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.

Hey good people, super cold here in northern Canada. What a better time to stay at home, watch the Olympics and try new fragrances. Coromandel is patchouli wearing a tuxedo, not a leather jacket. Right off the top, I get a smooth, slightly sweet patchouli, zero dirt, zero hippie vibes. This is clean, polished, and expensive-smelling in that quiet Chanel way. There’s also this low-key barbershop elegance in the background, not shaving foam, not loud fougère, more like freshly groomed, well put together gentleman vibe. The benzoin/incense combo gives it warmth and depth, almost creamy, but never sticky or gourmand. It just sits there… confident, calm, unbothered. Performance? I get 7–8h on skin, projects enough to be noticed, never to offend! This isn’t a hype beast, club monster, or compliment hunter. This is a grown-man scent. I think fall is where this will shine, winter days are perfect, and it even works on cooler spring days. If you like patchouli but hate when it’s loud, dirty, or trying too hard, Coromandel is elite tier.