The post I had planned to write this evening will have to wait, as I am feeling quite unwell. This follows a trial of Amouage Tribute Attar, which unfortunately looks set to last all weekend, short of popping out for a chemical peel. I know this stuff is concentrated, but still. If medieval torture had a scent, this would be it. My nose feels flagellated by the stinging leather note; my stomach sickened by the patchouli and vetiver combo - or very possibly the combination of everything else in the composition that isn't rose and jasmine. It is Caron Yatagan and its swishing bloodied scimitar on steroids.The notes given on Luckyscent are as follows:
Rose Taifi, Jasmine, Saffron, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Tobacco, Leather, Patchouli, Vetiver.
And there's me thinking I love all perfumes containing saffron. My beloved spice must be lying trussed up in a corner of the dungeon, being repeatedly poked with a pointy implement. Oh, and they seem to have missed off "pure sadism" on the list.
I must say that it is a tribute to the scent's tenacity that it shrugged off all attempts on my part to layer it (read "mask") with the relative benignly soapy Reflection. Tribute has to be - by some margin - the most gross scent to assault my nostrils since I was forcibly perfumed with Mona di Orio's Nuit Noire in Paris in 2008. Having done a quick scan of the reviews of Tribute, I realise that I am a lone voice in the blogosphere to find the scent as disagreeable as I do. If this aversion makes me a Philistine, I feel frankly too ill to mind. I also tried the Library Collection today, but I have to go and lie down now. And tomorrow I will wear something clean and not remotely belligerent. I am thinking Clinique Simply or Stella Nude.
10 comments:
I haven't tried this but was never interested in anything attar-y or overtly Arabian. Oudhs scare me too. I'm sorry you're suffering so much. Shove some mint leaves up your nares and breathe through your mouth :-)
Thanks, lovethescents - I will try that - only I may have to improvise with basil.
I haven't gotten around to smelling this particular attar, but I am feeling you all the way. (Hope by the time you are reading this, you are feeling out of the cellar.)
How you come to a house matters: I first made contact with the House of Amouage with the massive "Lyric," which is an all-time fav-- that huge red rose giving way to a bed of smoldering coals-- I just can't get enough! And then, not having huge use for the more refined and lady-like scents I know you prefer, I still managed a huge crush-out on "Reflection," which I think I might also turn to if I felt a migraine coming on-- cool, smooth, refined. The scent of money and nothing ever bad happening in the world.
"Epic" and "Jubilation" left me a little flat, but still, hugely crafted and lovely. By now I thought I "knew" this house, and I couldn't wait to try something more...exciting, say? Assertive?
Well, careful what you wish for: I still have not yet recovered from the olfactory onslaught that is "Tribute Attar." Lovely red rose again, to be sure, floating over what I can only describe as rotting cow. Incredibly, "Al Shomukh Attar" manages to be even *more* aggressive-- I can smell a dab on a piece of paper from across my living room. Scarcely to be believed, let alone tolerated. Even for a scent adrenaline junkie such as myself, I am left cowering and gasping.
Feel better soon, and stay away from the attars, Ms. B.
Oh wait!!! (Oh, this is so funny...) I actually thought you were reviewing an attar named "Attila"!!!! Oh, gosh... Ok. So I have tried this one. (Cheeks blushing...)
Feel better soon...
sorry to hear you had such a experience with it, I tried it as I read it had leather in it. barely lasted an hour and all I got was a bit of Saffron, no leather :(
Laughing out loud at your brilliant description.
I haven't smelled this yet, but when I do, it will surely be on paper! Hope you're feeling better soon. :)
Hi, The Left Coast Nose!
So glad you feel the same way as I do about this one - knowing that your taste is generally more robust than mine, and that you were still overpowered by this one is hugely reassuring. : - )
Hi mg68
How interesting that you got saffron and no leather? We really should swap noses, if that can be contrived somehow...
Hi Wordbird
Yes, paper, paper, paper - well away from your body.
As T S Eliot once said: "Keep the dog far hence."
Great post
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