Better Love Naturel

I purchased this unsniffed based solely on the notes. I was not at all disappointed but I was surprised. With top notes including incense, cedar and bergamot, heart notes of cinnamon, clove, jasmine and veviter, and base notes of sandalwood, patchouli, benzoin and tonka bean, I was expecting a monster of heavy fragrance; spicy and suitable only for cooler weather. Not so! The citrus in the opening holds hands with the incense and cedar, it is not dominated by them. This is a case where “opposites attract” and the dichotomy of the notes is pleasing and very compelling. I can’t isolate the jasmine, but as the fragrance develops, the notes harmonize into each other until the drydown reaches a comforting, delicious crescendo of slightly sweet, slightly spicy, almost-not-there smokiness with a come-hither quality. This fragrance will not announce you to a room, but it will act as an attractant to those lucky enough to find themselves near you. I’ve been wearing this on and off all summer and am still a little surprised at how amenable it is in the heat. I’ve no doubt it will be just as enjoyable in the cooler months, and I look forward to reaching for this one for as long as the bottle lasts!