Paithani

Coffee King down below pretty much described my exact thoughts on Paithani, the "spiced cologne on an aged leather jacket" association is very apt. I actually really liked this one when I got my decant but chose not to go for a full bottle because it was too reminiscent of some cologne my dad used to wear 10 or 15 years ago. That being said, it's still completely unisex. To me, Paithani is spicy, "dry" and somewhat exotic without being overwhelming. Cardamom and leather are the most prominent with other spices supporting those two, and the milky quality is very subtle but definitely makes the scent more interesting. Not sure how to rate its staying power, it feels like it fades away after 3 hours or so after I spray it, however, if I wear it before bed, I can always smell it on myself again when I wake up in the morning. I guess it isn't weak after all, just subtle and easy for my nose to adapt to. For me, Paithani was the fragrance that made me realize I can really (really!) enjoy leather in perfumes. And it just smells amazing and is very well-balanced. Maybe I will get a full bottle one day.

I absolutely love it, and never thought it could be unisex until I saw the rating here today. I thought it was very feminine. Thinking of it, yes it is unisex in the sense that it doesn’t push it’s image either way, not in the sense that it has any bitterness or coldness. Smells incredibly warm and beautiful, I get a lot of leather, spices and milk. But this is not for the faint of heart; it is extremely potent, and will knock you out if you’re not expecting it and even one full spray is too much for me, I filled a sample vial with it and use the tiniest amount left on the stopper every time. Needless to say at this point do NOT blind buy this, I can imagine many people not even being able to stand this. But it’s an incredibly original creation and I will cherish my bottle I guess forever lol. Lastly, if it helps anyone, I have always hated spice heavy or oud-like eastern style perfumes with very few exceptions but this one has sorf of been my baby steps into that genre of perfume. A true love it or hate it scent.

Penhaligon’s Paithani opens with a strong spicy component, with cardamom, nutmeg and pepper. The leather note immediately mixes with spicy and woody notes. It is a strong, enveloping, pungent perfume. There is a touch of mate that immediately binds to notes of milk, reminiscent of uncooked milk, still in the carton. There is a slight acidic component. The lightest notes are rose, sweet, and labdanum, which helps to give a slight dustiness to the composition. Ambergris brings a sticky and balsamic thickness in the drydown. The leather note is strongly pronounced, especially in the drydown. I call this the brown leather, the one I like. It is one of those perfumes notes come together so well it is difficult to separate and recognize them from each other.

Ah, Good!! This is Halfeti's sexy sister. Equally spicy and full of warmth and notes fighting for attention, but it has a soapy, aldehidic clean but sexy base. Old fashioned, energetic and exciting. I love it. I think of a victorian rebel wearing this, Mary Shelley.... I'm wearing it now in a hot day with the wind open and having sprayed it this AM still whiffs with the breeze. Gorgeous.

Chai latte and warm suede. Soft and delicious but I need to over-spray to get decent longevity. Very pretty and I feel this is likely to be universally appealing. The only negative (which I suppose is why it was discontinued so quickly after being released) is the longevity & sillage. Currently midwinter here so I'm hoping for great things come summer. The bottle is delightful! :-) Updated to say that the longevity is actually good if you are content with a gentle strength. It comes up throughout the day in soft, chiffony wafts. I find myself reaching for this more and more often. I am so very glad I took a chance on this discontinued gem. Thoroughly charming.

I definitely do get the leather note here, it is very prominent, cardamon and nutmeg are also very present, the milk note is lost on me. Regardless of that, this is a very refined fragrance, very classy, perfect for a formal occasion. In terms of performance v cost, I'd say it's disappointing, for the price tag I would have hoped for better performance, sillage was weak, and performance was about three hours. It smells great, it's intriguing, and conjures up the smell of spiced cologne on an aged leather jacket. I really like it, I just wish it performed better.

Got this yesterday, the cardamom and milk notes are just like the Indian milk fudge! And finally a cedar note that is not that dry and woody on me but blend just right. The spices are not overwhelming but slightly cooling and sweet and slightly edgy. It does smell Indian. It leaves a soft spiced wood skin scent. Nice.

This actually reminds me of their own Countess Dorothea; the rose-leather only comes in the beginning, and then completely blends in half an hour later leaving mostly the savory spices until milkiness surface. *Don't believe the current votes, try it for yourself.

I love cardamom and spicy perfumes in general, but this just isn’t working for me. I think the milky note is what’s creating a bit of a sour, musty smell alongside the leather. It mello s out a bit in the drydown, but I am largely disappointed because the idea of a rosy chai sounded so promising.

Just too spicy or leathery not for me, it smells similar to by the fireplace by replica even though they have different notes.

I don’t feel exactly leather - maybe just a bit of labdanum. It's most similar to Mancera Hindu Kush (HK is greener), due to the distinct and already done to death amber wood base they share, with a bit of Zadig & Voltaire This is Her (milk/lactones - the sour kind), which cardamom is trying to negotiate. There is a moment in the opening where I can feel a note similar to airy sandalwood, which I love love love (vs the thick cloying synthetic versions used for base notes) and is the best about this fragrance but it disappears immediately! If you like Mancera Hindu Kush, Mancera Precious Oud, Z&V This is Her, Phantom by Kilian, Amber Eccentrico by Armani, and you are not tired of amberwood base (like the Mancera type as in Aoud Vanille, Crazy for Oud, Amber Fever etc , but they seem too harsh), this is a very polite unisex alternative which might introduce you to the rest, should you become a fan and start chasing any one note in particular they share, that you need amplified. It smells NOTHING like Ambre Narguile. CH Nightfall Parchouli does. Oajan does. Dolcedesir does. Ambre d’Alexandrire does. Not this one. Me personally - I wish they replaced the Zadig lactone with Kissing burns lactones (or Xerjoff lactones) and the opening spark which disappears immediately retained and amplified. Then we are talking... For those who have ever tried the hot oil hair treatment which Avon used to sell decade(s) ago in small “planet spa” bottles, amber in color, named Secrets of India, the scent of which I’m obsessed with to this day and I’m turning every rock to find something resembling it - well ... Paithani is the first perfume I stumble upon, to even dare attempting being a candidate. If you happen to know what I'm talking about here and what I'm looking for as a scent in a perfume, please message me. It will be greatly appreciated. —— Very similar to Whisky&Cedarwood by Jo Malone , if you can’t get one, try the other

I don't really get the leather in this. Mostly cardamom and rose, tempered by a milky nutmeg. Delicately delicious but for the weak sillage and average longevity I can't justify the regular retail price. Closest thing to a rosy chai I've come across and I love that it's not too sweet or cumin-y. If anyone wants to sell a well-priced bottle that didn't work for them... EDIT: Actually, having finished my sample now and tried various other fragrances in between, I think the longevity of this was relatively good on my skin. It only seemed to get richer and more satisfying the more I used it and I will definitely be looking at full bottle. Further, over the last month or two I seem to have developed temporary (I hope) anosmia to most but not all fragrances. But not to Paithani. This fragrance just feels comforting, indulgent, not the run-of-the-mill and comfortably me. One of best discoveries of the year so far. EDIT 2 a couple of months later: Now have a full bottle. Love this fragrance so much. Always want to have a bottle and hope it never discontinues.

I love this, cardamom and pepper are definitely my notes, and so are labdanum, peru balm, rose, nutmeg...I own Chai from baruti and it's not like this. Chai is much more ginger and cinnamon and overall rich spice wise, this one is also rich but much more emphasis on the cardamom and leather. This is more masculine also. I do like this one a lot, but definitely prefer chai for various reasons. (It's more rich in spice, more concentrated in perfume, less masculine, more rose notes.) Really nice one though from penhaligon's definitely one to try if you like warm spicy chai style scents. ** 180+ samples for swap - check my customs, trading 20+ at a time. Eldo Libre 20 set also availale! UK only **

If Halfeti and The Blazing Mr.Sam are siblings, Paithani is their cousin. (I put Halfeti above all...) Paithani has more emphasis on milky-leather with cinnamic and balsamic undertones. True cold weather type scent. Smooth, warm, addictive, rich, a little sweet...From initial spray you get cardamom and leather, the leather is not the sharp and masculine kind that we know from Tom Ford for example. Where Paithani really shines most is the mid and drydown though. The milk note is spot on. Warm, a little sweet chai milk with cedar and nutmeg. IG: @talkaboutscents

It's like a sweet leather milky blend with doses of nutmeg, and cardamom. The mate, & amberwood ads some earthy note to the blend besides the spices, and i can't detect the red roses! It is quite a pleasant blend. Interesting.

I don't pick up much leather at all either. I get lush cedar, some cardamom and rose, definitely some nutmeg .. a bit of spice and even a bit of raspberry or plum? I love this scent.

Anyone know which parfumeur nosed this? Answered, finally, on 3/29/19: Alex Lee, who also nosed Agarbathi, another new Penhaligon's.