Dagger Moon

My review spreadsheet says "harsh dark fantasy forest where your Alpha engages in primal play with u. like it a lot!". In more words: it's spicy and harsh and not like a realistic forest, rather what you might imagine one could smell like but again we're in fantasy land so the smells are turned up to eleven and it's like you took that pile of needles and undergrowth and just smushed your face right into it. I do get notes of dried out earth (go smell your potted plant that you haven't watered in 3 weeks), a mix of spices (think some minty notes, nutmeg, maybe liquorice?), old smoke, resin and a lil bit of moss. Overall it's not a "pretty" smell but holy heck does it work for me. Also, it kind of reminds me of Stora Skuggan's Hexensalbe - not so much in terms of notes or profile but in terms of a general vibe. I might not make a lot of sense in saying so but I feel like these two perfumes are witchy cousins where Hexensalbe is the more civilised and approachable herbalist while Dagger Moon runs around the woods half-naked and howls at the night sky. The scent stayed on my skin for maybe 3-4 hours and offered moderate sillage for the first 1,5h, afterwards down to intimate.

One of my past signature scents was El Cosmico by DS & Durga, which was inspired by the desert in Marfa, TX. It’s an ugly avant-garde scent. It explores the soul of the desert and discovers its dangers. Since visiting New Mexico as a child, and return visits, I’m always searching for that smell of New Mexico: palo santo, baked clay, the sticks and sharp herbal brush, fireplaces. Dagger Moon is the closest I’ve come to finding, not an interpretation, but complete accuracy of what NM smells like. Palo Santo is tricky. It can smell of gasoline or rubber. Dagger Moon is a polite and beautiful presentation of palo santo that allows the anise to shine, slipping gently into the dry earth and spiky juniper brush. I’ve seen that this might be a daring scent for some, but not if you are used to wearing experimental perfumes. For me, this is a daily wearable scent. About a fifth of the daring of aggressive scents like El Cosmico. Absolutely lovely. I’m thrilled to have found it. (Note: this is a natural perfume, so longevity is shorter)

This fragrance smells like I’m dancing naked in the woods, casting a spell to smite my enemies. Hell yeah.

Firstly, this is one of the most accurate "dried dirt" scents I've ever smelled. That is not a bad thing, necessarily. There's a certain scent that comes from dried mud in poppy fields in the late summer that is incredibly rich and golden on a hot day. This fragrance has that. I don't know why this fragrance isn't rated more 'summer'y, but I don't think you get many poppy fields in Canada, and the majority of reviews are likely coming from Canada. The palo santo and moss notes lean the fragrance into archaic territory. It's what a hermit monk from the bronze age would've smelled like lmao. I can imagine this would smell incredible on a guy that spends a lot of time outdoors, backpacking, or living out of his van. This isn't wearable on the daily, or an office scent by any means. Keep this away from city environments. This is an outdoorsy/spiritual scent, for contemplation or serenity or appreciation of nature.

A peculiar one. Very earthy, mossy, a bit woody. Like a forest elf.