Catamaran Extrait

My NDN discovery set arrived a few day ago, and so far, this has been jaw-dropping olfactive experience. Catamaran Extrait did not disappoint, and confirmed that Nilafar du Nil is probably one of the most underrated houses at the moment. To be honest, I was stepping out of my comfort zone with this one, with coconut and florals not being my usual go-to notes... The fragrance opens with a creamy aromatic mixture of coconut and spices.. At first, I was destabilized to realize how much I enjoyed it. The flowers were perfectly balancing the coconut, and made it feel more complex, and less like a cheap suntan lotion. Around it, I could feel a cloud of delicious oriental spices, and the woods gently drifting in the back. This gave the impression of sipping a cool pina colada in the warm sand, while enjoying a nice floral and woody breeze coming from densly vegetated mountain. As it dries down, Catamaran's flowers dissipate a bit, and a rich smokiness and earthiness emerges, thanks to the tobacco, patchouli and sandalwood notes. The sweetness transforms, shifting from florals to oud, but the coconut and spices remain alongside the warm incense vibe created by the wooden notes in the base... Performance is good, but not as extraordinary as L'Homme fort. This isn't necessarely a bad thing, since it makes this fragrance a bit more accessible for everyday use. You'll still get a solid 6-8 hours out of it, and a nice average projection for the first 2-3 hours. Catamaran leans masculine for sure, but its ability to transform along the way will make you feel all types of way... Sexy, classy, casual and mysterious, all within the span of a few hours, like changing tides or the ocean's mood swings. Truly, this is another gem, and an awesome bargain considering its price. Nilafar du Nil is truly impressive, and Catamaran Extrait should definitely be on your radar...

I tried Narmar & jardins de bergamote from the same brand before this one. Catamaran has better performance than both. I mostly get spices from this fragrance. It is suitable for winter & fall. it is smooth & not overpowering. It is nice & I like it but I am not impressed to the extent that i will purchase a full bottle.