Saltus

#1496 in my "Tour de Fragrance" Got this as a decant. This is a great scent that I would rate at least a 4.25 if I were doing the rating. Admittedly this type of scent is far from the beaten path of citrusy blues. Camphor is a scent I've associated with treating canker sores as my only experience with it before getting into the fragrance hunt was "Campho-phenique." I'm not alone. Just asked my girlfriend, "If I said "camphor", what comes to mind? " She immediately said, "What's that stuff you put on cold sores?" Eucalyptus I've always associated with "Hall's Cough Drops" and "Vick's Vapo-Rub." For me these scents have always been medicinals, always meant sore throats, runny noses. I think that's why this scent is rated below 4.00. Getting past that association has certainly taken some time for me. I gave away my first bottle of a scent like this four years ago , Lacoste L.12.12. But I've gotten past it, and discovered some unique scents I really like. "Archives 69" is one of the few Etat Libre d'Orange scents I don't find repellent. Comme de Garcons "Scent One: Hinoki." Zoologist Perfumes "King Cobra" and "Koala." D.S. & Durga "Notorious Oud." Profumo di Firenze "Spigo." Diptyque "Oud Palo." Creed "Royal Mayfair." Fredric Malle "Carnal Flower." Akro "Haze." Even that old after shave standby "Proraso Green." They all go down this path, and I've come to appreciate how they lean into that corner of the green world. This "Saltus" stands tall among them. This is less medicinal and more woody than something like Lacoste L.12.12. or Akro Haze, as the camphor tones down quickly and you get more cedar and tonka. It's pleasant, comforting. I would say it's primarily for cold weather. Okay for the office. Not sure about this as date wear. I'm probably not the only one that associates these notes with a common cold. But I think this is not too aggressive for close quarters. At $135 this isn't a bargain fragrance, so I'd try a decant from ScentSplit first before ordering a bottle.

My goodness... This sample has been waiting for a year and a half for me to try it and it turned out super amazing! My first thought was: what an interesting vetiver scent! I've smelt something similar in Vetiver Haiti (The Merchant of Venice): both these give a very special old abandoned building musty earthy vetiver feeling. So I was surprised that in this one, the main player is camphor instead which means I've found a new thing to look after in scents in addition to vetiver. Wow, this smell is so special! Typically Amouage makes things like that but now I've found another one. This scent also has its strong green side but, as the name suggests, representing forest: not in my nose. It can be forest but only when smelt inside an abandoned building surrounded by forest then. Actually, this smell is a little bit similar to my grandmother's (and others' in an apartment building) basement which is a very specific smell and I suspect some old plastic or rubber produces it when it is in a slightly damp environment for decades. But it is the smell of that house only, other basements in other houses and apartment buildings have never smelt like that. I suggest to get a sample to have a very interesting experience. But for me it means I should get a bottle somewhere, it is really so special to have it. I realised that Vetiver des Sables by Montale smells somewhat similar: there's a strange and addictive rusty component in it so it's not any typical vetiver, just like Saltus isn't.

Another beautiful offering from this house, light and ethereal like japanese fragrance, suitable for fall, spring and summer, day and night. Absolutely smooth and unisex. There are mild similarities with these scents Yves Saint Laurent Body Kouros & Ajmal Shadow Grey If you like these scents but want a mix of them much more smooth and elegant, try Saltus. Saltus is slightly stronger than Tellus in terms of projection but still it is on the average. Soft and smooth. This scent has the smoothest styrax and camphor notes I've ever smelt. 2 hours before it dies it bocomes a sub-sweet soft styrax. Dominant notes are efcalyptus, incense, cedar, styrax. Mild camphor, patchouli, tonka beans. I do not get castoreum. Safe and office friendly, long lasting but classy and smooth with low-moderate sillage/projection. Beautiful for any place any time.

This is an utterly grounding deep fragrance that draws you into the world that it paints. Unlike the earth bound Tellus, this takes us to the surface where wild beasts prowl in a dark, dank forest, crushing underfoot the layer of mosses and herbs, knawing at resin laden barks, leaving behind their scents. It's a Yatagan dragged forward about 20 or so years into the era of modern aromachemicals. It isn't for every day or every occasion, but when you want to escape the hurly burly and go back to the primeval forest then thankfully its only a few sprays away. One of the best of this line in my opinion.

Lovely animalic smoky green woody scent. 9/10