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 .

when I was a teenager I got a room spray from bath and body works called “fireside” that I was OBSESSED with. it literally smelled like a smoky campfire with some pine in it... and this is literally so reminiscent of that room spray that I stopped dead in my tracks when I first smelled it. it’s like if that bath and body works room spray grew up and became the sexiest, most well-read and cultured man on earth. just simply so obsessed with this. can’t imagine wearing it at any time other than fall or winter though

pissed off, funny, and warm, I'm a good man in a storm — that's how I feel wearing Daddy. rapturous but grounded by earthy, smoky woods; the pepper scintillates the nose like the licking of a dancing flame and stays long into the drydown, latching on like the jaws of a pretty boy with very sharp teeth. a certain prickliness (my only contention here) resembles the shadow of stubble on the jaw of your lover: in spite of it, I want to sniff my wrist into extinction `(*>_<*)′

When your ‘Daddy’ is a woman. This gorgeous, super sexy frag is masculine, musky, lumberyard goodness, but also has a mouth watering juicy body-funk to it. The kind of B.O. you wanna burry your face in. Delicious, husky & voluptuous. It is one of those women who is every bit as handy as any man but whose got a soft face to kiss you with. This perfume could be worn by that person or her brat tbh. (Also wears well in the heat which I’m always thankful for.)

I wanted to write this off as being aggressive and in your face leathery- incense, woody, with a damp soil note. And then I keep going back to it. the dry down on this is fantastic, left over incense, with a caramelized sugar. I'm even an amber hater- and the amber isn't overwhelming. It's heavier, but I even like it in this warmer weather. I was ready to pass on this, but damnit, I think I need a bottle.

to me this is like a middle ground between Aesop’s eidesis (which I am on my third bottle of) and hwyl - to my nose it’s eidesis minus a bit of the pepper and plus a bit of hwyl’s hinoki, and then a little more of the umami-mushroomy thing going on. my beloved ex smelled this on a friend and said it smelled exactly like me which i will be taking as a sign that i need a full bottle

Savory, mossy, & earthy. Slowly sipping a peppery cup of mushroom broth in a wood-paneled room wafting with incense. The savoriness felt a bit strange at first, but I quickly grew to love it. Benzoin comes out to play in the dry down, lending some warmth and gentle sweetness. Umami. A non-binary Daddy. We love.

same lipsticky smoky allure as Girl of the Year by Thin Wild Mercury. Both this and GOTY feel like the bottom of a thrifted 1960s purse: crumpled dollar bills, smashed lip liner, ghost of a spilled drink soaking into leather. I’d wear it with a fur coat and a bad attitude + amazing longevity. My new favorite!

this is liis bo drinking smoked pu'er tea in a moody wine bar. I kill for a fuzzy musk that reaches the back of your sinuses. I've been chasing that for years, last I had it was OG You. It feels like lace-weight mohair. sexy! the hinoki mushroom is so clear. opens up foresty and leaf-like.

Very peculiar but fun smell. Reminds me of the inside of a niche fancy bookstore in the late 2000s to early 2010s. Definitely get the Guaiac wood and black pepper notes as well as the hinoki and the vetiver base. I wouldn't describe it as an intense manly scent, but it is nice.

Effortless cool. The hinoki/guaiac stands out to me the most but then again I really gravitate towards woody scents. Just enough pepper to accent it. Leans more masculine but wouldn't be out of place on a more feminine person. Lasts a good amount of time too.

the initial scent is very vetiver - kinda intimidatingly masculine. as it rests on the skin it becomes much sweeter. hinoki peppery gorgeousness that is almost blood-like. so yeah don't let me wear this around your shorty. got me feelin' like baby bash.

Increeeeeedibly sexy and yummy. Tam Dao was too sharp, Santal 33 too much dill. This is what I wanted. A little nervous to try and pull this off though. Cringe name but I see why they chose it! I need a boyfriend so I can force him to wear this. Lol.

The coolest girl you know. It is a little funky but thats the charm of it for me. I imagine this is how my dream man’s suede jacket smells if he were to exist. I don’t get an obvious mushroom note. This perfume has character. Perfection

An absolute guaiac bomb (complimentary). Deep, damp, masc forest energy balanced by a spark of pepper and soft resin. It’s grounding and quietly powerful. My go-to comfort scent - I find myself reaching for it every Sunday.

Mmmmm sooo good! Didn’t think this would be my thing but I really love it, straightforward dry wood, definitely masc but that just makes it sexier on a woman. eileensheats is so right about the home depot wood section smell