Deer

First contact with this relatively new brand and I'm completely head over feet! It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I'm a huge animal lover and I have a strong leaning towards the esoteric, so when a spotted this brand with Slavic totem animals and myths, I knew I wanted to sample them. Deer is my first contact and I'm blown away. I dare say it's by far the most shamanistic fragrance I've ever smelt. It's also quite different from what I was expected. To be fair, I had not looked at the notes beforehand because I wanted to formulate my own opinion on it. The first sniff was both exhilarating and confusing (not in a bad way!). I suppose I expected something fruity and musky (after all, musk deer!) but no, Wolf Brothers went in a completely different direction and Deer hits you hard with a very smoky and leathery aroma. It's warm. Very warm. In fact, what immediately came to my mind is fur. It smells furry, in a comforting and cozy way. Yet at the same time, there's a sense of majesty and confidence in it. After all, the deer despite being mostly a prey, looks majestic to us humans with its antlers. In many folklores, the deer is also the guardian of the forest and hence inspires this majesty. Looking at the notes now, it makes quite a lot of sense. Coffee is surprisingly present, a dark roast, toasted blend. Hay, cedar, tobacco are also quite forward in the aroma bringing a deep smoky woodiness. I don't smell pistachio directly but I'm pretty sure it contributed to the coziness as well with a roasted nutty vibe. Also, about hay, I'm guessing hay and cumin (and probably leather accord) is what may make this unsafe to some, it does bear an animalic tinge but I wouldn't call Deer animalic in a musky way at all. Looking at the scent profile, one can tell this is the kind of fragrance that will last a good while, and it does. It projects well for a few hours and will stick around on skin for at least a few more. I need to test it further but I'm guessing a good 6-8 hours at least. I'd say this is warm weather but you'd be able to get away with in any setting except once Summer hits (the smokiness might be too much). Definitely sample first but for me, this is absolute love and as someone said, a total wrist sniffer. Very eager to test more from the brand!

Even though I do love this I can see its potential to make someone sick like one review below said it did. It has a very peculiar profile and it’s quite tenacious. I’m confused as to how it doesn’t have a licorice note or wormwood but I guess it could be the hay and sage and tobacco and mint coming together to really hone in on that accord. There’s a darkness here from that coffee note that’s very loud too that I adore. That’s the thing about this scent it has so many big players that come together to create something far greater than the sum of its parts. They amplify and compliment each other and create a sense of confusion and fascination that I find to be the reason I love perfume overall. I understand why hexensalbe is the most similar scent according to votes bc of that dark licorice and witchy herbal Forrest profile but the difference is that hexensalbe is silvery and cool. It smells like the hollowness of a ravens bones if it were a wolf brother scent it would be called raven. But deer is warmer denser oily like the fur of a wild ungulate in heat. They’re both the smell of the same witch but in her raven form and in her deer form

Wow, there are a good bag of mixed reviews here for this one (read: NOT a safe blind buy - sample first!), personally I absolutely love it! I'm really enjoying the freshness and coffee combination here.. a LOT! I am a good coffee scent fan (looking at you, New Haarlem, and Coffee Break!), but so often they meander into gourmand territory, which is kinda fine.. but also kinda same-y. This one, to me, is a standout! Fresh without being brash, the coffee/cumin/tobacco mix is very forward (and stays there, hours in!) but it still feels rounded and gentle. This is just a superb blend! A complete wrist sniffer - I really, REALLY recommend!

Love at first sniff. The first sample I have bought in ages that I will be buying a full bottle of. I have many samples, and although I like and respond to many, rarely do I smell something which I need a full bottle of. This is it. It is divine. It smells completely different to anything I have had before. Opening has a note I can't pinpoint...the mint or cumin? But the dry down is sweet, musky and earthy and completely addictive.

One of my favourites. Minty, furry, hay-y. With a hint of reserved vegetal bitterness within a medio-sweet profile. It describes well the young deer, running towards its food. 😊