What kind of fetish is it?

One of the most remarkable fragrances ever discussed on Parfumo is Neil Morris' Fetish, and it has been in the top ten list of unisex scents ever since then! I remember, it was one of the first perfumes that evoked a totally lively discussion on the German site. The reasons for this were: a) it is terrific, b) it is something everybody seemed to have smelled before, and c) almost nobody could tell what it actually smelled like!

Fetish is dark, heady, sweet, earthy, sensual, carnal and oriental. It is base notes only, and all ingredients mingle into a solid character of its own. None of it stands out, and so, Fetish is one of the very few perfumes that smell really unique, and not like just a blend of the pyramid notes to the more experienced users.

And people were guessing. Maybe due to its name, some of them got images of CSD parades, darkrooms, and BDSM equipment with lots of leathery and rubbery smells. Others found that this kind of Fetish much more pointed towards a medical direction. One user mentioned his dentist where he thought he had met this scent. Vague childhood memories were discussed. Another user felt reminded at his medical education in a hospital. Is this Fetish about strict female nurses who make the ill patient feel so dependent?

Finally, somebody hit the spot: Betaisadona!

Betaisadona is a kind of iodine tincture used in healthcare – for cleaning and disinfection of wounds. The strange smell of Betaisadona is something that one will never forget. It is not so unpleasant to smell as one might suppose. Indeed, you might feel tempted to take a sniff once in a while (if you have a bottle of it at home). The scents of some chemical substances can lead to addiction – I mean sniffing glue. I suppose Betaisadona is harmless, yet it gives you the idea of it. It is something strange but nevertheless, you want to smell it again.

And this is also the miracle behind Neil Morris' Fetish. You feel attracted, you want to have more of it! It is like a switch in your brain that is contacted by this fragrance. After I had bought it I invited one of my best friends to a little journey into the world of perfume. He bravely sniffed his way through my collection (which already had 100 perfumes). When I finally asked him about his favorite, it was – of course – Fetish.

Although by now the miracle is solved for me, I would still list Fetish among my top favorites. With the experience I have today, I clearly see that Fetish was inspired by Arabian perfumery. It is by far not a straightforward oud – if at all, it is more the dark musky style, and it is sweet like loukhoum. Yet, I think it is genuine, not plagiarism.

Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the concept of a perfume like ELDO's Secretions Magnifiques. It is in no way ugly or embarrassing, it is attractive and wearable. I have to admit, it is a “loud” fragrance, not very discreet. I particularly like to wear it on a night out, maybe at a raunchy bar, where it truly withstands any cigarette fumes and the vapor of a human crowd. Highly recommendable!