Daddy

Daddy is such an interesting fragrance. I had to wear it several times to make up my mind about it. First I smelled it on a test strip; it was more tame than I expected, especially given the name. It felt adjacent to Glossier Doux. I instantly picked up on a softness I really liked, a warmth and coziness I tend to gravitate toward in fragrance. I imagined it to be an intimate skin scent, my version of a work-friendly musk. I was intrigued! On my skin, it was very smoky at first. And earthy. I thought it might be good to wear on a coffee shop, or on a first date (with a specific type of person). Or maybe to happy hour in the fall when the sun starts to set earlier. Or to my grad school classes. As it dries down, it becomes sweeter, and I worried it might get too sweet, but it didn't. I think Daddy is what Sugar Leather is trying (and failing) to be. On my second wear, I noticed that there is something so human in the opening. It almost smells like breath, in a neutral way, not good or bad but warm and damp. Like when you're kissing someone deeply and breathe in as they exhale. Then I get some moss, which I don't love, but that quickly dissipates giving way to beautiful, creamy, smoky perfection. Daddy is art. It's a journey in a bottle. Once it's completely dried down, it smells lived in. And then I'm back to wondering how much I really like it. On my third wear, I found myself curious and interested by it. There is a wet forest floor component (which I don't love, as I'm not a petrichor girly), but I realized that's only if you sniff closely― the general aura or (minimal) scent cloud/projection doesn't read as wet or moldy. This fragrance does so much that works for me, and I has me searching for something similar without the damp/moss/moldy/dirt facets. I love this fragrance, though I'm not sure yet if I love it for me. There are parts that don't work for me, but parts that are perfect for me. I wish it didn't have the mushroom note, because it reminds me of mold and moss and wetness, but those only really stand out when you sniff really close to the skin. I love everything else about it― the energy, the groundedness, the intimacy. I'm definitely on the search for Daddy-adjacent fragrances I can try, that give the same energy minus the moldy/mushroom/wet parts. This is much longer than my usual reviews, but I guess I have a lot to say about this one.

Daddy avoids the pitfall of yawn-inducing dryness that a lot of other vetiver-forward fragrances can slip into by including the earthy umami of porcini mushroom and the sweet nuances of benzoin and guaiac wood. The result is a humid and inviting embrace. This fragrance exudes an air of quiet confidence and masculinity without being bombastic or overwhelming. Wearing Daddy feels like lying down on the forest floor in the center of a fairy ring with only the company of your own thoughts and the gentle patter of raindrops on leaves. Picture this: You catch a whiff of this scent while standing in line at a coffee shop. It catches you by surprise, wafting off a nondescript person placing their order in front of you. Sure, they’re undeniably butch, but maybe there’s a certain sweetness and complexity to this hunk. Maybe they paint their toenails and have an herb garden at home. Maybe they’ve developed a softness after bottle-feeding a litter of kittens, or maybe they’re really into collecting vintage coffee mugs. You’re so lost in thought while processing what you’ve just smelled that you hardly have a chance to react when they offer a warm smile and press a shred of napkin into your hand before walking out the door. You unravel the napkin and blush. It’s their phone number. Underneath, they’ve scrawled in messy handwriting: “Call me.”

Fell in love with this instantly. I think it's perfect. I tried to save a drop of my sample, against cooler days or sadness, but couldn't resist impulsively using it up. Out of my 15+ samples of generally woody/earthy/smoky or marine leaning fragrances...it was immediately clear that this would be my favorite of the bunch. the guaiac and pepper re-creates perfectly the idea of warm, smoky lumber. The dryness is tempered by hinoki and faintly sweet vanilla of the benzoin resin. It really does smell almost exactly like a more sophisticated version of the Firewood candle by Henri Bendl from B&BW back in the day (if anyone remembers). mushroom was present but not glaring, and not for long. I'm less embarrassed about the name than some of the others i sampled; try telling somebody you're wearing "The Language of Glaciers" ...and "Daddy" doesn't sound too bad by comparison. I can't overstate how **sexy** this stuff is...It's not cloying but certainly is powerful. Unisex but leans masculine i reckon. Will purchase a full bottle for wear in cooler weather, although i wouldn't be opposed to wear in summer heat either.

imagine this: you're in the forest, and you're a frog. it's just rained and you can smell the wet moss and tree bark and fungi and all of the gorgeous greenery. it's very vast (bc you're a frog), and there's not another soul around but the magical woodland creatures that live among you. you sit on a lily pad and bask in the rays of sushine peeking through the canopy above. all is perfect in the world. side note: i wanted this fragrance to be my partner's signature bc it smells soooo dang good on him but he said it makes him feel like shrek 💔 the swamp vibes are real

I am absolutely in love with this perfume. It makes me feel self assured, comforted, and tightly held. Like I am my own lover and I encompass and embody everything. If I could only wear one scent for the rest of my life it would be this. It’s a warm and it’s woody, it’s smoky and spicy and SEXY. The only fragrance I can earnestly compare to a warm hug. This one just really wraps its arms around you. It exudes a quiet kind of confidence that’s understated but memorable. I can’t get enough of it. Possibly my most favorite fragrance .