Usiku

Ouch Heather! I love this perfume. It's meant to be unisex (I didn't know Hobbits could smell that good)! I don't wear this one in Summer but now that Autumn is here, I am using it again. I love the warmth and spiciness of this one. Makes me feel good.

Anyone familiar with South Asian cuisine will instantly recognise the explosion of spice upon first spray. What I'm talking about is Garam Masala. Rendered near perfectly, what you get for the first 5-10 minutes is realistic, undoubtedly exciting, yet hugely unsettling gourmet experience akin to putting ones nose to a mortar of freshly ground spice (I use spice in the kitchen way too much to want to apply it to myself in this form). Garam masala is of course a notoriously complex concoction, with exact industry and family recipes alike being stored in safes and handed down to trusted loved ones. Strictly speaking, a host of other quite obscure notes should appear above: black pepper, black cardamom, black cumin, cinnamon, possibly mace. Not to fret too much about this however; ten minutes and the spice evaporates. Thank the gods. interestingly, its disappearance is close to genuine. Its not a million miles away from the actual experience that such an olfactory gesture has been put to good use for, for at least a few millennia (Garam is often ritually added at the end of cooking just before serving to give a sensory firework display, often lasting just as long). Cardamom and clove emerge from the ashes of the spice explosion, and will become a thread that stitches the whole together for the length of this rather culinary journey. What follows is a tripartite of ginger, cedar and pine. Ginger for heat and vibrancy. Cedar for depth. Pine for clean. They work pretty well. Initially, the cedar even gives a little of that 'sparkle' some might look for in excellent renditions. Pine is a welcome addition that cools down the dry and fiery ginger that leans again towards the ground spice rather than the fresh root. All this, no doubt, sounds, if not aggressive, than at least a little strange. But in reality, what I've described above actually happens with a interesting transparency. Once the spice mix has vanished, this is not at all dense. Its calm, calming, clear and airy. Its quite pleasing (My partner complimented me on a number of occasions at this point). cardamom, clove and pine become a little stronger. There is a wierd 'tropical' vibe to this that floats in and out of perception. I cant say for sure it has anything to do with pineapple. Do not fear - its barely perceptible, and actually quite fun. The cedar becomes dryer, but becomes more distant also, then the whole fades quite quickly. Not sure where the patchouli and rosemary are. In summary: This is an olfactory experience that is fairly rare in perfumery. Completely unisex. The main body of this fragrance is safe, strangely subtle, and satisfying. Its much more complex than most natural perfumes I've experienced. Its organic. Longevity is 3-4 hours. Its not my cup of tea, but someone has cared about the making of this. For that alone, thank you.

Why I received this sample, I will never understand. This smells like...what's the name of the little village where Frodo lives in "The Lord of the Rings"..?? Not that I've been there, but it's heavy on the pine, rosemary and cardamom. The the sage kicks in. This is very man-ish, and I think it would make a much better scented candle for the holidays. Evergreeny, a bit spicy, and it makes me want to join a rag-tag group of hobbits, dwarfs and elves and protect a fine piece of jewelry.

Heather on your review alone i want to sample this strange fragance. i admire your candour :)