Pierre de Velay No. 4

PdV 4 may be one of the best, if not the best fragrance in the PdV lineup, depending, of course on your tastes. What makes it stand out amongst other boozy fragrances, say from Kilian or Xerjoff, is that the rum note is in the base and persists for the entire life of the fragrance. It opens with a kind of spice rum and raisin vibe but balanced with the sage and cardamom, which gives it some aromatic lift. The bergamot gives it a little sparkle, and the bay leaf a kind of nutmeg aspect, but what becomes apparent rather quickly is an airy powdery quality , contributed by the rose mid. Into the dry down it becomes more resinous and musky, but the spicy rum, vanilla, and cooling cardamom are still strong. This fragrance is best suited for cooler weather but can be worn as a signature scent because it stands out amongst boozy fragrances for being 'not just a date night scent'. In that regard it has the versatility and composure of Kilian's Straight to Heaven, but is less woody, if at all, powdery, and somewhat darker and richer. This is pure class, totally original, and sexy as it gets, but also versatile enough to where for any occasion. An absolute winner for me.

Pierre de Velay No. 4 is a boozy, aromatic amber with a lot of depth and character. Right from the initial spray you’re greeted by a punchy rum accord which is somehow smooth yet bitter at the same time. This is accompanied by ultra-realistic aromatics of bay leaf and sage which add a contrasting herbaceous quality to the rum. As it settles on the skin, warm cardamom and creamy sandalwood emerge as the rum powers on. A soft rose is present in the heart, which is only very subtle but adds that gentle softness to round everything out. The rum, bay leaf, cardamom and sage are the most prominent notes in the scent which all rest on the base of a classic amber accord - made up of benzoin, vanilla and labdanum. Combining a boozy accord with herbaceous notes is a brave and unconventional creative choice, however Roja has executed it perfectly here. This is such a unique and addicting scent profile with one of the best rum accords I’ve smelled - it also goes without saying that the quality of ingredients is impeccable as you’d expect. A true masterpiece.

Maybe my new signature. The real Pierre de Velay must be kicking himself for not making this.

Smells like Dior's Vanilla Diorama mixed with a bay leaf note that I can't get past. Kinda disappointed with this one personally, but if you like bay leaf then you'll like the rest of the composition.

Leans into the benzoin note strongly with some sage, bay leaf, and labdanum being the strongest notes after it. Can't detect any rose and maybe get a hint of sandalwood. Well blended but I don't think the scent profile warrants the trouble of finding this for sale these days

This is a muted tangy powdery scent that also has a floral, nutmeg/cinnamon powder & vanilla smell. Its smoothly put together and no one ingredient is dominant; however, the vanilla is likely its strong suite.

Keen to buy a bottle. Message me please