Carbon [6C]

From a brand with such an avant-garde aesthetic and conceptual approach to fragrance, one would probably expect a series of over the top creations, weird compositions and anti-perfumes. Au contraire, Nu_Be is ALL about wearability, practicality and comfort. Yes, they have a couple (maybe three) more abstract fragrances in their range but, for the most part, their line is made of no-nonsense and extremely solid stuff. Carbon is probably the peak of them all. Delivered by super-talented perfumer Francoise Caron who previously worked for the likes of Hermes, Acqua Di Parma, Christian Lacroix, Comme Des Garcons and Thierry Mugler among many others, Carbons is basically a cardamom-driven fragrance built around a sandalwood-iris bone structure. It feels familiar and brings to mind of several other fragrances yet, at the same time, it is so nicely blended to also feel refreshing, comforting and incredibly likable / wearable. The fragrance is pervaded by a nice creamy / waxy effect thourghout which paired to the slightly powdery presence provided by the iris, give birth to an interesting opaque mix of smooth radiant woods (mainly sandalwood) and warm spices juxtaposed to the freshness of greenish-notes and ginger. Again, as in most other fragrances by this house, Carbon's main point of strength is the sense of restraint which make of it a perfect option for several different occasions. A very nice all-rounder and a great example that a fragrance, first of all, has to smell good. Solid. Some Keywords: Gucci Envy For Men, Opus II, Salvatore Ferragamo Pour Homme, L'Autre, Costume National Homme, Blue Encens, Comme Des Garcons Original EDP. Rating: 7-7.5/10

I am very impressed. "Carbon 6C" is a deliciously good sandalwood fragrance - it starts as the one of the most amazing things I've tried - creamy, rich, full of life. Very spicy yet subtle, loud yet elegant, sweet though also masculine. It has so many edges that it's hard to describe what I am sensing, it has such a creamy, amazing orris and sandalwood accord that it's hard to resist. The dry down wraps you like a blanket, the spices are blent in perfectly, I am left with warm, inviting and sensual sandalwood. Perfect.

omaggio al paper recentemente accettato dalla rivista omonima. si tratta di un accordo molto gradevole per lo più speziato; le decise note iniziali sono di cardamomo: forte, intenso, mangereccio. il profumo cede quindi, lentamente, il posto ad un sentore di iris e zenzero, notevolissimo. il fondo è un sandalo, classico sì, ma persistentemente spicy in cui si distinguono anche cumino e coriandolo. assolutamente unisex.

Although I like it especially the dry down, this is not a smell that I'd like to have on me. This house is quite weird like Zarkoperfume and Escentric Molecules. I won't refer to specific notes because it's nothing like the natural smell of cardamom, sandalwood and pepper. These ingredients have a futuristic-synthetic-industrialistic smell. The dominant combo of "cardamom", "sandalwood" and "pepper" along with the mild "ginger" create this realistic pencil shavings effect. Again, nothing smells natural here but it's pleasant. Carbon is one of the strongest of NU_BE with great versatility, year round use no matter the weather. The opening is a mixture of strong fresh pencil shavings with BO, a light -fortunately- smell of armpits. In 5-7 minutes the BO smell vanishes and remain a dominant woody/citrusy note of fresh, spicy pencil shavings. It's quite artistic the scent but I don't want to smell like that. Performance is good. Longevity is high-moderate, sillage is moderate. If you love a futuristic and strange scents give it a try.

Editing my original review for a more realistic one. Carbon's good, but it's not great. It opens with a fresh dose of cardamom that smells spicy and a little sweet, but soon after it hits a sweaty note that smells like too much cumin or coriander was added to the mix. The pencil shaving/cedar stage then settles in and though it smells nice, it's nothing remarkable or something you haven't already smelled in Gucci Pour Homme, Carbone de Balmain, or the original Tommy Bahama. Carbon's greatest assets comes in the dry down, as a creamy, smooth sandalwood emerges and blends immaculately with a rich, rooty iris note. This is my favorite aspect of Carbon and I only wish it was preceded by a better middle stage. Thumbs up for what is probably nu_be's best offering, but I'm not totally enthusiastic about Carbon. It's not different enough to maintain my interest, or good enough to make me disregard its familiarity.