Naaitsab

I'm into wood scents. My father's family owns a wood trade, perhaps that's where the mixture of intimacy, indoors and outdoors, life and cosiness I associate with it comes from.

And, to put it straight away: of all the wood scents I've tried so far, I like Amber Kiso the best.

The fragrance takes a beautiful course. In the beginning a leathery turpentine note dominates for a short moment. However, the angularity of the fragrance quickly settles and it becomes rounder, softer and more woody. The darker woods are in the foreground here. Not as medical or oriental as oud can often be, but also not as light/resinous/needle-woody as Hinoki would suggest. The dark wood is a constant until the drydown -- wonderfully delicious paired with a very subtle, only slightly hinted at, dry sweetness (maybe the iris?).

I find the fragrance very versatile. He is reserved enough not to be overwhelming, yet seems recognizably distinguished and yet somehow unusual. He's unobtrusive without ever being bored. He radiates relaxed sovereignty, unstrained, does not need to prove himself, is somewhat understated, but with substance. Volume without volume.

And because it's so beautiful without imposing itself, I find it wonderfully wearable -- on all kinds of occasions. It goes just as well with worn jeans as with a tuxedo.

Big compliment to D.S & Durga and David Seth Moltz -- thanks for this piece of happiness.