Fall Into Stars

I really find it hard to convey how much I love this fragrance. It's absolute magic, it's exemplary perfumery yada yada all that gushing stuff. In reality though it costs an absolute fortune and begs the question is any perfume worth dropping this kind of doe for? In a moment of weakness/stupidity....? Yes, I could be convinced. Obviously I'm not saying you are stupid if you buy this, because we all have our budgets and if you are a high roller then you can't get much better than this, truly. I mean there's plenty more expensive perfumes than this and if I had the money perhaps I would buy them all, but maybe I'd also drive a Ferrari and never wear the same pair of draws twice...? So there's that. The way it behaves on skin is amazing too. I mean initially I said about it 'filling a room' and being long lived on the strip and 'brutally strong' 'only one spray required' etc... but there's a clue in the expression there 'brutal' and that doesn't suggest a great perfume necessarily, certainly not what I'm looking for anyway. Fall into stars however only seems that way momentarily before settling into one of the most rewarding experiences only delivered by the very best perfumes in my wardrobe. I'd like to say this is only for special occasions but in reality I could wear it frequently and for any purpose and never tire of it's themes. I didn't quite know that straight away (like I said I thought it would be too strong) but wearing it today has cemented the positive feelings I had from first sniff. That first stiff is laden with oud, I mean characteristic, animalic, mild cheese, aged wood, fruits, dark booze it's a cracker and it just develops and develops. Crucially what Laudamiel has done here is make a modern seeming composition that has the heart of a middle eastern, oriental, oud attar, squarely front and centre. It has a honied depth which just keeps on giving. Then it shimmers into a gorgeous leather faceted, skin enhancement, with a huge amount of sweetness but never saccharine and no spikes from pink pepper or anything whatsoever in fact. The leather doesn't even bite, nor is it cliche smooth, you can't (at least I can't) smell any one particular material, it's a big rounded mass of a thing twinkling away like a fine cut opal or the stars the title has you falling into. Just feels like it might be a masterpiece. Thoroughly blown away by it... And being the cantankerous, misanthrope I am, I really didn't want to like it. I mean the flacon's looked average (they are actually lovely in person) the brand sort of came out of no where (don't they all?) what I mean is there's not the heritage story of a Nicholai for example. Also, I remember thinking 'she's pretty' at a lady in the pictures of the Strangelovenyc lab without realising it was Helena Christensen(!) Who is creative director. Not that it has any bearing but an interesting factoid I suppose. Also the sustainability aspect and choice of Oud as a focus may seem a bit passe now but having had a quick sniff of the other ones I can say that the quality and wonder carries through the line. The choice of Givaudan and specifically of Cool, renegade, perfumer Christophe Laudamiel was a wise one, as he seems to be teasing out the magic of oud and the other fine materials they have chosen to work with. I actually feel superior wearing it, not in a ego sense or flexing about opulent, pricey bottles or anything. I genuinely feel pity for others who don't (and really can't) smell better than me today. (wow that sounds patronising and needlessly competitive... haha) This is how I feel though, like greatness is emanating from my person. It's not fair. It's like taking an AK47 to a fist fight. If I come into some money I might buy the tiny bottle because Fall into Stars is too good not to. I think Oud lovers will like it's authenticity but I don't see it being a darling of the Attar crew. This is more about composition as as such will have a broad appeal. It's mesmerising, I am well and truly under it's spell. ps: Oh....Bless the lovely Tanja and Phine from Perfume Lounge in Amsterdam for giving me a precious sample of this stuff.

Fall Into Stars is my final Strangelove sample to try, and it is a contender for my favourite, second only to the iris-chocolate gem that is Melt My Heart. Featuring the high-quality oud that this house is known for, it is a rich, smooth, woody scent that features yellow florals prominently. The oud here is strong and dark, but not quite as pungent as in Dead of Night. It is multifaceted, at times amber-y, leathery, medicinal, woody and animalic. It is an unusual, slightly challenging composition, but is an unapologetic masterpiece. FIS has a balsamic, boozy opening, thanks to the dominant oud note that makes its presence felt from the beginning. Here, it resembles sweet amber, and rosy pink pepper adds spice. The opening of FIS brings to mind a wooden bowl of overripe fruit with a side of strong cheese, sprinkled with soft spices. It becomes dry and medicinal as it develops, the oud becoming more woody. At this point, it smells like an acupuncturist's office with old, dark wooden furniture. The yellow florals follow, hazy and pollen-y, adding soft sweetness. There is a grassiness to it here, perhaps due in part to the narcissus, resulting in a successful rendering of the whole flower. It is smooth and creamy, with vanilla adding sweetness to the florals as it develops further. The oud becomes increasingly leathery as FIS progresses, but the sweetness remains. I get some rosewood during the drydown phase - a lighter, sweeter woody note alongside the oud. Here, it almost shimmers, yet is smooth and well-blended. It fades to a musky, woody skin scent. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting. It is unisex, and is best worn in cold weather. FIS is well-rounded and full-bodied, decadent but refined - utterly elegant and just the right amount of sweet. It feels like an attar, given its rich, oily texture and strong concentration of natural-smelling ingredients. This, alongside the high-quality oud, gives more than a nod to Middle Eastern tradition. Intriguing, rewarding and opulently beautiful. 5/5.

Contemporary complexity, this mostly natural rare gem is exquisite and interesting. If you haven't had the chance to smell real oud this is a good place to start. The natural funk of oud is well tamed by sweet and sour notes that enhance the fragrance. It is very unique and long lasting, the only fragrance that has this depth and complexity and similarity (that I have come across so far) is Aoud by Roja. Both are luxurious, rich and exceptional, but Roja is the classic rose-oud combo whereas fall into stars is oud-rosewood which provides a more woody, slightly spicy or smokey scent. This is why I think it is more contemporary and complex. If you are expecting instant gratification, that may just not be the case here but if you allow yourself to be inspired by the majestic night sky, the luxury will win you over. One hallmark of this is the dry down, high quality has a way of getting better as it twists and turns with your body chemistry. This is no exception and delivers and exceptional leathery smooth dry down. Only real knock is price, but I believe quality and value are interchangeable so if you get a chance to sample, take the leap because for me it is full bottle worthy.

Most of the long reviews below capture the experience better than I can, so I won't provide my own soliloquy on that. Rather I'll just state my opinion on wearability. I've tried all the Strangelove fragrances and in my opinion this one is the most wearable for men. Overall "lost in flowers" is probably actually the most wearable, but for women. While I personally like "dead of night" better on my own skin, it's not something I'd feel like a casual passerby or co-worker would necessarily find pleasant. They might just wonder "what is that smell", and that might be an even bigger problem for "silence the sea". To me "dead of night" is more addictive and sexy, and is better for wearing for those who are closer to me... but this fragrance ("fall into stars") can easily be a signature scent. "Dead of night" is still my overall favorite, but as a male fragrance wearer, "fall into stars" is the most practical, from among the Strangelove fragrances. Edit: After giving this a few more tries from the sample, I've soured on it a bit. There's too much of a Vicks vap-o-rub vibe going on with this one. It's a variation on that theme so perhaps you'll be the hit of the nursing home?

Fall into Stars is the perfect name for such a sublime fragrance, housed in a modest and unassuming bottle - it really does feel like I can fall into this one. On initial spray it casts a bitter, sticky aroma with Peru balsam, pink pepper, bergamot and ginger - before developing a thick, waxy layer of henna flower and rose. Soon after, a soft and dry oud emerges - not particularly animalic or fecal in any way, but with enough unique nuance to indicate some degree of real oud in the composition. The base is also comprised of a leathery, smoky labdanum and smooth saffron, with subtle touches of a sweet, resinous amber accord in the background. This is a masterfully blended fragrance which is wonderfully smooth and lasts all day. To me and some others I’ve mentioned this to, it almost smells like hyperrealistic black olives at times which can be a bit weird. Overall however, this scent is beautiful and captivating, but not quite enough to justify £760.

First things first: It's good. I would've definitely bought this if I could afford it -but alas, it's obvious that I'm not among the targeted consumer cohort with this price range. As someone who dislikes the oud accord, I realized that it was the badly-produced-synthetic-oud accord that I didn't like. Turns out real oud accord is neither suffocating nor sickly animalic, rotten/wet wood (maybe it's not on my skin or maybe this is characteristic for Indian oud) but it's smoky with a little sweetnes -overall, definitely not heavy but instead just dense. The people who can't get their hands on this can perhaps try one fragrance from Gucci's Alchemist's Garden -it either has to be The Voice of the Snake or A Reason to Love (probably the latter but I'm not exactly sure), it has the similar quality and vibe.

This is one of the best smelling oud fragrances ever made. Worth every dollar. Mr Laudamiel is a genius. When I put this on in the evening as the stars come out, I really do feel as though I swoon and fall into them. I believe this contains real narcissus absolute, which one of the priciest naturals. The oud itself smells real too based on my familiarity with some of the oils. Blended with the amber notes, the oud is mouthwateringly sweet and cheesy, almost like mascarpone or a fruity cream cheese. There are simultaneously sweet, powdery, woody, and boozy notes. It’s stupefyingly gorgeous. Quality: 10/10 Longevity: 6 hours Projection: arm’s length

One of the few usages of real oud from a high end western house and rather good one You get Hindi oud off the bat with its traditional facets there is barn but its toned down a bit which is sort of expected from a western house, within here the stable has black stallions radiating the scent of animalic leather as there treated to hay and fruit. The air of the farm is filled with lush flowers as it wafts around the valley. I give props and believe its worth the money being asked however you must learn the facets within the oud to get the full effect

Amazing frangrance, it is superb, high quality smooth oud. Maybe it has some challenging facets for unexperienced western noses at the start, but for me it is a pure heaven. Would I be willing to pay 450 EUR for the full bottle? If it was my only fragrance or one of the few, perhaps. However with extensively developed frag addiction and 100+ bottles in ownership, I cannot justify the purchase. But I envy those who are willing and able to do that as you will become smelling beacon of greatness in the dull sea of conformity.

@scents_and_i Quality at its best! All rounded edges here nothing Sharp , delicately sweet ( not diabetes’s sweet) fragrance, just enough to make you want more ! Perfect oud centered fragrance, great blend you get the rose wood , the amber, the spiciness of peppercorns ! Amazing longivity on skin. Projection is off the roof! One spray and everyone will ask you what are you wearing ! A must have in everyone’s collection 🖤 Amirpasha

i would commit heinous crimes to be able to afford this absolute banger of a fragrance. despite its eye watering price, this is the only time where a fragrance of <$300 has pulled me so deep into it. its making me be delusional and press the buy button. this is absolutely not a perfume thats suited for my climate but i cant get that beautiful scent out of my mind. its so good i cant describe it. an experience.

The scented rosewood, not the rose, together with the unconventional woody scent of narcissus, are the absolute supporters of this not complex but very good Oud perfume. It does not make any particular changes, except for the first hour of oud, everything mixes and ends up on the skin in an amber and slightly floral scent that will remain for a day. It is almost perfect.

Fall into Stars is a gorgeous Hindi Oud perfume. The oud is lovingly paired w/ a beautiful rosewood. Green and yellow narcissus shine here as well. A high quality vanilla was also used in this perfume. Rich animalic oud, spicy sweet rosewood, dense vanilla and beautiful narcissus. Totally unisex. Just a high quality uber natural perfume. Natural perfume at its finest.

Very smooth, very elegant, and very wearable oud. The drydown is intoxicating. I can't believe how many insist this is mostly male or male only. Fall Into Stars is a very feminine and sweet fragrance. I love Creed's Royal Princess Oud, but I would purchase this over that in a heartbeat. Simply gorgeous. *Edit to update that I have in fact purchased a FB ☺️

Damn. This is gorgeous. This has to be tested on the skin to be fully realized and understood. The warmth of the skin makes this bloom, literally. It’s so spicy, ambery, warm floral. It’s so hard to describe it in words. This perfume makes me feel powerful, ethereal, and sensual all at once. It’s really something unique and special bottled up here.

Lovely yellow floral resinous oud. It feels lush and full such an indulgent wear. Quite unique doesn’t smell like anything else out there tbh. Strangelovenyc gets a lot of hate for the pricing or OTT packaging but it does put out quality stuff.

I like it better than MeltMyHeart and I loved the smell of that fragrance. This one also performs much better as well. I recommend trying this one out. It’s amazing.

My most sought after bottle for the longest time ever @ a good price off course :) I find it very much like the discontinued TF tobacco oud intense

Stars are beautiful. If one has never had the luxury and the privilege of being in a pitch dark and desolate landscape far away from metropolitan civilization where the kaleidoscope of constellations, the Milky Way, satellites falling out of orbit into the atmosphere, shooting meteors and comets and meteor showers, can be seen like bright little pin holes or streaks in the cold black velvet, it should be on your bucket list. I have spent many, many an evening far away from the ambient light of cities or towns staring up at the night sky for hours in awe-inspired wonder, loving the feeling of being dwarfed to insignificance. There is something comforting in this feeling that I have never fully fleshed-out. Some of my favorite photos I have taken are of the Milky Way galaxy’s edge going across the sky, like a streak of large white and silver dust particles on the gloss black finish of a grand piano. Stars are beautiful.... From our safe and comfortable distance. Therefore, I’m not quite connecting to the creative brief. Stars are the universe’s power plants; as far our lifespans are concerned, relatively speaking, they are immortal reactions of nuclear fusion sending torrents of invisible and unfathomable energy across the expanse of our universe. Stars might look pretty on your backside in a lawn chaise, they might be romantic while you hold the hand of a lover, but outside the protection of our atmosphere they will annihilate you instantaneously - and if not instantaneous, you will wish that it was instantaneous instead. Fallintostars. No thanks. The opening of the perfume feels like the white hot heat coming off of one of the universe’s fusion reactors. It is by far the most striking and interesting part of the perfume. Supposedly this is the high notes of the Indian oud, jonquil oil, pink peppercorns, and possibly (likely) rosewood. Though in an oversimplified summarization, I don’t think the note pyramid of this perfume is accurate... like at all. To my nose, the opening is an onslaught in the form oud’s high notes of barnyard animalics and fecals, and severely medicinal and fruity facets, combined with flinty and botanical facets that, in summation, smell of a very high-proof and very dangerous gin or vodka. It smells clear and silvery white, like the blinding glow of a star or hot flint sparks, like fermented juniper and other ferments (similar to what barnyard animalics and fecals would smell like - since they are digested by bacteria and acid similar to alcohol materials). There is also a hefty green edge to it, something sharp yet sweet like an angry green pea or, likely more accurately, a narcissus type material, detectable via the highly angular juxtaposition of honeyed florals and sharp greens that is the signature of narcissus. Utterly freaking bizarre. But also highly thought-provoking and interesting, just like staring up into the ancient light of the universe from one’s backside. There is a thick wateriness, or heavy mist/fog, quintessential to Laudamiel’s style that makes it smell very rich and encompassing without being forceful. The blinding intensity of the star’s light fades to an “amber.” Going back to a previous statement about the pyramid being inaccurate, here is more evidence: what does Strangelove mean by “amber”? There are a million and one ambers, a myriad of variations, and I presume that you, Strangelove, know that. Was this vague description intentional? Here it seems that “amber” means the midrange and bassy notes of oud combined with a melange of incense resins, a touch of earthy vanillics, and some incredibly light balsams of sandalwood and vetiver type materials. The oud is resinous, dark, oily, with a heaping amount of leatheriness, though it is not black leatheriness wrought with tanning chemicals; animalics abound here, but no tanning chemicals. On its own, and most importantly with the creative brief aside, it smells stellar. It is one of the most levitating, breathable, and light weight leather ouds I have smelled in a long time. However, there is a lot more at play here per the “amber” description. There is a definite incense note, as stated, which may or may not be Strangelove’s stellar oud material, but it comes across as strikingly separate from any of the wood-type notes that are a part of the oud. Smoke tendrils and a lot of resins. There are also some cinnamon-caramel-like resins calling to mind benzoin in the base, but they are far more woody resinous than vanillic - another oud trick, perhaps? Some creamy floral woods highly reminiscent of sandalwood in conjunction with a young-green-wood-edgy vetiver rounds it out, living very, very quietly in the background, almost too quiet to be noticed and might actually be the narcissus material playing downwards given that it doesn’t last all the way through to the end of the perfume. Patchouli, perhaps...? The cinnamon becomes far more prominent during the skin scent. However and whatever it is, it is so light weight, breathable, diffusive, and seamless that if you cannot truly notice it you must, therefore, conclude masterful handling of malleable materials. Despite Strangelove’s brand guidance of high-end naturals, it feels a bit like you’re being intentionally misguided into believing synthetic aroma chems are being forced upon a naturalistic whole. This is not necessarily a bad thing, by any means, it’s just where art and science collide. But.... In final thoughts, fallintostars is an amalgam of the natural and the unnatural. The naturalistic experience of laying under the stars and seeing their incredible natural energy juxtaposed to that which is created by us earthly humans. Once the striking opening departs, which happens relatively quickly to the long life of the perfume, I am left asking myself if the pedestrian and vague dry down is worth nearly USD$1000. No, it’s not. Though good and well-handled, it is a generic morass of the “amber” family that Strangelove kept intentionally general in the pyramid, apparently for very good reasons. At some point I must get up from my lawn chaise, looking at the various light-emitting bodies of our galaxy, and go to bed. The end of the evening feeling as yet like just like another day. Fallintostars seems to make this moment happen quite quickly. It started off striking, then devolved into mundane.

More palatable than Silence The Sea certainly, but not as ham fisted with the oud as in Dead By Night. I get this odd, tangy BBQ sauce from this scent. Like a super balsamic, slightly spicey - floral infused, smoky barbecue sauce. Oddity. What is also odd is that the official listing of notes on the Strangelove NYC site makes no mention of either narcissus or rosewood. Instead it is a mirage of lavender, jasmine absolute, Indian tuberose, cashmeran etc. I thought I could sniff a very high quality amber wood as in some of the Desert Gems stuff by Frederic Malle but when I peeked at the notes it turned out to be Palisander Rosewood, so no wonder it felt smooth. It could still be a pricey amberwood in there underneath, however. The heady, balsamic and spiciness smoothed out trio of oud, florals and rosewood is what is going on here. Is it nice? Yes. Is it high quality? Yes. Is it worth £400+ for 50ml of EdP? I'd say no, just, but it depends on how deep your pockets are.