Tartan Cask

I have just completed a detailed review of the OG Tartan (please take a look if you get the chance), which I describe as a 'Scottish Fougere'. Here is my key Tartan excerpt which fundementally holds true in Cask - "It ultimately a very 'textural' fragrance. I can 'smell' the roughness of woven coarse wool textile, as if it were smothering my face and I was forced to breathe through it. With this comes aromas of old wood, a herbaciousness that is familiar yet not, and the dying embers of a fire." The core of this description resides in Cask, but this fragrance takes that and plops it into a charred wooden barrel that has been ageing whisky for years. Tartan Cask, for me, has taken a minor element in the original (smoke/aged woods), amplified it, and made it the star. And yeah, I love this one too.

This perfume makes my heart SING. It’s warm, but still damp in the way winter days can feel. As someone who is also nostalgic for my time spent in the UK, especially in the cold months, this scent makes me feel so happy. Wood smoke mixed with damp earth mixed with comforting wool and a hearty meal. I live somewhere hot and humid, and I LONG for days the weather gets chilly so I can break this and a hand knit sweater out.

Beautiful and smooth, deep and dense. On my skin, I get smoke, sandalwood, and moss is the most clear. Tobacco and a barley is also easily picked up, along with a spicy note (cardamom I think) and a earthy and woody patchouli. I get a slight powdery tone to it. Looking at the notes, I'm surprised there is no spices in the breakdown. It has a slight campfire vibe with that smoky note, and spicy and woody accords. Very pleasant and calming. The first minutes I wasn't a fan. I was on a 5/10 or 6/10. But it quickly revealed it's true intent, and i'm loving it. Where: very versatile. It's dense, but not overpowering. I'd say any situation. Work, casual, date, dinner party, important meeting, even a wedding. When: Fall/winter, day or night. Who: Anyone. Not for teens, but from 25+ I'd say. Personal score: 9/10. I give it the love, though the bread like smell is kind of weird, even though it is nice. I'd recommend sampling this if you like the idea of the notes. It's strangely addictive and quite dense.

I have a full bottle of the OG Tartan, and that'll be enough. I'm test wearing Tartan Cask now, and its too harsh. Certainly not an improvement on the original. I would recommend that if you wear this, don't sniff the points of application directly. Simply let the scent diffuse into the air naturally.

Sounds great on paper but did not smell at all the warm earthy scent I expected. The smoke is plasticky, the florals are sharp, and this whiskey note reads more like vodka or rubbing alcohol. Nothing of the bread aside from a slightly yeasty smell in the dry down. I really wanted to love this and gave it a couple wearings to give it a shot but I just never got there.