Cross River Gorilla

This is a nice everyday fragrance. Reminds me of Y (edp) by YSL and Uomo Born in Roma by Valentino. It has that same vibe. Aroma made for the masses.

Pleasantly surprised. It’s fresh with just a little bit of sweetness. It’s good for summer nights or fall/spring.

Today I'm exploring a fragrance house that is entirely new to me: Sanctuary. The brand's excellent mission statement—naming its fragrances after endangered species and donating 20% of its sales to conservation efforts—is a compelling and ethical foundation worth applause. Given my preference for scents with apple accords, I acquired a decant of Cross River Gorilla to see what the house had to offer. Let's get into it and see what we're working with. Opening: The opening is a complex interplay of fruit, aromatics, and wood. The primary notes I perceive are green apple, cardamom, sage, and vetiver, with the green apple and cardamom being the most prominent. The green apple provides an initial, juicy, and sweet accord that is nuanced by a subtle tartness, reminiscent of an authentic green apple and strikingly similar in tone to the green apple note found in Parfum de Marly's Greenley. This is quickly followed by the cardamom, which envelops the apple in a warm, spicy, and subtly camphorous shroud. Its character is distinct from the more generic cardamom notes found in many designer fragrances, feeling more natural and refined. Up next is the sage and vetiver. The sage serves to contribute a peppery aromatic element and help add further counterbalance to the striking green apple accord. Lastly, the vetiver establishes a foundational layer of green, dusty woodiness for the rest of the notes to work from. Dry Down: The fragrance's evolution leads to a dry down that is overtly aromatic, woody, and green. At this stage, the most discernible notes are sage, red sandalwood, vetiver, and violet leaves, with the red sandalwood and vetiver now emerging as the dominant components. The vetiver occupies a central position, projecting an amplified dose of the green, dusty woodiness that was present in the opening. Concurrently, the red sandalwood rises to prominence, imparting a subtle woodiness without the creamy textures typically associated with sandalwood. This is followed by the sage and violet leaves. The sage persists as a background element, maintaining its peppery aroma. Lastly, the violet leaves introduce a faint but noticeable ozonic and verdant tinge. Performance: Initial projection is strong, radiating outward approximately six feet for the first hour. The sillage matches this intensity, leaving an easily noticeable scent trail. After three to four hours, the projection diminishes to a range of three to four feet, with the scent trail becoming lighter but still noticeable. At the seven to eight-hour mark, the fragrance had already receded to a skin scent, indicating that its more assertive performance subsides around the five- to six-hour mark. When to Wear: Cross River Gorilla is a spring/summer fragrance best suited for daytime wear. Its versatility is notable, as its profile is fitting for a range of occasions, from casual outings to more formal events. It may also be appropriate for an office environment, provided it is applied judiciously. Blind Buy: Given its aromatic, fruity, and woody character, this fragrance can be considered a safe blind buy for enthusiasts of scents in the vein of YSL Y EDP. While it does not replicate the fruit-forward nature of YSL's offering in the dry down and possesses less formidable projection and longevity, it resides within a similar olfactory category. Final Verdict: Upon initial application, the fragrance presented a surprisingly vibrant and compelling green apple note. This, in conjunction with the sage and woods, suggested a sophisticated reinterpretation of the YSL Y EDP DNA. However, the subsequent transition into a vetiver-heavy dry down proved to be a point of personal disappointment, as I do not possess a particular fondness for that note. Also, while the performance is commendable, it does not possess the longevity required to endure a full workday without reapplication. In summation, I consider Cross River Gorilla to be an admirable and well-constructed fragrance, but it does not provide a compelling reason for me to acquire it, given that its stylistic territory is already occupied by my bottle of YSL Y EDP. Consequently, I will not be adding it to my personal collection. However, I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to try a fresh, aromatic fragrance that flies under the radar. Scent: 7/10 Longevity: 6/10 Sillage: 6/10 Versatility: High Mass Appeal: High Gender: Masculine Value: Fair

Got a sample of this and wow the opening is so juicy and fantastic. It has that fresh generic aquatic smell with and added uniqueness I haven’t smelled anywhere else personally it smells almost like sour candy it’s so good. It lasts about 4-5 hours, I sprayed 5 sprays. I think it’s worth buying or at least sampling it is a little expensive for what you get but 20% goes to the helping of endangered gorillas so that’s a plus!

Got a sample I would say it lasted about 1 hour before I had to sniff really hard to smell it. Thats why I made it okay. Smells great when you first spray.

Solid purchase, a scent that could really be used whenever and wherever. I'd usually use it for warm summer nights and spring days, but I'd happily rock this in the middle of January. The scent itself is pretty fresh with some spicy undertones, with a fruity addition for a light-hearted nature. Unrelated to the scent, but amazing to see a company in this market making such good and ethical choices. Worth every penny, especially for this company in particular. 8/10