Spirits of the Dead
BPAL description: A shuddering white scent, of ghostly breath and stony silence: dry tea leaf, linden blossom, papyrus, orris and coffin wood.
In the bottle: Citrusy, delicately floral linen, piney-smooth tea, and dry woody notes. Surprisingly fresh, very clean, but with a suggestion of dryness to come. Unisex.
Wet: Tea (even smoother, dryer, less piney) and softer linden, slightly less fresh and citrusy. There's a planty sort of note, almost aquatic, smooth, kind of reedy, that reminds me of bamboo, or even aloe a bit - maybe the papyrus? In combination with a light oak note, it grounds the blend.
Dry: Hmm, somehow this has become MORE citrusy; I'm strongly suspecting there's some bergamot in this, on top of the natural citrus elements of the linden. The bergamot, tea, linden, and papyrus (which reminds me slightly, vaguely of oude) are dominating. The oak is more of a suggestion.
Later: The bergamot is holding so far! As are the sweet, floral linden, resiny-papyrus and smoothly green yet deeper tea leaf - to me, it's more of a green tea note. The oak has emerged a bit more; it's woodsy but too dry or masculine; just deep and rounded. Orris has finally come out to play, but is very light; it's a bit powdery and dry, but not overwhelmingly heady.
Summary: In the final drydown, this reminds me of a fresher (almost spicily so - fresh ginger perhaps?), less dusty version of The Phantom Wooer, or a cross between it and Kumiho. The citrus note lasts wonderfully, the linden provides lovely sweetness, it's almost honeyed, and the papyrus and oak bring wonderful resiny and woody depth to the whole blend. The tea leaf is very green - the same note from Shanghai and F5, piney and fresh, and actually amps over time. Orris adds the barest hint of dust. Even some sexy, mildly sweet musk has emerged! Amazingly unisex. Good throw and decent lasting power.
This is a wrist-sniffer, and would be lovely in warmer months as refreshing pick me up. I also think this would be gorgeous on the right man.
In the bottle: Citrusy, delicately floral linen, piney-smooth tea, and dry woody notes. Surprisingly fresh, very clean, but with a suggestion of dryness to come. Unisex.
Wet: Tea (even smoother, dryer, less piney) and softer linden, slightly less fresh and citrusy. There's a planty sort of note, almost aquatic, smooth, kind of reedy, that reminds me of bamboo, or even aloe a bit - maybe the papyrus? In combination with a light oak note, it grounds the blend.
Dry: Hmm, somehow this has become MORE citrusy; I'm strongly suspecting there's some bergamot in this, on top of the natural citrus elements of the linden. The bergamot, tea, linden, and papyrus (which reminds me slightly, vaguely of oude) are dominating. The oak is more of a suggestion.
Later: The bergamot is holding so far! As are the sweet, floral linden, resiny-papyrus and smoothly green yet deeper tea leaf - to me, it's more of a green tea note. The oak has emerged a bit more; it's woodsy but too dry or masculine; just deep and rounded. Orris has finally come out to play, but is very light; it's a bit powdery and dry, but not overwhelmingly heady.
Summary: In the final drydown, this reminds me of a fresher (almost spicily so - fresh ginger perhaps?), less dusty version of The Phantom Wooer, or a cross between it and Kumiho. The citrus note lasts wonderfully, the linden provides lovely sweetness, it's almost honeyed, and the papyrus and oak bring wonderful resiny and woody depth to the whole blend. The tea leaf is very green - the same note from Shanghai and F5, piney and fresh, and actually amps over time. Orris adds the barest hint of dust. Even some sexy, mildly sweet musk has emerged! Amazingly unisex. Good throw and decent lasting power.
This is a wrist-sniffer, and would be lovely in warmer months as refreshing pick me up. I also think this would be gorgeous on the right man.