Rickety Staircase

[zankoku_zen]

Once the grand foyer’s elegant centerpiece, now its winding curves creak treacherously, the handrail dull and splintered under decades of dust: fossilized amber crackling over dry oak.

[forspecial_plate]

I wore this on its own for a good while today.  I'm getting quiet amber and woods which is expected.  It has a "smoldering", sultry quality.  I could be wrong but I am also detecting a really noticeable aldehyde note, the same that's in Lady Hatton.  Reminds me of the aldehydes in Chanel No. 5.  Overall this smells chic and elegant, but has very low throw on my skin (a good thing, for me).  I think it's perfect for a crisp fall evening.

[Casablanca]

Staircase opens on me with glorious, wood-dusty oak but, like Forspecial, I soon get an aldehyde, almost champagne-like note. The aldehyde pretty much takes over on me, diminishing the lovely oak down to the barest background wood impression.

 

After the potent amber of It Was Just a Cat, I'm surprised not to find any amber. 

[groovyrooby]

Fascinating smells and an impressive feat. Tested from a decant that rested over a week.

 

This one has a lot going on! Starts with a green woody smell, freshly cut wood. Gets a marbly cool polished stone vibe and turns into a high-end shampoo smell, very clean and foamy. Ended kind of waxy, just like lacquered wood with a hint of varnish. Overall had a nice amber glow with that legit polished wood smell up close. Husband was impressed when I told him the name - "it's cool they can actually make something that smells like that idea."

 

I say sm

[AirimirOfGondor]

In the bottle, this was mild, kind of...nondescriptly-sweet, and soapy.

 

When I applied it, a resinous quality kind of came out, some notes reminiscent of bitter citrus oils, and something almost-creamy(?).

But, the big star bloomed as well - dry, dry wood.

 

Honestly, it actually reminds me of an old instrument cleaner/polish I used to use on my cello back in high school! <3 I can't remember the brand anymore, but I definitely remember the same kinds of fragrances after I had used it - wood, something creamy, something citrusy, and a kind of sharp quality.

 

It's a little too-sharp for me to wear all the time, but I definitely still like it! :)

[supreme_c0rt]

The oak here is distilled, clear, and light; quite different from the chewier oak varieties in Étienne De Boray Oak, et al. I'm also getting a lot of aldehydes (soapy-waxy-lemony-white floral) with a refined and gentle amber. This is a high-class, breathy kind of oak. Sophisticated, airy, gently woody and beautifully blended.