Winter Star

Balsamic and animalic - very raw. Like a musky deer near a beaver den next to a civet cat deep in the evergreen forest.

I am hooked with this Star of winter, I definitely am. Never heard of Michael Storer and probably never would, if this surprise-sample didn’t make way into my arms via one kind fragrantican. The mix is unique and balanced, I Am sure it would smell in a different way to every single person, wide field for imagination, it’s not spicy, but balmy, not skanky, but sensual, adventurous and confident. I like how tolu with peru balms play with civet, that’s how Alaskan fur trapper hats smell, through which you can hardly see person’s eyes. Musk, that I usually not fond of, is very well behaved, it almost like raw fresh-cut hand-made soap at some point. It also has a smell of unique alcohol mixture brewed on herbs like mint and basil somewhat, which in reality are not present, yet still it smells like a potion and mysterious enough to think of this particular Winter Star as of Orion. Associations – I can’t do without them. Movie “The Edge”, survival one, made among magnificent landscapes of Alberta(Canada) but according scenario it was Alaska, with Hopkins and Baldwin. Glad I tried it, gives a hope for new treasures to be discovered in this brand then!

Starts our strong and bright and spicy, with a heaping helping of anise or tarragon, possibly some cinnamon and/or cloves and a hint of freshly-cut pine branches. The main impression is piercingly green and herbal, but in parallel with the greenery, and in counterpoint to it, is a lot of musk, especially civet, which adds a dry, musty, almost mildewed note. Eventually the green herbs fade out, leaving a warm cinnamon-sprinkled, carmel-dipped musk, similar to the drydown of Genvieve and several other Michael Storer fragrances. Except for the odd mildew note in the beginning, this is an enjoyable perfume all the way from the big green trumpet-blast of anise in the opening, to the comfortable, slightly nutty, caramel musk drydown, although I could do without the mildew note in the beginning. There’s plenty of sillage, and the scent lasts a full day. Another unusual offering from Michael Storer that’s definitely worth a sniff.

Although I, like Kterhark, appreciate Michael Storer's perfumes for women, I must say that WINTER STAR is not a very inviting perfume. It smells quite harsh to my nose and I am assuming that this is a combination of the strong lavender and the even stronger balsam and other basenotes which here are so powerful that I get almost a tallow effect. I did not apply very much from my sample vial, yet I am at the brink of a headache. My understanding is that this limited edition perfume was something of an experiment with new materials. On the manufacturer's card description, both Karanal and Helvetolide are mentioned--which I gather are new synthetic molecules--and Karanal is explicitly identified as "difficult to dose". I must concur in this case! This perfume is too strong and discordant. Not a pleasant wear.

Oops, oops, oops... i accidentally dumped the whole sample vile on myself, before seeing that it is 'caramel like.' This is not a note that I am fond of in any form, so I'll keep that in mind (and htat I just bathed in it, which is not recommended) To me this is more of a man's scent, with all that musk and balsam going on. I think a man's chemistry is what's needed to settle this a bit, as a woman's chemistry heightens the sweet factor too much. This isn't working for me. That sweet little civet face you see above is smiling because it just made a stinker. If a woman is interested in this line I would suggest the female fragrances instead.