Corpalium

whilst on a trip last year, i visited an antique shop where i ended up buying an old tobacco pipe that was still in it’s original black leather purse. the owner of the shop said it was atleast 50 years old and belonged to an old man who was a life-long chain smoker. a few hours later, i opened up the purse to admire the pipe. i then realised that there was pouch of tobacco hidden inside a pocket. 50 year old tobacco. this perfume reminds me of the smell of that. dark, stale, antique tobacco that has been perfectly preserved inside it’s leather bag for half a century. no harmful chemicals, toxins or preservatives, just pure tobacco. it is a gorgeous fragrance. the opening is very herbaceous with facets of rooty, soil enriched orris. but once it dries down it transforms into slightly musty old wood, tinged with tobacco smoke and warm leather. there is certainly something antique about it. it’s unisex, but definitely leans more masculine. in my head this scent would be absolutely divine on a man with a cool shaggy mod haircut, who has a big thing for vintage leather jackets, death in june and william burroughs. loool

Nice and classy iris is a good way to describe it. The opening is actually my favourite part, when the herbs and castoreum and ambrette are all freshly fluffed and swirl together to give off sparkles of that signature Marlou dewy-skin toned ripeness. Once that fades (fairly quickly), a classy leathery-rooty iris hangs tight to the skin for a few hours. It's not makeup iris, or powdery, dusty-chocolatey like Dior. It's actually hard to describe. Just lightly radiant, pulsating, and rooty. I love it, but for the house it's light in projection and I often think it's disappeared until I go sniffing for it. So I wish it was stronger but I've found that spraying it under the shirt brings it to life and helps it cling, and I will probably accidentally buy a bottle some night soon when I'm half asleep and my defenses are low. Every time I wear it I get a hankering for Moschino Pour Homme, interestingly. I think it's the castoreum and iris combo, which is irresistible to me.

Gothic Harvest Deity When I saw a new launch from a brand I respect with a note of fenugreek, I blind bought immediately. Always looking to smell like a mysterious harvest goddess, and the earthy iris, hay-like tobacco and the fenugreek bring that to life for me. Add some smoky woods and subtle animal funk, I'm in heaven. In most mythologies, the goddess of the harvest also oversees the cycle of life and death, and there's a healthy dose of gothic darkness here to represent that. Definitely a cold weather scent, very intense. It's a total mood, but still approachable even though its not an easy reach. I know its supposed to be a "horse" scent which is a whole category but I'm just not familiar. Always liked this brand but their other offerings aren't for me. Can't wait to wear this more, it's so interesting. This is why we blind buy, for moments like this.

Beautiful. A very complex woody iris/violet (or woody iris/violet). The top notes are very soft, a veil of violet pleu, a caress, the scent of love and a body in close proximity. The heart notes, meanwhile, are perfectly mastered: soft ambrette, a hint of animal and musk that dances gently with woody, tobacco and smoky aspects. What follows lingers, awakens and dries out: some spicier aspects (fenugreek), brown/ochre tones, the crunch of leaves underfoot on an autumn forest walk. Very sensual, but genuinely sensual: a connection to the scent of life and to the bodies we encounter. A little something in the DS&Durga vein, a few points in common with Scent Society-type references. Personally, it's everything I like. A slight holding problem on my skin, but not really a big red flag.

First review here... Bought the tester pack from Marlou to test Carnicure since I like animalistic fragrances. Tested this and boy oh boy... This is the first time a fragrance makes me physically nauseatic. Brings back vivid, feverish memories from chilhood. Grandparents retirement party with lots of old women smelling something like this. Afterwards puking because of too much cake. Similar "memories" from teenage years when drinking cheapest dessert wine too much and puking. I don't know what this is made of but for me it smells like something overly sweet with gastric acid. Almost puked now 30 years later when tested this. 5/5 for how strong mental and bodily reaction this fragrance gave to me. However, also I hate it.