1500 - L'Essence de Distance

Don’t worry about the gimmicky story about social distancing. This is a very interesting scent that takes a little getting used to in the first ten minutes, but then it turns into a bitter and slightly sour woody scent. There is a metallic, blood-like note in those first minutes (that’s what turned me off). After that it becomes very very nice. I will definitely buy a another bottle. Less than a year later: I have bought another bottle. It’s just so good!

First of all, this one is definitely not suitable for blind buy. I can totally understand the smell is not appealing to many people. If I have to describe my impression in one or two words, I will say complicated or dynamic. I have tested on several occasions, and I do admit that the first time I sprayed it I was quite shocked by the opening. I could say it was very unpleasant. It opens with this earthy woody scent, and smells just cold and damp, but not really moldy. On my skin I also get something sharp and spicy in the opening. It brings me to a room with vintage wooden furniture on a rainy day. Dark and somewhat mysterious. I totally get the name of this perfume. It makes the person wearing it appear unapproachable. Shortly afterwards mint comes into play. Normally I associate mint with adjectives like fresh and clean; however, the mint here reminds me more of its medical use. I think more of the inhaler you use when you have a blocked nose. Mint definitely stands out, but I can also get the osmanthus and clove in the background. These three notes make a strange yet interesting combination. It is a quite complicated smell, hard to describe in words. I can easily detect each of the three notes, yet none of them is overpowering the other. It is like they work as a team, but each one does his best to get attention. After about half an hour, patchouli wants to steal the spotlight. In combination with the mint, it reminds me more and more of herbal medicine. It is bitter, earthy, and still damp. Now I have a picture of myself wandering through forest after rain with nobody else around. The drydown to me is much more acceptable than the opening. It is leathery and woody, and a bit spicy. In general it is mild compared to the opening. The sillage is great, and it last reasonably long on my skin. Once again, please test it before you buy a bottle.

Am I the only one getting a strong rose accord? Opens up aromatic with heavy rose and an earthy mushroom smell, dries down to a smoky rosy smell with mint and leather in the back, absolute horrid. Quite daring smell but I absolutely dont like it. My least favorite of the house for sure. Sample before buying.

Heard an interview with the perfumer on a podcast, the mosquito repellent note is intentional, it's a gimmick with respect to Covid and social distancing. Curious to smell this one.