Fragraphilia

On first notice, the pink pepper and geranium combine to bring a sharpness that is so fresh and clean that it’s almost soapy. It’s downright shimmering at times and always full of life. It’s like the first few days post-winter thaw when you realize Spring is here to stay and you immediately feel like you want to do everything. Yet with all those bright and energetic top notes, Discernment brings in the perfect blend of woods and musk to add texture and a bit of earthy grit to it all. It’s gorgeous! Finishing it all off with a bit of ocean air saltiness from the ambergris, this is nature at every turn.

An homage to patchouli through multiple extracts and essences celebrating its many forms whether its in the sun soaked festival fields of mid-60s California or the powdered almost chypre influenced style of the 70s and 80s. No matter the era, there lies a complimentary note like sharp Mate, aromatic sage, or a spicy pink pepper to keep it interesting, sophisticated, and far west of the mud-soaked air of Woodstock.

A beautiful blend of sharp pepper and green geranium jump out at the top but are quickly balanced with clean woods, incense, and just the right amount of sticky resin and oily vetiver to add body at the base. As much as the notes could lead you to believe this is a winter scent, it works wonderfully in spring as well. It projects confidently, but never too heavy, with decent longevity. Although, I would classify this as a sophisticated scent, on certain days, it can lean a bit hippie as well.

Vivid green field grass just as the rain begins to fall, daffodils after a spring shower, and the inside of an Hermès Kelly bag. Distinctly smells of the outdoors while still also retaining a facet of luxurious comfort with the powdery cosmetic almond notes of tonka. A highly creative scent creation that goes in directions that could appeal to many tastes. A true favorite of Fragraphilia.

Lavender is an aggressive note and requires a deft touch to be handled well in perfume, lest it become headache-inducing. Here the bracing lavender is cushioned against soft orris and iris, cozy vanilla, and creamy white flowers. Dry woods and subtle citrus both flatter and temper the intense aromatic qualities of the lavender. The effect is calming, comforting, and endlessly easy-wearing. So elegant and distinct, would make a lovely signature scent for either gender.

Mysterious and magical like the green liqueur itself, Nasomatto’s Absinth swirls with green herbal notes evoking late night walks home through the city gardens after a few drinks in an Parisian underground bar. It features hints of booze, chocolate, and patchouli with light touches of musk and vetiver in the base.

An excellent representation of glamour and the grit often found beneath it. Featuring spicy notes on top, along with citrus, it quickly develops into a wonderful woody rose to create a sophisticated chypre fragrance that conjures up images of gilded rooms, stuffy ball gowns, and crystal champagne flutes but also the royals who attended that would sneak away at the end of the evening to see the Stones, crammed in the back of limos, trying to hide from the press. There's both elegance and excess. It's the silk scarf they left in the car the driver found the morning after.

It’s like falling into a pile of freshly washed Egyptian cotton towels while wearing the cashmere sweater you just borrowed from the person that brings you most comfort. It’s fresh, cozy, and safe all at the same time with sharp pops of ginger or citrus softened by warm ambers and earthy musks. The seemingly random collection of floral notes read as if they are coming from all sides of the garden but they almost cancel each other out to form a unified generic, but perfectly placed flowery detergent accord. This is perfect for warm weather nights with light breezes.

As simple as any fragrance could ever be but more than you will ever need. The iris keeps the iso e super from being too clean or dull but surrenders beautifully to the latter’s creaminess before the prior gets too powdery. Nevertheless, you get the most of both as they compliment each others best features flawlessly while staying true to their own.

It’s plenty on its own with hours of longevity and projection but it’s one of the true, great layering scents as it has the ability to improve almost any other fragrance. This is a Fragraphilia favorite, and in our opinion, a must have for any collection. We will never be without a bottle in ours. If you like iris, this is one of the best and most direct expressions of it.

The ultimate rainy day fall scent, a pungent patchouli with whiffs of rich chocolate, tamed by a strong dose of milky vanilla and amped up by woods. Complex, warm, and earthy. A cult fragrance beloved by patchouli fans, and a good fragrance to try for anyone curious to familiarize themselves with the best uses of patchouli in fragrance.