Paramatman

[VetchVesper]

I'm cheating a bit b/c I'm reviewing this from memory.  I actually thought this one was discontinued!  Seems like I should grab a bottle.  

I remember this being a simple but gorgeous blend.  All three notes are recognizable, and the dry sandalwood plays beautifully with the sweet florals.  I have a book of Indian fairytales filled with oil-paint illustrations of lush gardens, princesses in pastel silk, and elaborately carved Hindu architecture.  Paramatman evokes such images with its mix of temple incense and lush flowers.  Unabashedly Eastern and a must try for champaca and incense lovers.  

#tournamentofunderdogs

[wordortwo]

Paramatman is calm, warm, comforting -- soft, clean florals blended with creamy sandalwood. When I first tested it, it reminded me of an upscale yoga studio. This isn't a powerful, head-turning blend; it is calm, comforting, inoffensive, and light, but has reasonable projection. I enjoyed it on the hottest summer days, but I have not been motivated to buy more after I finished my frimp.

 

Edit: I take it back - I do want more of this. The weather has quickly turned properly warm, and once that happened, I missed Paramatman. Now there's a bottle in my cart... That's all to say: I do think this is a great warm-weather scent if you are like me and do not necessarily gravitate towards "fresh" scents.

Edited May 19, 2021 by wordortwo

[Poenari]

I received a frimp of this in my recent order, and don't remember ever trying it before. Since I didn't review it either, I really have no recollection of it. But one of my friends raves about it ( sammy!) so I have to try it and review while I remember! 

 

On skin, a rush of champaca! That's a good start! I didn't look up the notes before trying, but this is Beth's unmistakable champaca note. Then a hint of floral soapy sweetness, but not the way rose can go soapy. Hmmm. I had to look it up. Oh, yes, orange blossom! Sometimes it does that on me. Never in Vixen, but the ginger keeps it in check there. 

 

Ok, after dry drown and for the rest of the evening, it's been mainly a dry champaca incense. The sandalwood and orange blossom are really blended in a way that supports but doesn't disguise the champaca. This is definitely a lovely scent. I will wear it happily, but don't need a full bottle. I do have other scents with these notes that wear better on my skin.

[badseed1980]

Oh, this was a TOTAL WIN. A friend was selling some of her BPALs, and I called dibs on this one. I love orange blossom (fell in love with Vixen last summer), and have no issues with sandalwood in general. I didn't have much experience with champaca, though I know it's often a component of nag champa incense, about which I have mixed feelings. The sweet incense note of the champaca is sharpened a bit by the bright orange blossom, and given some backbone by the sandalwood. Is it a little bit hippie-ish? Maybe? But overall, the blend is elegant and delightful--a perfect warm weather perfume.