A Record Book of Ships Entering the Harbor

[Jenjin]

Vanilla sandalwood and vanilla cream with a hint of tobacco absolute and blackcurrant bud.

[ND¢]

Kiseru lovers, I find this strongly reminiscent. And I guess that's not hard to understand (red sandalwood, vanilla husk and tobacco smoke.) I'd say this is a sweeter vanilla (relatively speaking.) The blackcurrant bud is giving 'fresh Kiseru.' It's a light, sophisticated, friendly blend. 

[Frills]

On me it starts as vanilla and tobacco which I love. Then it becomes SANDALWOOD and a little vanilla, which I love. Either way I'm happy.

[beatificdreams]

I immediately love this one. It didn't change much from the bottle to the skin, but the dry down is warmer and softer. My husband smelled it and said, "Wow, it's like smelling in 3d!" Like smelling berries while you are in an aromatic room. Living in the Philippines, it's a beautiful way to do sandalwood and tobacco without feeling dragged down by hot and heavy suffocating scents. This is going to be on heavy rotation for quite some time.

[tarotgirl99]

This is definitely a skin scent. I couldn't even smell it in the bottle, and it's so subtle on skin. It vibrate on too high a level for me, but it's lovely and a bit creamy.

[MRonHubbard]

I can't smell it! I even dumped a bunch on my arm, huffed deeply... it's like a shadow of a hint of... I don't know what. :(

[LavenderCoffee]

This seems true to the description in that it is primarily a vanilla scent accented with blackcurrant and tobacco. The vanilla sandalwood layers a wispy, dry aspect over the rich vanilla cream, and they don't quite combine with each other, creating the effect of a shifting, living scent. It's not unpleasant either, just one of those "smells like a person" scents that can be quite alluring if it works for you.

[doomsday_disco]

Although they share some similar notes, this smells nothing like Kiseru to me, which had vanilla and tobacco notes that I prefer (Antique Lace-esque vanilla musk and French tobacco) to the vanilla and tobacco used in this scent. The vanilla in this, despite the vanilla cream in the description, is more like a skin musk-y bourbon vanilla to me, and the sandalwood is a dry one. There's very little blackcurrant here, and what blackcurrant there is is most noticeable when the scent is freshly applied.

 

I prefer And Though They Are With You Yet They Belong Not To You for my vanilla and sandalwood fix.

[kelpsoda]

Not sure I really get vanilla from this, though there's something sweet.  I get a hint of spice and maybe . . maybe some fruit in the background.

 

On second test: still no vanilla.  I get red musk and a little bit of pink pepper.  Not at all what I expected.

Edited April 17 by kelpsoda

[feyofthefellwood]

This smells almost entirely like vanilla cream to me. There's a hint of woodiness (which maybe includes the tobacco?) and blackcurrant, but mostly it's a vanilla cream skin scent, to my nose. I'm not complaining, but I'm not sure I will need more than a decant. If the tobacco emerges more, I think it could be really interesting. 

[theredkilt]

Creamy vanilla sandalwood with a twist of tobacco that gives the blend this dusty spicy twang which tobacco usually does. I feel like I have something similar in my BPAL collection, but can't figure out what.

Later on it's spicy cherry tobacco with a hint of vanilla sandalwood leftover.

[Jarek]

WhenI first apply it, I get creamy vanilla, sandalwood, and a bit of tobacco. Exactly what it says it should be. And I really love it, loved it at first sniff.

 

It really is a hint of tobacco because I've smelled BPAL perfumes where it's more prominent and this really isn't that. I do enjoy how tobacco plays with sweeter notes like vanilla and cream.

 

The sandalwood is that kind of creamy sandalwood you can sometimes get too, rather than very dry. I love that variation of sandalwood very much. It's in Veil too, from the GC collection.

 

As it dries the tobacco comes out a bit more and the vanilla cream backs off a little. I don't get a floral I don't think but it could just be well blended in the mix.

 

I knew I wanted a bottle of this upon first sniff and that hasn't changed. So glad I got a decant. I wonder too what this one will be like with a bit of aging.

Edited Sunday at 04:39 PM by Jarek

[Teamama]

I always want to try blends with vanilla & sandalwood. Tobacco is usually my friend. I don't think any blends with blackcurrant (in any form) have been huge winners for me, but hope springs eternal.

In the decant, it smells fruity & a little musky. The tobacco isn't showing up for me.  

Once it's on my skin, Record Book is pleasant, but kind of flat and unremarkable.  I'm going to chalk it up to my skin not playing well with blackcurrant. I'm glad I got a decant, but won't need a bottle.