Encelade

Encelade Marc-Antoine Barrois I dig Quentin Bisch's releases. Didn't hesitate to blind buy Encelade. Out of MAB's 5 releases I only have the best known Ganymede but along the years and way I've come to own quite a few Quentin Bisch's creations. From the first sprays at 7am, from the first few sniffs and as I smell myself, I can immediately tell that.... Encelade is Special. It is Unique, Sophisticated, Classy. It is One of it's kind, despite the usage of synthetics. I don't think I have something close to it amongst the hundreds of bottles but there are similarities and vibes with other frags I have and nosed and these are also Quentin Bisch's perfume. Myself and a colleague owned Purpose Amouage and Encelade has a vibe that made us think of Purpose probably an hour after the opening, however they only share Vetiver and sandalwood as same notes. At the same time it also reminds me of PdM Delina without the Lychee at the opening, perhaps due to the same Rhubarb used, you'll definitely get a vibe of it if u remove the lychee and rose. At first I am wondering and telling myself how do I write about Encelade, it's so different, simple notes, nothing too complicated and yet smells good and special. It may not be a Love but I like it enough. I think I'll probably like it more as I do more wears of it. The notes listed are Rhubarb, Vetiver, Atlas cedarwood, leather, Tonka bean, Australian sandalwood. You'll definitely get the not so tangy rhubarb at the opening, the green soury somewhat soft spicy rhubarb. Its not really that sweet to me as some others say, pleasant sweetness more like it. It's also a little Smoky and also there is this creaminess in it. The leather and woodiness starts to come out after a while and counter balances itself very well sorta in the background. Such a fine composition. The dry earthy Vetiver is also rather strong there adding balance to the prominent rhubarb. Couple of hours later, it quiets down and the tonka is just nice not overly sweet unlike some gourmandy scents and sits along with cedar and sandalwood with the prominent rhubarb already out of the way. Somehow in our local weather here in Singapore, I'm not getting massive projection or really long hours on it. Perhaps I wore and tested this as of now in 2 stages on different sides of the body on purpose over a difference of 4-5hrs but it should last a good 8hrs or so at least, initial projection is pretty good for the first to second hour. On clothes definitely last longer. If you are looking for an unique and special scent composition that isn't too gourmandy sweet, give this a thought seriously, it's scent composition and development is not something most of us will have even if we have a huge collection.

One of my favourite perfumes <3 to me it's very unisex and brings so many emotions to mind. There's the initial sharp, metallic, almost edging on industrial note which grabs your attention. But on my skin its not overly aggressive, there's a softness underneath the edge. I get a distinct, almost gasoline smell at first? But I don't mind it. Then as it dries down the vanilla and rhubarb come out. It's never sweet on me, the vanilla softens the scent and the rhubarb keeps it tangy, but its still metallic and earthy. It's very unique and definitely not for everyone. Then there's the memories this scent evokes in me, which is likely why I like it so much. The gasoline, vanilla and rhubarb notes all dance together, reminding me of summers from my childhood, and really just growing up. Taking road trips with my family and playing in fields and forests. Running past the rhubarb growing outside the broken, cluttered garage filled with unfinished projects, to set the table for dinner. Getting sleepy in the back seat of the sticky hot car as we drove to the lake, pressing my face into the cracked leather seats. Then we get there and all the kids race to the water and let out all the pent up energy, but soon we get tired and walk back to the bench for snacks (usually plain ruffle chips and watermelon), to dry off and read our books. Then we'd grab our nets and buckets and go out to the docks to catch frogs and water snakes, getting covered in mud. I didn't like how slimy their skin was, so I quickly switched from the hunt, to sitting by the small boats and admiring the lily pads. It reminds me of lazy hot summer days filled with cicadas and dragonflies and helping out my dad in the garage. For me it's, metallic, earthy, crisp with the rhubarb, and soft and almost creamy with the sandalwood and vanilla. I wear it when I want to feel androgynous, confident, or just nostalgic. I also love layering it with a vanilla or fruity scent. I know my memory association with this scent skews how much I love it. I can totally understand how off-putting this perfume could be for some people. But it's got a special place in my heart, and I love her :)

For me, Encelade has become something far more personal than just a fragrance. It's one of those rare scents that feels almost too intimate to share with the world, too captivating to be worn casually in crowded rooms or formal settings. I don't reach for it before a social event or a busy day. Instead, I save it for moments when I can truly surrender to it. I can imagine wearing it on a quiet evening walk, during a solitary drive with no destination in mind, while trekking through the woods or during a peaceful weekend away from the noise and obligations of everyday life. But if I'm being honest, my favorite way to experience Encelade is at home, completely on my own. Perhaps while watching a football match with a cup of coffee in hand or a few hours before sleep when the world has finally gone silent. Those are the moments when I let it unfold on my skin and simply follow where it leads me. There is something utterly mesmerizing about its green, mineral and earthy character. The opening feels like crushing fresh leaves between your fingers in a remote forest after rainfall, while beneath it lies an almost cosmic aura, as if the scent has been borrowed from another world altogether. It is wild yet elegant, mysterious yet comforting and every time I wear it, I discover a new nuance that I hadn't noticed before. Wearing Encelade doesn't feel like applying perfume. It feels like stepping into a different state of mind, a small personal ceremony, a fragrant escape that slows time and sharpens the senses. This is not an everyday fragrance for me. It is an occasion in itself. A rare indulgence, a moment of reflection and a luxurious retreat reserved for the times when I want to disconnect from the world and reconnect with myself. Overall a 10/10 Masterpiece !

If I had to put a name to this scent, then it would be the one that creeps in through the back door of your chest when you least expect it. You know the story. There is a new boy in your class. You hate him the second his shoe touches the floorboard. You do not know why. It is simply there, this hate, like a splinter under the nail. Everything about him scrapes against you. His voice is too loud. His laugh is a challenge. He is arrogant, cocky, that kind of rebel who wears his leather jacket like armour. The girls swarm around him like moths around a filthy flame, and the other boys suck in their cheeks to be like him. You cannot understand it. You want to look away but you cannot. Then—without a knock, without a warning—something shifts. One morning you see him and your stomach turns upside down. Not in disgust. In butterflies. Your knees go soft, like old rope. The boy who made your blood boil now makes it burn differently. You think of him when you should be learning Latin. You hate yourself for it, but there it is. The old story. From hate to love. As old as the trenches. And this fragrance is exactly that. It does not let you stay neutral. It forces you to take a side. Art should bruise you a little, shouldn't it? This one does. In my discovery set it was the one I dreaded. The one I did not even want on my skin. I let it sit in its little vial like a prisoner. Weeks later—why, I cannot say—I took the risk. Half a spray on the forearm. Just half. And now I am thinking of a full bottle. Oh, this Bisch magic. It got me. Just like that boy. A side note: someone wrote that the scent is like licking a battery and I couldn't agree more!

Encelade is my chosen fragrance for today. Although it is late spring in California, I woke up this morning to severe overcast and rain. I thought that was strange, but I welcome it. In all honesty, this is my favorite type of weather. It also provides me with an opportunity to wear Encelade for the second time in four days! That never happens! Especially when my fragrance collection is now becoming overwhelming. Typically, I wear a fragrance once and I don't pick it up again for at least four months. This is a sign. I absolutely love this fragrance. The most impressive aspect is that it lasts! I mean really lasts. I spray it at 7 AM and the next day at 7 AM it smells like I just sprayed it on. That is a quality that is so difficult to find. It speaks to the quality of character behind the brand. And I find that very attractive. It is much easier to spend my money that way. Combine that with a Beautiful, sweet, green vetiver and a scrumptious rhubarb / tonka bean jam and you have a product finally deserving of its high price. I don't want the overall rating of Encelade to make you weary. I was actually surprised it was below 4.0 after I tried it! My initial reaction was it's almost therapeutic. Upon further research, that was indeed the initial concept. This fragrance was initiated during the coronavirus pandemic. Marc and Quentin wanted to create something that was comforting but also connected to the Earth. As someone who is perpetually stuck in coronavirus mode, I can say this hits the spot.