. After a few hours I can't help but gag when catch a heavy whiff. I'm not sure why and I havent had that experience with other ambers/sandalwoods before. Longevity is crazy, over 12 hours easily with wide sillage. Not a safe blind buy even if all the notes check out and even if it works on paper, absolutely a day or two of wear is needed before commiting.

This is a great, innovative, unique fragrance. If there were a scent for the word, “parlor,” this would be it. Very soft and sweet. Well blended, so hard to detect individual notes. I don’t detect any coffee. I’m curious as to how this would smell on a man. I’ll pass my sample along, as this isn’t for me.

I’m so glad i didn’t blind guy this. I bought a sample. It smells like an old man wearing a shirt taken from ashes of a fire and dowsed in coffee. It just smells warm, smoky, and old. It also smells fairly animalic, like leather. I would not recommend. Especially DO NOT blind buy this.

Felt like déjà vu — I was sure I’d smelled something like this before. Kept trying to figure out what it was. And yeah, it really reminds me of Black Afgano, but just a small part of it. They’re actually not that similar. And this one is actually even more boring and useless.

Unfortunately this did not work for me at all. Turned into a clash of warm, spicy notes. Like it struggled to find a grounding. Not great at all. My least favourite Initio.

A very light and airy, powdery, coffee. Somehow also pretty dark while still being airy. Not bad at all just wish it lasted longer and projected more

This was headache inducing. The notes looked strong. Leans a bit more masculine. For colder weather. It has an eerie chemical background.

Mystic Experience is a strong and longevitous performer, gently introducing itself to passers-by in such a way that they may be surprised by what they sense, not immediately detecting it as olfactory perfume as they may detect, say, Sauvage. In this way, Mystic Experience performs exactly how good perfumery ought to. It's dark woodiness comes off smooth yet smoky, and the coffee note is that of a sharp, extra-bold grind. Very little sweetness or brightness to detract from its unmistakably dark mystique. I would wear this for evening occasions when a reserved yet unwavering allure is the objective. Less is likely more. While I appreciate how this scent presents itself to the world, its powdery smokiness is also somewhat challenging. Similar to Black Afghano, Mystic Experience smells unforgiving to my nose. Maybe even contemptuous in the right setting. Enjoy accordingly.

Real dissonance between how this is marketed and priced and the performance. This is a straightforward amber-coffee skin scent with weak longevity, I can’t smell it anymore after two/three hours. I’d expect this from a Sephora-type brand marketed towards teenagers but not from $410 bottle. I actually have no idea who is spending their money on this or how it got into Nordstrom. Is it a mattress store type deal where they only have to find one idiot a year to pay for the shelf space?

Interesting blend of musk and amber that is mildly sweet, dry and a bit dusty. I get the coffee, but it is not that intense and rather smooth and almost a bit lactonic like a latte macchiato. It’s definitely a more milder performing fragrance from Initio, which is not necessarily a negative because some of their offerings might even be too loud. It’s alright but not something I would personally rank high in the list of Initio's fragrances.