SOTD ā Black Influence by SĆS-SKĆND - Fresh Start October
Good Morning Brotherhood! Today I come to you with a āFresh Start Octoberā fragrance, Black Influence by SĆS-SKĆND. This is a niche fragrance introduced to me by my local niche dealer, Dāor Prestige (https://dorprestige.com/). After doing a bit of research on the brand, I learned that Black Influence was crafted in Grasse, France, and launched in 2016. According to the brandās website (https://www.harsalong.be/sus-skind-black-influence), āPerfume is much more than a combination of molecules and components. It expresses a feeling, a desire that is interpreted by the perfumer to bring to life memories of past emotions or emotions one would like to experience.ā The fragrance comes only in a 30ml bottle, presented in an elegant, minimalist design with a sticker logo that gives off true small-business charm. Iād classify this as Indie Niche, since it seems to be sold exclusively through the perfumer and select niche retailers like Dāor Prestige but I hate to throw around the word Indie out of respect to true Indie perfumers. Maybe @Lon Chaneyfield can weigh in here to help me out a little to see if the term āIndieā fits this house? On first spray, Iām immediately greeted by white florals that are warm and inviting, drawing me in for more. Thereās a fleeting touch of animalic funk in the opening, but it quickly fades as the fragrance settles. The dry down brings a soft, white powdery feel, reminiscent of old-school baby powder. Though iris isnāt listed in the official notes, I definitely pick up an iris-like vibe likely from the tonka bean and vanilla. Itās vanillic, slightly cola like, but not gourmand. As it continues to evolve, woody nuances emerge, giving the powdery notes a smooth wooden base to rest on. To put it in perspective, Iād compare this to Dior Homme 2020, but softer, creamier, and with a touch more wood in the base. Performance is excellent and not ābeast modeā by any means, but very respectable. Projection sits about an armās length with 8 sprays, so Iād call it moderate. However, the longevity is outstanding. You can tell the ingredients are high quality as it stays rich and creamy for 8+ hours.