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.

I ordered samples and fell in love with it; it sounded rich and multidimensional. When I ordered a full size, however, I was sooo disappointed and confused... all I can smell is fume and it lasts like 3 minutes. I also have it as a room fragrance in oil, and it smells divine, not like my full size perfume.

Cold, wet forest. Specifically wet stone, not so much grass. This to me brings back memories of being at summer camp as a kid, in the early mornings when we'd run around in our pajamas, to the big rocks.

I love Mad et Len. This is one of my favorites. Smells like pencils and earth. Wish it lasted longer on me.

I was given a candle of this scent--just gorgeous! Will have to pick up a sample of the 'fume.

Dry, green, with a touch of smoke and spice; it's masculine and very cedar-like.

He is an industrialist lumberjack who only wears black flannels and has a large beard. He takes scraps of wood from the forest and brings them back to his dimly-lit workshop where he fashions them into artisan pencils. He doesn’t clean up the shavings because they add to the aesthetic he is trying to convey. He uses the pencils to draw pictures of shadowy cityscapes. *** Best worn with a pair of Doc Martens. This s**t will put hair on your chest so be confident. Ngl, the candle version of this would probably be great. The fragrance is good, too, but proceed with caution. If I could associate a color to this it would be jet black. Not a sexy, mysterious jet black... more like a can of jet black paint... and the guy you’d envision painting something jet black.

This gives me nordic vibes. I think it's the smoky & foresty smell. I got a sample of this because I could not stop smelling it in a store- it smells like a dusk walk through an old growth forest covered in moss and lichen. This type of scent is normally marketed as being "for men", but as a girl, it smells super good on me. Reminds me of a type of volcanic moss. edit: definitely not something you should overspray! Maybe 2-3 spritzes MAX. It's so strong it makes me a little bit nauseous if I smell it too much...

Dry, inky, smoky, earthy, piny goodness. Opening is bit harsh, but the dry down is where the magic is at. Smooth, complex, and interesting. This one is a hidden gem that no one talks about.

He struggles to find the right words, wearing down the point of his pencil. All he wants is to bring poetry back into the world once more. His eraser is worn, leaving tacky debris on the surface of the pages. He decides to pull the album Scott Walker Scott 3 and laid it on his turntable. "It's Raining Today" starts to play. 'It's raining today And I'm just about to forget The train window girl That wonderful day we met She smiles through the smoke From my cigarette.' He pulls the cuff of his sweater, hands a bit cold. He notices the smell in the air of his study. It's of graphite and heartache. Sadness is profound, as it, more than any other emotion, reminds you that you truly FEEL. To be capable of such feeling is a miracle all of its own. Graphite is not a happy scent. But that is what is absolutely beautiful about it—even hopeful. Plaintive camphor and smoke devour the air, salty tears fall onto paper, charcoal sketches of pensive figures looking into the distance are displayed above the escritoire, keepsakes fill cedar boxes. There are not only pencils here, but fountain pens and ink wells, bitter and pitch black. 'With their arms round each other the two ragged soldiers Laughed through a war that they couldn't see Laughed for a world filled with fantasy' Scott walker sings as the album has reached Two Ragged Soldiers. He opens the window as the rain eases, and the pines outside his window add their aroma to his study, and he manages to produce a smile. "My memories pursue you through puddles of rain"—Walker's lyrics give him goose pimples. His voice, his phrasing, The voice of a wounded angel. He sit right back down and he scribbles feverishly, word after word, and each of them...right.

Has the vibe of Encre Noire but niche. I mean to say not that they smell similar, but they occupy a similar territory. Graphite feels much more smooth and classy. A cedar/pine note takes on the woody role that vetiver plays in Encre Noire. Graphite is less zingy, more overtly earthy, more dense. The opening might be a bit challenging but the drydown is comparatively relaxed, even clean-feeling thanks to the camphor. I suspect there is cashmeran involved in this, which is also present in Encre Noire. This has a subtle spiciness that feels elegant and very modern. I wouldn't be able to pick up "paper" without prompting from the note breakdown, but I get it. I'm associating the note with an ambient impression, like a memory-laden room in a house or shop. A pleasant dustiness. Makes sense that this is also available as a candle.

Has a nice smokey, cedary buzz with a touch of varnishy/chemical ink note. The name is fitting because, all together, it has a metallic flinty-ness like a portfolio of graphite and charcoal drawings on paper although the effect is clearly from the combo of pine and synthetic wood notes. The Mad et Len packaging and image is very 1800s European however, their scents are very minimally constructed and synthetic and remind me so much of cheaper offerings from Comme Des Garcons. Definitely overpriced for what they are.