Pierre de Velay No. 1

This is a absolute stunner in my opinion. I wouldn't think you could do Rose, Oud and saffron any differently as it's been done hundreds of times however this is an amazing blend that I can't seem to get enough of. The citrus in the top is typical of Roja as it's only around for a short while. Once the Bergamot dissipates it gives way to a beautiful combination of Rose, Oud, saffron and Ambergris , all of which are very pronounced. It lasts on my skin for 10+ hours easily. It is absolutely an attention getting fragrance. I realize it is not an inexpensive fragrance however this is absolutely one have no problem paying the Roja premium for this beauty!

This is (quite possibly) the greatest fragrance ever created. It has a similar sweet base to Amber Aoud mixed with the florals of 23 from this range. It lasts and it’s brilliant. Now to get a bottle...

The dry down is where the magic begins!!

I am quite perplexed at the huge fanfare this fragrance has in the PdV lineup. While I have 5 of them (4, 9, 23, 25 and Essence Rare) and adore them all this one has always mystified me. I have tried it about 12 times on my wrist but always came away with the impression that it was OK but I would never wear it, and never have because it never gets beyond my wrist! I prefer ouds in the style of the Xerjoff XJ Attars or Fragrance du Bois Borneo Oud, which are exotic, floral, animal, whatever, but are not saffron/leather forward like this one is, with that kind of burned rubber oud. It isn't bad at all and is quite pleasant at times, but there are strange notes of peanut shells, vaseline or petroleum jelly, and a thick bed of charred leather that always have me saying 'no'. I like dark animalistic scents and have PDLN 2 and many others from different brands, but this isn't even that dark and animalistic, just too leathery with a strange peanut shell accord always hovering in the background. I have been deliberating over this and Amber Aoud, and Amber Aoud is the clear winner, so much more complex, sleek, profound, always changing, while this one just settles to a dirty thick burned leather that lasts forever, to the extent that I want to wash it off. Not without its merits, but just not my speed. The Oud is cleaner and prettier, but also suffers from the same problem of hiding the oud behind strong leather/saffron notes. Again, not my thing.

Not really anything special, maybe some resemble to UAE or Taif Aoud but I found them to be better blended. You get rose, westernized light oud, saffron and salty ambergris. But there is not a lot going on and not something I need to own. Pleasant scent tho.