Onto part II of this series. I’d been waiting a while to actually be able to wear this, considering the scorching weather we’re dealing with in Las Vegas, but I saw that sample lying about, and said “fuck it, I got nothing to lose”, and that led to part II of this review. And right off the bat, I was thoroughly impressed. One similar thing i’ve seen about the DNA from Jordi Fernandez, is that the openings always have a little bit of everything in the scents, including the base notes. I noted this with Silver Ceremony, Oud Maracuja, and Cuir Infrarouge. It can be borderline overwhelming because you get a lot of everything in the openings. The opening has an accord i’ve never smelled before, which is an accord of pineapple ice cream, something you wouldn’t expect. But it’s so well done, that you can completely see how it would smell so. It’s vanilla-like, creamy, slightly gourmand, and has a light, almost tropical punchiness to it with a sharp pineapple note. Mixed in with that, you get spices, incense, and fresher elements. Saffron and incense provide that foreshadowing and bridge to the deeper, more resinous base, while also blending with the more fresh, lighter elements. Honestly that’s how I think Jordi is able to get that, “every note is present in the openings” DNA, because even the opening notes provide a bridge to the deeper notes. Eventually, time passes by, and the opening notes descend into a rosy, floral heart, of three different notes: Bulgarian and Turkish rose, and Turkish rose absolute. The Bulgarian rose provides a light, fruitier and airy floral, which connects to the opening notes quite well, while the blend with the Turkish rose gives a jammier, richer depth to transition to the base much smoother. The addition of Turkish rose absolute was smart in my opinion, as it helps to balance the lighter and fresher elements like the pineapple and bergamot out with the heavier, woodier bases. It’s honestly how you’re able to blend two contrasting notes so well, by giving them a proper bridge.

Some fragrances make an immediate impression that doesn’t really change.Terre d'Hermès was one of those for me. The first time I smelled it was in a gift shop on the way to Mahogany Bay in the Caribbean. One spray was all it took. What stood out then is still what stands out now: bright citrus, earthy mineral tones, and dry woods coming together in a way that feels refined, natural, and very controlled. In heat and humidity it behaves exactly how it seems to have been designed, transparent, close to the skin, and best when reapplied rather than expected to project for hours. It’s not a “beast” fragrance, and it was never meant to be. To me, that’s part of what makes it work. The perfumer designed it to stay elegant and airy rather than dominate a room. That’s exactly how it responds. It’s one of the fragrances I confidently call a masterpiece.