Fundamental

Rubini opens with an unusual, tangy, realistic white wine note, and then goes into a dusty, lightly spiced, soft tan woody scent, maybe a little honeyed or touched with summer wildflowers. Then it dries out substantially and goes more purely woody, while retaining that warm fragrant quality amid curls of smoke. Not a pencil-shavings “cedar” but a rich, ruddy, precious wood with a contemplative incense facet. I suspect there’s real sandalwood in this. Then it dries out substantially and goes more purely woody, while retaining that warm fragrant quality amid curls of smoke. Not a pencil-shavings “cedar” but a rich, ruddy, precious wood with a contemplative incense facet. I suspect there’s real sandalwood in this. The white-wine note comes back to the fore next, this time blended with the honey, and starts to meld nicely with that warm cedar-sandalwood core. I get just a hint of warm, dry lavender – I think of bees buzzing over a summer meadow – as part of the overall golden effect. Finally, it settles back down to that dusty, softly-spiced wood chord from the opening; a place of rest and reflection. Again, I’m getting a sense of Cristiano Canali’s recurrent themes. He tends to do syrupy & rich floral sweetness, “cut” with something grounding. In Bee and Civet it was honey and amber (respectively) cut with animalic musks; in Romanza it was narcissus cut with oakmoss; in Tambour Sacre it was sweet tuberose cut with coffee. In Fundamental it’s honeyed white wine cut with fragrant woods. Honestly I love every variant on this theme. Always satisfying, never excessive. I’m a big fan of Fundamental. It’s highly original (what else has a white wine note?) and it may have become my favorite sandalwood-forward warm-woods scent of all time. More modern than Bois des Iles, more unisex and drier than Trayee, more complex and subtle than Canfield Cedar. Fundamental is a rich, honeyed, nuanced take on sandalwood that feels wise and worldly rather than straightforwardly cuddly or cozy.

Fundamental, a fragrance with a name that befits its essence, presents a captivating olfactory journey. The initial burst of mandarin, Calabrian bergamot, and delicate flowers establishes a fresh and invigorating introduction. As the scent evolves, the heart notes of Tuscan iris, orris root, and white grapes weave a sophisticated floral tapestry, holding attention with its intricate layers. Moving into the base, cedar, sandalwood, leather, and Java vetiver create a grounding and warm foundation. The inclusion of Java vetiver, described with a touch of "dirtiness," paradoxically becomes an element of fascination. This unique character adds an intriguing and unconventional facet to the fragrance, making it stand out in the realm of scents. Fundamental takes you through a journey from bright and uplifting top notes to an intricate floral heart and finally to a lingering and grounded base. The conflict expressed towards Java vetiver reveals the complexity of scent appreciation—an interplay of contrasting emotions. In essence, Fundamental transcends being just a blend of notes; it is an exploration of contrasts that marries the familiar with the exotic. The name aptly captures the essence of this fragrance—a foundational and essential addition to the olfactory landscape. Whether it's the delicacy of florals or the intriguing allure of Java vetiver, Fundamental elicits a unique and personal response, making it a standout and intriguing choice for those who appreciate complexity in their scents.

It is imperative that I write a review about Fundamental. Now, you may think that a word like “imperative” is a bit much, but I assure you it isn't. Reaching for Fundamental was a happy accident. I was trying to find something woody from my collection that I will admit is starting to become overwhelming. I don't know what I have anymore and I don't know how to stop. But that's beside the point! I threw my hands and just grabbed a bottle I haven't tried yet. It is overcast outside and I was hoping whatever this was that it smelled appropriate for the current weather. I could not have asked for anything better! Even though there is no apple in the composition, I get a beautiful apple pastry connotation. A little bit of tartness does it for me. It is coming from white grape! I've never seen that before, but people need to use that more often. It is delectable! Sweet and tart in a very natural way. Yes there is iris, but I barely notice it. It's not powdery or waxy by any means. The same for the beeswax. Everything is blended beautifully. I get a gentle texture of cashmere mixing with a tasteful amount of sweetness. The sandalwood and cedar are the foundation of the composition. Again blended beautifully. Nothing overpowers anything else. I would say the name is a perfect representation of this fragrance. It is Fundamental. Foundational. It's the signature of the family behind the brand.

Based on the previous reviews here I was a bit skeptical but thankfully I was offered a sample of Fundamental with other stuff i purchased. Folks, this stuff is damn gooood!!! Now I can understand why guys like Colognoisseur, Perfume Junkies, Octavian Coifan and Others give this scent such a praise. It is well deserved. The smell is so sparkling as you spray it, with the almost euphorical tartness of bergamot and tangeringe. I was amazed also by the floral notes pairing top quality neroli and lavender which I both adore. It screams out pure class and elegance yet the fruity notes of White grape (and such a realistic one!) keep floating around giving it a playful mood. Woods in the base and iris butter make it so comfortable and longlasting I could get waffs of iris powder and honeyed sandalwood after 10 hours. This is definitely what's a monster longevity. Bravo Rubini!!! I immediately got my bottle of Fundamental and hope you will keep on making such beautiful creations!

I managed to find the OG version of this a few years back, and I am so glad to have this in my collection, and so when I heard there was a NEW version of this, I just HAD to try it out -- which I did today, and I am pleased to note that I canNOT detect any differences at all -- none whatsoever -- it's exactly as wonderful and lovely as the original I tried 6 or 7 years ago, which makes me superhappy because I don't need to rush out and buy it! It's a wonderful iris plumped up with iso-e (I think???), and it just WORKS -- nothing much more to say, it's got the right amount of beeswax (it sometimes turns plastic to my nose) as well as citrus to spruce up the florals. I loved it back then and I still love it now. Definitely recommend this one!