Kintamani Drip

Since the very first second of its opening Kintamani marks its character with a unique contrast of notes. Herbal, slightly green and fougere but smooth and meditative opening is what caught me by surprise. “I was expecting a sweet coffee gourmand” I thought to myself. My expectations weren’t let down but it’s only after a long while that the scent surpasses this stage. Coffee in Kintamani is presented in such a unique way, it takes a few tries to understand its genius. It doesn’t hold any of qualities common to itself, at least in my opinion. Thanks to the previously mentioned opening that carries on thoughtout most of the composition it’s not a dark, sweet or empowering type of coffee you’d expect for a cold winter night. No, it’s fresh, aromatic, realistic and almost melting like a natural smelling candle. Like a soft seduction, it whispers calming tales though the air. In its late stages a spark of sweetness appears. It guides the composition into warmer tones, oud and coffee wrap around you like a soft and cozy scarf. Against all my expectations Kintamani turned out to be just different. In a world of generic songs it’s a symphony. 

Arjuno Rebirth

Arjuno-Welirang is an active volcano in Indonesia with the last confirmed eruption happening in 1952. For hundreds of years the wild occurrences in nature have been an inspiration for all kinds of art. But the one specific form of art I'll be uncovering today is perfume. With ingredients locally gathered straight from the lands of Indonesia it's no surprise that the scent inherited its wild nature. Arjuno Rebirth starts like an intense, refreshing explosion like there isn't any. Piercing ethereal mint and pine accompanied by a slight touch of sweetness that awakens the brain more than stimulants and sends chills down the spine. I wouldn't like this description to sound exaggerated but without a doubt this is the mintiest mint I've ever tried, like a polarizing whiff of menthol air. Once the first impression wears off so does the opening which begins to continue telling its story in a much more relaxed way. A noticeable addition of sandalwood and gentle spiciness which start to mix up with the ethereal mint is what makes the composition feel much warmer instead of piercing. It takes on softer and comforting side while still visibly having attributes from its opening. You can feel how the sun has risen after a cold morning filling the surrounding nature with life and joy. Once the spicy notes fade away Arjuno Rebirth dries down alongside oud, green and fresh enough to not seem out of place, as well as vetiver. Their charismatic presence and dominant character is noticeable throughout entire base which adds a perfect amount of maturity. It’s a story that describes nature of Indonesia in a way that words and pictures could never. That’s why perfume will remain to be my favorite form of art. 

2 x 5ml | Extrait de parfum

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