Graphite

Now THIS is my kinda fragrance. When I close my eyes, I can perfectly envision myself in a little cabin converted into an art studio somewhere in the woods of Washington State, surrounded by pencils and inks, carving away on a woodblock print on a foggy morning. If you've ever smelled a bottle of traditional sumi ink and thought "I want to smell like that plus freshly sharpened pencils" you should try this immediately. The opening is that resinous camphor sumi ink that I'm always searching for in fragrances, which quickly mellows out to complement the woody pine in the dry down. Leather, paper, and musk are present mostly as a softening background hum. Though there's no actual graphite in the notes, but there's an overall mineral quality that really does evoke graphite. I will definitely need to swing for a full bottle at some point.

This smells like what I imagine a logging factory in the Pacific Northwest smells like. The opening features the scent of crushed pine needles and metallic saw blades. The main base notes take you to a storage facility full of dry wood planks, with a hint of muskiness. Graphite is best suited for cold and rainy days, but I occasionally wear it in the summer since it is relatively light for a winter perfume. The perfume's longevity leaves much to be desired, but when paired with something heavier its top notes can truly shine. My favorite pairing is with Death by Blackbird. The two come together to form a cold and truly dark perfume. Smell: 10 Longevity: 7 Versatility: 9 Uniqueness: 8 Value: 6 Layering compatibility: 9 Overall: 8.2

I ADORE this fragrance. I bought the candle two years ago and then reordered, then got the essential oil top up for the lava rocks (which I use in an ultrasonic diffuser), and finally now the cologne/perfume. I've had Encre Noire and love that too, as somebody else pointed out they are kind of similar. But the difference is that I'm happy wearing Graphite even in hot summers here in Sydney, whereas Encre Noire feels more wintery only for me? It's expensive but potent so lasts, and it's unique - you can't find something liek this readily available in a regular department store, at least not in Australia.

I wore this for the first time today. The opening is uber masculine, a cedar spicy scent with a citrus component. I was thinking initially there was no way I would ever consider buying this perfume. Then the drydown begins, and everything softens with the suede note becoming more dominant. This ends up more unisex, and it’s actually quite lovely.

Unlike some of Mad Et Len's other fragrances (looking at you, Terre Noir), Graphite has no issues with longevity or projection. Graphite reaches out with a sophisticated mix of pine, cedar, incense, and of course, pencil shavings. It's masculine, but not in an overbearing way. Fantastic for Fall and Winter, or cool evenings/nights out.