I decided to explore more niche fragrances this year and I am starting of with some Mancera. Hindu Kush really struck a cord for me. It's said to have been inspired by the rugged mountain range that spans the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is a dense, resinous, and deeply atmospheric fragrance. From the initial 10 fragrances that I got it is probably the most unique from this house, moving away from the typical "rose-oud" DNA to explore something more herbal and mystical. Released in 2018 by Perfumer Pier Montale, the founder of both Montale & Mancera. ​It is an Amber Woody fragrance. Despite the name, it does not smell like a head shop. I was actually taken back when I tried it first as I don't enjoy cannabis in my fragrance, but the The note here is green, botanical, and oily, rather than smoky or skunky. ​The opening hits with an explosion of dry spices. You get a prominent hit of black pepper, clove, and saffron. Very quickly, the incense and cannabis notes emerge. The cannabis here is "green" and resinous, providing a thick, herbal texture. ​As the initial spice settles, the heart becomes much woodier. Patchouli takes center stage, t’s earthy but clean. This is paired with dark wood accords and a touch of terpenic resin (labdanum) that keeps the fragrance feeling balsamic and rich. ​The base is where the Mancera signature shines. It softens into a warm, slightly sweet foundation of amber, white musk, and Madagascar vanilla. The guaiac wood provides a lingering smokiness that ties back to the incense in the opening. When I first tried it, it smelt somewhat different must have been the scent cloud as I was running 4 or 5 different scents up each arm. Performance wise, this is an easy 9hr wear. It projects rather heavy for the first 3 hrs , this will fill a room so spray with caution. Perfect for the colder weather, Hindu Kush is a masterpiece for those who love "dark green" fragrances. It’s spiritual, mysterious, and commanding. If you enjoy scents like Amouage Interlude or Tiziana Terenzi Laudano Nero, this will likely be a hit for you.

This is one I've been proper excited to try out. Big fan of a good leather, none come better than what Memo Paris are putting out, so this has alot to live up too. This is loud, unapologetic & fiercely masculine despite being marketed as unisex.Released in 2014, this could possibly be one of the most polarizing and potent leather fragrances in the niche world. Again it was crafted by Pierre Montale as a Leather/Woody Chypre. Right from the first spray its aggressive. With Sicilian Bergamot is listed as the sole top note, but this is fleeting. Almost immediately, the dark, smoky leather begins to rise up. After about 20–30m, the scent settles into its heart. Here, Bulgarian Rose and Violet attempt to civilize the leather. I'm not a Rose fan TBH but this is more jammy than anything else and blends in well. The Patchouli adds an earthy, slightly minty greenness that prevents the floral notes from becoming too feminine.This stage is where the fragrance gains its high-end boutique character. The base is where this leather earns it's Wild name. The Leather here isn't a soft suede; it’s a rugged, wild leather, think new biker jackets and heavy boots. The combination of Oakmoss and Guaiac Wood gives it an earthy, forest-floor vibe. The Amber and White Musk provide a warm, slightly powdery skin-link that keeps the scent from being entirely cold. This is another all day scent that could easily outlive the onset of a midday shower. It creates a significant scent trail; people will smell you before you enter the room. The first 4 hours are room-filling. Spray with caution, I started of with six. WL is not for the faint of heart or those who prefer clean or sweet scents. This is a serious, dark, and authoritative fragrance. Wear this in the colder days or for evening events were you want too stand out. This is definitely gonna end up a shelf favourite My Rating: 8.5/10 Scent: 2.5 Longevity: 3 Sillage: 2 Y/N: 1