Gothic II

Gothic II is an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous perfume that smells exactly like nag champa, honey, and bourbon vanilla. It is so fantastic that I went through my entire sample within 3 days, and that was only because I used it sparingly, or it would have been gone in 24 hours. I literally want to bathe in the stuff, and I splashed liberally. I have hundreds of perfume samples, and I am honestly not sure that I have finished one in the past 3 years, as I change perfume almost daily. But Gothic II is pretty much all I want to wear. This is signature scent-worthy juice for me. When you wear it, you will smell like you spent much too much time in a head shop, and a thick aura of smoke is still clinging to your clothes. This should have been called "Haight-Ashbury" because it is a San Francisco dream, every bit as hippy as pure patchouli oil, but less offensive to others in your vicinity (Newsflash: Not everybody likes patchouli). Jefferson Airplane painted their colonial-style house black. I bet the inside smelled like Gothic II. If you want to smell San Franciscan, and if you want an aura that says, "I was up all night at my friend's house doing coke, burning nag champa, and listening to the Ramones, then this morning I walked over to the coffee shop for a doppio before I start my shift at the record shop"? You've found your dream perfume in Gothic II. Or maybe, like me, you just like nag champa.

I own the 7 ml roll-on oil. Wow, this is so special, and reminds me of that great patch/sandlewood incense I smelled in every head shop I frequented in the 70's. When I got back to my house after shopping, everyone always knew where I had been, as it permeated my clothes, hair, everything, but in a very cool way. This scent behaves similarly, especially if it gets on your clothing. Totally nostalgic for me. Just a small dab on each wrist is good for easily 6-8 hours. Very deep and rich, with soft vanilla and patch/clove/sand incense envelope, fairly linear, which was great since I loved the space it took me to and I wanted to stay there. As retro as this is, I got my first (of many) compliments on LRII 3 hours after a two-dab application from a 20-something male bank teller from across the counter, so sillage is clearly high...and it must also be appealing to younger folks. It is definitely a sex scent for those who are into that aura. Going to the bank or the market with this is okay, but not to work, unless you work at a club, head shop or somewhere where it's cool to smell cool. Key vibes: Weekends, hot clubs, sex, clove cigs, black lights, lava lamps, strobes, loud music (or none), tie-dyed t-shirts, hippie oils, hanging out with very cool friends, and of course, smoking w**d. Oh, and did I mention sex?

Snagged a sample of Gothic II after Lucky Scent’s IG included it in a spooky-season scent roundup (they got me). I’m not convinced there’s a frangipane note here, folks. Rodkin’s site describes it simply as a “rich, deep, earthy blend of aged musky patchouli incense,” and I mostly agree. Rich and deep, yes - but this is a resinous, sweet, almost powdery patchouli, not one I’d characterize as earthy. The incense is Nag Champa-adjacent if I really look for it, but it wasn’t the first thing that came to mind. What *did* immediately come to mind was a Trappist monastery I visited with my family in Huntsville, Utah as a child, and the creamed honey with black walnuts they made there. And a favorite bookstore specializing in esoterica and the occult that I frequented as a teen. But it captures something timeless, too: sunlight and dust motes beaming across dark hardwoods. Rustling robes in quiet cloisters. The pleasant kind of decay. It feels very warm and meditative and meets squarely at the intersection of celibate clergyman and goth girl. I wouldn't say no to a full bottle. Smells like: incense in an apiary Looks like: hot Rider-Waite hermit Sounds like: the 90's Gregorian chant craze

A boozy, vanilla scent. A little sad that I can't really smell the nag champa here, at least in the sample I got, but it's probably close to what I imagined the perfect vanilla fragrance to be when I was a kid. Not particularly gourmand, but very grown up, romantic and a little mysterious. I also initially thought the longevity was trash because I couldn't really smell it on my wrists after just a couple of hours, but after having tried it during work I have come to realise that I can still smell this on me for the duration of the work day. Where the smell is coming from though, I've got no clue. But that's okay because it means the longevity is there. Not sure if I want to commit to a proper bottle due to budget. I've also got other herbal vanilla fragrances at the moment that don't exactly smell like Gothic ii, but I feel have a similar "personality" to it. So for now I will enthusiastically use up the sample I have. I find that I do not need too much to have the effect I want from this anyway, so the sample might last some time. Smells a bit like nail polish remover for the first 2 seconds though! Which is fine... just found it a little odd.

There are 2 duets enhancing a main character here: In the center stage, the famously quirky Patchouli, reigning supreme, rugged and dry as ever; It's enhanced by a spicy clove/incense combo, giving it a dusty impression, and mysterious aspect. Then the vanilla/frangipani brings softness and depth into something that could be too harsh and aloof...a certain roundness that makes the whole picture compelling. Last and final touch with sandalwood that gives the fragrance some class and allure. I can smell each component and yet everything works so well together, each element complimenting the next one. The whole picture is painted in deep green velvet, with hints of gold. This is so excellent and deeply, darkly glamourous, for both men and women (whereas Gothic I tends to be more feminine to my nose, probably because of mister Vanilla being too prominent). In the end, this fragrance totally lives up to its name, as "Gothic" as it can be: deep, dark, contemplative, mysterious, eerie and sensual...And to make it even better, the longevity is great and the sillage is on point. Simple and outstanding scent. I'm keeping my eye on it!