Martyr

Martyr – I really enjoy being pleasantly surprised among the hundreds of scents I encounter, many of which feel derivative, mediocre, copied, bland, and lacking any sense of storytelling as they project on the skin. This time, the fragrance truly surprised me... and in a hugely positive way. Starting with the name – a brilliant idea, followed by an even better concept and execution of the bottle design. And then the juice itself: the composition/blend, longevity... What intrigued me the most, though, was the evolution over time, which I perceive as a coherent story. There’s also a sense of maturity and craftsmanship from the creator that ties it all together. Bravo. I’m doubly satisfied, even more so because the scent truly aligns with my specific taste. I absolutely LOVE perfume brand debuts like this. Instead of a few “meh” scents, we get a solid “TA-DA!” The perfume opens strong and dark – for me, it evokes the smell of smoldering wood burning near... a factory. Over time, the scent becomes increasingly woody, with a darker aroma reminiscent of an old forest, damp undergrowth. In the drydown, I see a picture forming of brighter resinous, woody, and green notes emerging – especially oakmoss – although the smoky opening still lingers, like a powerful inhale of scent that stays in your nostrils and on your clothes from the beginning. This is a really cool creation, with an interesting evolution and truly good, or maybe even great, performance. The opening somewhat reminded me of Black Tar (Parfumerie Particulière), and also a bit of Incendo (La Curie). Highly recommended – and major applause to the Artist behind this work.

"Are there any perfumes that remind you of Saint Sebastian? That evoke the images of him tied to a tree, impaled with arrows, in transcendant ecstacy and/or pain?"- idiotghost Martyr by Profundum smells exactly as this anonymous user described. It's heavy and it's rough, yet it manages to bring me some comfort. This fragrance smells like a like religious trauma or like a soul of an atheist with a very religious past, enchanted in a perfume bottle. It's a truly interesting perfume. Also, it reminds me a bit of Vi et Armis by BeauFort London, but without that irritating to some herbal note, that I suppose is meant to be opium. On the side note, it's quite surprising to me that this perfume had it's premiere in June and not in some colder month. It's not a summer scent at all, and I suggest that anyone who thinks otherwise should become a martyr themselves for the greater good. Edit.: hey, so I just wanted to add that I'm a hypocrite and I've already worn this fragrance twice this summer. Both times in the evening, but still, in the summer. Don't get me wrong, I still don't think it's a summer perfume, but surprisingly it worked out pretty well both times. Probably because of it's absolute lack of sweetness, characteristic for most heavy fragrances.

Love from the first try. A burned down church in the middle of the forest. Initially I get this blast of sharp metallic tingles in my nose, as if it was nails burned in a campfire. Then, the scent settles more into this beautiful charred wood. It is very realistic, yet still creative. The fragrance is not linear, it progresses with you throughout the day. What is interesting, is that it is one of my most complimented perfumes. I get comments about how pleasant and interesting the smoke feel is. When I tell people what are the notes, they usually act surprised such a combination can smell so pleasant. It seems unapproachable, but it is such a nicely composed and blended work that it truly is quite approachable. Yes, it is still very dark, and definitely not for everyone, but for a right person it will be an amazing perfume to compliment a dark outfit.

This is what black metal smells like! But seriously, it’s the scent of rebellion and love for nature. At first, you’re hit by a fresh-spicy, and even slightly metallic blast, but it quickly transforms into a smoky, leathery, charcoal-like, and forest-like scent. Like a bonfire in a Norwegian woods. You can smell the pines, other trees, and resins all around. After a few hours, the fragrance calms down significantly and becomes an ode to nature and forests. It smells resinous, woody, fresh, and green and alive, as if the forest itself is rising from ashes. To me, it’s a journey from rebellion to acceptance, from destruction to rebirth... The scent feels very natural yet quite heavy. The performance is excellent, with strong projection at first, gradually softening with each passing hour.

My first ever blind buy, and what a buy it was! I love the idea of smoky and earthy scents, but usually they end up just being overbearing in person. However Martyr manages to feel slightly light within that darkness. The name is truly perfect, a dark struggle but with heavenly absolution. The longer I’ve had this scent the more it takes on new shapes for me. The first ever whiff was only woodsmoke (a really nice one though). Now it’s a symphony of smoke, some light metallics, a top note that’s almost cola and a lush base of moss. I’ve noticed that the moss becomes almost too much in rainy weather, so I would recommend this more as a wintery scent. This is truly a scent that can manage to change the way you feel, in the same way that a song is able to. Oh how I love it!