Lupus & Vega
Oud Brotherhood (2.5 grams)
This fragrance is an oud overload, an absolute.
This fragrance was originally sold at Stele NYC, in downtown Manhattan, in deluxe bottles and cases--but they recently sold out. I offer the few remaining bottles here on my website, in economical packaging, for less. (If you want to inquire about the deluxe packaging, let me know by contacting me.)
Medicinal at first, slightly minty, this blend of oils quickly turns into a profile of woody, smooth notes, vintage, musky fire, and some light flowers to drive it “lift” off your warm skin—giving something wood scents usually lack, diffusion.
But before you reach the meat of the matter, you’re hit with Bergamot, Pink peppercorns, and a delightful, almost humorous trace of cardamon. In the heart, you’ll find the classic dose of Rose de Mai/the so-called “masculine” Jasmine sambac in all its addictive glory, and Ylang Ylang extra—smoothing out the edges. And before you get to that awesome base, you’ll be touched by an accord of warm spices, like cassie bark, cassie leaf, and small traces of cloves. (Clove is a beautiful spice, but it becomes overwhelming easily. I use restraint to avoid the unkind feeling it can give your stomach.)
Then that base: Rare, vintage oud, Aquilaria agallocha, Assam, North India; Sri Lanka sandalwood album, and leathery, ambery Labdanum Absolute: all forming the skeleton for this fragrance.
At the far dry-down, you’ll find my favorites: vintage animalics: deer musk for so long ago, civet paste, gold ambergris. You who are experienced know what this smells like and how it develops vigorously on the skin already: now you need to experience the brotherhood that inspired it between my frank devotion to a fellow artisan.
