Patchouli

I received a good size sample from the wonderful panterachik. I wore this today and I did have to touch up this afternoon with a couple more spritz. But goodness gracious I have been looking for the right amount of sweet with the right amount of patchouli in a fragrance for sometime now. This is perfect for me-I couldn't be more happy with it. I walked into my youngest daughter room (she is 22) with her dead head friends and they were like "WOW whatever you are wearing is so bitchin" youngsters I was waiting for "groovy" lol oh well if some twenty something's like and this fifty something likes it, it can't be half bad!!

Something is very lovely and special about Micallefs Patchouli: I explicitly get suede. Brandnew suede - as in very expensive bags - with a strange little twist, which strongly reminds me of Goutal Myrrhe Ardente, though the latter is more a hollow kind of fragrance (sorry, I know I am failing to come up with a better description: Myrrhe Ardente and I are entangled in an awkward, longterm relationship). Anyway, I feel more confident with this beauty. The projection is a bit of a letdown: it decreases every half hour. Longevity could be better too, after three hours this scent is almost gone. Now I will have to fret: do I buy or not...., do I buy or not....

Lots of earthy patchouli and labdanum in the opening, followed quickly by sweet notes of violet leaf. Vanilla and labdanum are next to appear, giving the scent a powdery sweet base. The patchouli fades quick and leaves a powdery sweet vanilla drydown. Sillage is moderate to heavy and longevity is moderate. For a patchouli scent, I don't get much patchouli out of this at all. This seems to be the case for me for all Micallef scents containing patchouli. I don't get much musk either. The labdanum is very strong and powdery on me, which I absolutely love. I'd wear this, but not for the patchouli-- for the vanilla labdanum.

The name is intimidating, but it’s not too shabby, actually. On my skin it smells like wet soil dusted with some baby powder on top. It’s earthy, feels raw and dirty, yet strangely comforting. It’s a weird balance that works for me. However, I’m most likely not going to wear it outside (but enjoy it indoors, instead) unless I get invited to an eccentric-themed party or maybe during Halloween. It smells like dead leaves to me, so it would be perfect for the Fall season.

Powerful patchouli with strong earthy undertones and a touch of sweetness (yet dry) vanilla. This scent is a statement - bold, dark and mysterious. It has a classic medicinal patchouli DNA, but it also very much alluring because of warming balsamic base. Reminds me quite a lot of Patchouli Reminiscence, but less sweet. Follow me on IG: scent.guide

The opening and the middle stage is similar to Nobile 1942 Patchouli Nobile which I own. Then it goes on different direction with strong sweet vanilla. The late drydown feels semi-gourmand with a dusty vibe.

It starts off rather liqueur and balsamic with patch, labdanum, and benzoin at the forefront. It opens slowly with a doll vanilla and a sweet amber that vaguely reminds me of the Ambre des Meravilles. In a clearer, drier, fuzzy, powdery and bohemian way. A little dated. On me, eternal duration.

I have to believe that if a perfumer is going to put another patchouli fragrance on the market, they better have a novel take on it. Consider Organza Indecence, which pairs it with cinnamon and plum (sensuous and warm); Il Profvmuo's Patchouli Noir, which adds a mint top note (unexpected and refreshing); and my beloved Isvaraya which pairs it with jasmine and plum (simply glorious). This starts off with violet leaf, which doesn't really pop here. Violet is best left as a basenote, and i would have liked to see that citrus in the opening instead. This isn't a bad fragrance, it's just not a novel fragrance. It also has short longevity and the patchouli tends to fade faster than I would like. If this scent were an American Idol contestant, it would be voted off early and forgotten about, i'm sorry to say.

This is a fine, quality juice that, if it strikes you right, you will enjoy. IMHO it's not particularly distinctive. My gut says that if M. Micallef wasn't trying to build a unisex scent, this might have been more interesting. The patchouli is pleasant at the outset, but it feels 'restrained' - like it's trying to be very polite. The drydown seems to be primarily the ambergris, with a tiny hint (maybe) of vanilla. Again - nice, but nothing particularly distinctive. IME, sillage was okay at the start but quickly waned (2:5). Longevity has been pretty good (3:5).

Earthy, suede, and musk enveloped in vanilla play-doh sweetness. Not as dark as Mazzolari's Patchouli but nevertheless..it's patchouli. The drydown is where this perfume performs its greatest act. M. Micallef usually delivers but this particular time the house failed to provide the escapism that I was looking for in this scent. Until then, I'll be looking for it in the future while I'm cleaning my nails.