Cryptical Envelopment

My opinion of this perfume matched SmellMyCheese's initially as well. My mom bought me a sample pack (I chose the perfumes; it wasn't a surprise :) ) of Olympic Orchids this past Christmas. This was one of them, and I was so disappointed with it at first. This and Mardi Gras (which I love) supposedly have civet as a major note. But this doesn't smell anything like MG. (I'm still not sure what civet smells like on it's own.) I'm not sure if it was urinous-smelling or not. Maybe somewhat, but there was something else off-putting, and I'm not sure what it was. I love patchouli and skanky notes, but this one wasn't just animal musky. It was dirty, grimy almost. I tried it again recently and I suffered through a few hours of it's intensity til I noticed a rose note in the drydown. I couldn't remember any of the listed notes other than civet, and patchouli and musk had been all I could detect. Anyhow, I discovered this perfume is better when sprayed really close to the skin (or dabbed) rather than sprayed in a mist several inches from your skin and/or clothes. It's drydown, strangely, is so reminiscent to L'artisan's Dzongkha, strangely enough. Now I can't get enough of it and might have to start wearing 3-4 sprays around the house instead of 2. I'm concerned because it's really heavy and I think polarizing. I don't want to choke out my family, knowing that since it isn't on their skin, they don't grow used to wearing it, or anosmic to it over time as I believe I have. But if there's one thing to take away from my rambling, it would be to spray closely or dab it on if you're having trouble with it.

I just bought a sample and I almost immediately recognized it ... WHOOSH! Back to the year 2000, I was entering a head-shop for the first time in the southeast United States, and that store, I swear, smelled just like this... I can, in my mind, see the girls working the counter, they say..."it's Cryptical Envelopment" woah! Do you think I'm buying a bottle? Hell yes, I am! Yes released in 2017, but that's just text dude? The scent, to me, is heavy lemon, lol almost, like a strong household cleaner, there is a definite U-turn thing going on- it's sooo sharp- which is probably the civet, making a tennis game if you will, ...but that deep thick fragrance dissipates within 10 minutes and I get the true fragrance waiting just moments behind. It's very much like incense, (nag champa was my response, a guess, in that head shop as a 12 year old) this has a pure & ideal rose 🌹, and more spices, in total it can take me anywhere from a church to a pot bar. A game of tennis and a diamond that's not too far from any ruff. I love this scent, and Ellen Covey must be a secret- actually, I recall people definitely not wanting to reveal where they got their scents, when it was from her.

I don't typically review perfume and I am very much an amateur when it comes to fragrance so please keep that in mind. When I first sampled this, I found the animalic top notes overwhelming. I was reminded of a damp basement inhabited by wild animals. On my second wear weeks later, however, that sharp unpleasant smell wasn't present, replaced by something smoother and rounder, more intoxicating. As it dried down this perfume became a hypnotic dance between the animalic notes and a sweet rose. Not saccharine, but the kind of sweetness you start to notice in vegetables when you don't eat sugar for a while. The rest of the notes all blend together for me, this perfume smells complex but harmonious to my nose. I'm finding it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I'm not sure why it smelled so different at first but I am assuming the local weather, as the humidity has increased significantly since I first sampled it.

Upon first whiff out of the box.... WOOF! But after a year or so of going back to the spray bottle every day just to get a whiff of this enigma... I can't go to bed without it! Skanky and animalic, like sneaking out to a farm at night to smoke pot with your friends or get frisky with your lover. Easygoing but unapologetic, this is a perfect fragrance for an open air concert or festival or a trip ;) with friends

This is a fragrance that to me is very green and earthy. It tantalizes the senses with its blend of intriguing notes. It combines the fresh and green aroma of Davana and patchouli with the a warm, furry allure of musk. Adding layers of complexity are introduced through the inclusion of balsam, champaca (which I love!) and lily, although the lily to my nose is not strong. The woodsy, crushed green notes create an alluring yet grounding fragrance. That reminds me of Spring, walking through a garden where the aroma of weeds crushed beneath your feet mixes with the first blooms of the season. Definitely a Forest/outdoors unisex scent that to me signals the fresh Spring after a cold, grey winter. I love it, projection is good with decent sillage.

Very animalic rose. Definitely has that "barnyard" smell at the opening (I know I HATE that word being used but ya know). The rose really shines through later. More enjoyable than I actually expected tbh but I feel like it's missing a little something. If you're into very vintage roses this is for you!!!! I'm not the biggest rose fiend (don't dislike it's just not a flower I gravitate toward unless I find a complete banger!!!) So this is just not something I would purchase but I can see this really being rocked by someone classy who goes to places like the opera or something

Opens with a sharp rubbery scent but dries down into a really fun scent that I can totally see in the 60s/70s hippie era. I’m a millennial so I have no idea, but it’s surely a fun scent that has me picturing the circus. There’s a candy note surrounded by messy, sweaty humans having a good time. It’s not a dirty fragrance though. It’s fresh and fruity but also woody and animalic.

So animalic and earthy. My girlfriend says it's a little sweaty

Beware: this is my first review ever, so I am definitely not an expert or good at describing scents yet! I’ll try my best, though! Out of all the fragrances I’ve been trying lately, this one for some reason drove me to write a review. Probably because it’s so unique and different from the mainstream perfumes I’ve been trying. I’m not sure why, but initially I’m getting hints of something urinous... even cat-litter-ish? Reminds me strongly of cleaning out a used litter box; maybe that’s the civet. I haven’t had much experience with civet, so couldn’t say for sure. Pushing past that, the ginger note jumps out at me— warm and spicy, earthy and almost wet. Now, a few minutes later, the nose-hair-burning urine note has tamed, and I can smell a very delicate, cool rose. It’s a damp rose— wet with early morning dew. It slowly deepens, warming up with the rising sun, drying off, dusty rivulets setting in the heat. There’s definitely a litter box nearby still, the heat causing its contents to leach that familiar smell into the air... to my untrained nose, at least. Then lastly, I can smell a little tobacco. There’s something about this that’s kind of sweet. The rose, perhaps? Smelling it from afar, it makes me think of food. But then I get closer and the litter box completely wipes that out. Unique scent, but not something I could pull off. Maybe I’m not cool enough yet ;)

Similar to Prolixe by Histoires de Parfums, but with the sharp 'twang' rounded out and more animalics brought to the fore. I somewhat prefer Prolixe's take on this sort of fragrance, but I do feel that this (used somewhat sparingly) might be a better office/subdued scent. It grows in complexity as one wears it, with the rose, ginger, and tobacco simmering up through the civet and musk. 6/10

garden store mulch bag that very quickly turns into just pure baby powder. what a strange scent. the strangest part was the decanter itself; i got it as a free sample weeks ago and only just now managed to get the thing open with much more effort than i'm used to. can't really say it was worth it but at least i know what it smells like now.

A gloomy musky rose on me this one, the tobacco is present but doesn't lend a nice smelling "moist virginia tobacco" but more a darker earthier tone, perhaps in conjunction with the patchouli. There is a little bit of spice here adding some intrigue, and the civet is quite obvious but well balanced by the rose. I like dark fragrances usually, but I find this one a little depressing on my skin rather than contemplative or uplifting like many of her others, and for that reason I'll not move from sample to bottle.

Animalistic, heady rose. Patchouli in the background. This is warm, heavy, and sort of sweet. Too much civet for me. Urine. For a rose fragrance by Olympic Orchids, I far prefer Ballet Rogues. For civet, I far prefer Mardi Gras by the same house, where the civet blends in. Whereas in Cryptical Envelopment, the civet stands out.