Joyeux

I could inhale this forever. A fougere that is so rounded and refined, not sharp at all; Le Vagabond's review below are close to my own impressions of it. The lavender here does not really smell of lavender, it is softened and blended with the other ingredients. There is a bit of citrus in the opening. In the deep dry down, there is an unusual and quite strong salty smell that must be coming from the ambergris and seaweed combination? I don’t love this note necessarily, but it does smell good and it's interesting - it’s just really really salty, so it's a bit of an acquired taste. The projection on this is just right, and it lasts all day. This perfume is a total triumph. Every one of the four Sultan Pasha perfumes is a 10/10 for me.

For those familiar with classic citrusy or fougère gems of yesteryear, well, this perfume is somewhat different. Those might be described in colours of yellow or lively greens. Joyeux is golden, right away. It ignores the refreshing zest and goes straight to a warm skin in the fields on a late afternoon. A hard-working body, that bathed early this morning using a fine, old-fashioned soap, now exuding the light perspiration twang of clary sage, a touch of green bitterness, the smell of rolling in the hay, and a pulsating leatheriness in the drowsy heat. As the sun sets (dry down), the leather intertwines with herbaceous Chartreuse and lavender.

One of Joyeux greatest achievements is its remarkable stamina. Sultan Pasha has crafted this extrait de parfum with the kind of persistence that makes it an unshakeable companion from dawn to midnight. The projection is perfectly calibrated and as a fougere it really shines on my skin. Would not mind a 10 ml decant of it as it is so season-versatile. Gents will love this one.

This is a spiritual soul-brother to Iris Bleu Gris, which I adore. They both have this gray/brown earthy core that really appeals to me. 30 minutes in and it's already on the top of my wishlist. Joyeaux's style is my ideal of a, grounded, sophisticated, highly personal, gentleman's scent.

I really, really like this but since I have the attar that’s enough for me. I will say this is quite different to the attar. Much drier and less old school. Attar is a more unusual and unique blend but most people will probably prefer the spray