* A strong refreshing burst of cinnamon with apricot, gingerbread, and licorice kicks this off.
* Imagine sweet dessert pastries and teas that are cooling rather than warming for an idea.
* Imagine if Nutella had a caramel flavor. Now dip some licorice in there. That’s the top of Aomassai.
* It feels really dense and syrupy, making it feel like a winter comfort scent.
* The nutella smell says dominant as some spices come into play.
* When I went into the store, I asked for a preshave product and this is what I was pointed to.
* The consistency is a little off-putting – feeling almost like congealed animal fat – thicker than a gel, but not completely solid.
* Upon contact with skin, it instantly liquifies and creates an ultrasmooth layer,
* Trying it with different shave soaps/creams, it simply improved every product I used it with.
* Only a small amount is necessary, so the 50 ml jar lasted me nearly an entire year.
Summary: Last year, before I went to Paris, a fanatical wet shaving friend gave me a list of products to pick up for him. Martin de Candre is a traditional family-owned soap making business that has been in operation for 40 years. Their products are very difficult to find in the US and even a challenge to find in Paris (don’t bother with department stores – go directly to Planete Rasoir). Although the texture of the product is a bit strange, it is one of the best products that I have ever used. Reading the ingredient list and doing some research online (thank you Timothy on Badger and Blade) – it is a mix of coconut oil with propylene glycol and chamomile. It is quite slick and works as an amazing preshave. It also works as an aftershave and is usually sold as such as well. I have normal to dry skin so it works really for me. If you have oily skin, it might be too slick for you. It’s also one of the first products that I have run completely out of. Keeping it in my bathroom closet, I found myself reaching for it with every shave. The simplicity of its composition seems to make it even more decadent. The chamomile smell is slight and will not fight with any cologne that you might put on over it. I will definitely be buying another jar of it when I go to Paris this year.
Martin de Candre products are available from the Martin de Candre website and Planete Rasoir.
Disclaimer: No disclaimer needed as I own a full bottle. Image courtesy of Martin de Candrew website.
* Off the top it’s spicy, syrupy, and boozy. I’m not sure if I am getting cognac or rum, but it’s robust, strong, and warming at the same time.
* Actually, I ran into my kitchen to smell a few fruits and I am getting prunes. Not geriatric prunes, but sweet alcoholic prunes. Okay, so it’s spiced prune rum as the top notes.
* The prunes stay present but get less sweet and more dry, even salty, as they are grounded by cedar wood. So imagine pencil shavings and prunes. It sounds odd, but it smells really good.
* After about four hours it becomes very much a skin scent, but it will often waft up when you don’t realize or expect it.
* The spiced prune note stays present and is joined by a dry leather and a cooking spice that I couldn’t place.
Summary: Fareb is a scent where words don’t do it justice. When I say spiced prune rum and pencil shavings, it sounds really odd and off-putting, but on skin it’s really seductive and comforting at the same time. As an EDP, longevity is average- lasting just about eight hours before it becomes really faint. While this could be worn as an office fragrance (after the first hour passes), I see it more of a nighttime/going out to dinner and then snuggling with someone kind of scent. For the right kind of guy (or girl), it could easily be a signature scent. I would recommend this for anyone who likes the idea of Serge Lutens scents but finds them too strong or intense to wear. Fareb is just as interesting but not as aggressive through the wear.
Other opinions:
Il Mondo di Odore
Ca Fleure Bon
Perfume Smellin Things
Persolaise
Scent For Thought
What a Fragrance Fanatic Thinks
Huitieme Art Fareb is available at Luckyscent.
Disclaimer: No disclaimer needed as I own a full bottle. Image courtesy of LuckyScent website.