Top Shelf

New Zealand; Wairarapa town. A typical "craft" brand of a certain nice and open woman who uses some ingredients in her perfumes to be obtained only from New Zealand. This fragrance is rather for men and it was with them in mind, or rather a certain "he" that Elise created it. Ingredients: - Notes of totara extract - a tree that grows only in New Zealand (podocarpus totara) - New Zealand amber, - "burnt" amber, - leather, - civet, - ash, - Onyx musk ("black musk") - tobacco absolute. "The four words "Top Shelf please Ma'am" poured from his mouth like a sugar cube poisoned by one too many bitters. How I wish I knew this stranger who was sitting in front of me. His hat lay on the oiled bar, his worn leather coat a little more rugged than his gaze, sending a twinge up my spine. I glance his way. He looks like he’s been riding for days, his collar ashen from the fire. He tucks his pipe between his parched lips. The air around him isn’t nearly as dry, a haze of rich smoke envelops it. My heart beats in time with his fingers drumming on the rum-soaked glass. I miss the caress of his fat jawbone, covered in stubble from a hard day. If he really is a good man, he’s too far out of my reach. He’s top-shelf.” I was sooo curious about them. I was inspired to try this scent by a couple from overseas who have similar preferences to mine. So they came from New Zealand, and they’re great to me. The scent is veeeery smoky, dark and slightly animalistic... "furry" in the reception (in this respect it reminds me a bit of the animal from Dragon Blood Bud Parfums). The scent is dominated by smoke, tobacco... I have the impression of strong and essential tobacco mixed with tobacco that is already partially burned and still smoking. In the back there is aromatic, dry dust from burnt wood and something else (similar to Sohrab-The Fragrance Engineers, Mr. Prin Lomros for me). In the darkness, against the background of these scents, a quite pleasant fluffy animal moves. Using this perfume for the last 2 days, it reminded me of Prin's work (that's exactly how I feel). Longevity 12 hours (which also surprised me a lot), projection very good. The perfume is really very well made and mixed. I really liked it.

~global wearing, bottle Fantastic scent in pre-reformulated Leather Oud Dior vein. Maybe also Montecristo Masque Milano, but Montecristo is much drier and not that sweaty. Top Shelf is more smoky, more resinous, gives me a little bit of retro women perfume and not listed opoponax. Dries down mostly to civet and musk. Slightly lighter than I expected judging by notes, however it's still very succesful blind buy for me (which I'm not a big fan of). //edit 29.08 This became my favourite, quality is outstanding, blending is fantastic and it delivers in terms of longevity/projection (if you care). Currently in my top. And it's not light, it's perfectly heavy - you need 1-2 sprays only. //edit 23.09 This is simply best thing I've smelled in 2024 so far. I'm getting fb for sure. I haven't smell anything this good, considering mix of tobacco and civet or even animalics overall. It surprasses my expectations.

Powerhouse fragrance. It's masculine, smoky, little dirty sweat-ish and smells so fantastic. Got to be in the mood for it but it sets the bar for a confident bad man's fragrance. I mean come on, smoke, whisky, little dirty grim, well worn wool trench coat.

To wear this kind of perfume you have to test it first this not for baying blindly. One of the most strong scent with a heavy animalic ,sweet, smoke It’s remind me of hidden box for my grand ma was closed for ages . It’s a winter scent it’s so strong with single note , it’s something different and unique but not for me .

This fragrance is a beast. I’m addicted to the sweet and animalic composition. It’s definitely not an everyday kind of thing, but it is beautiful and completely accurate to the description. Price is great for this kind of quality.