Parfum d'Empire: Equistrius

Er, no, the scent has nothing to do with horses.

At first whiff, the thick and fruity iris is almost an over-kill. But let it settle for a while and you will notice how the steamed rice accord compliments and amps the doughy smell/texture of the iris, pushing the fruity accords slightly into the background now, but still borrowing the fruity sweetness.

Interestingly, a rather briny/salty accord reveals an ozonic dimension to Equistrius, and I really quite enjoy this addition here. All this is built on a powdery and smooth sandalwood base that it eventually dries down to.

Iris is one of my favorite notes, and I suspect my expectations can be a little higher when I meet an iris-centric fragrance. Equistrius definitely gets the thumbs up from me.

Parfum d'Empire: Cuir Ottoman

A thick, woody leather, with a very good dose of buttery iris. There is a sweet ambery and resinous complexion to Cuir Ottoman that makes this composition a rather rich one. One of the best leather representations I have experienced.

Parfum d'Empire: Eau De Gloire

Eau de Gloire opens with a rather tingly-sharp, spicy-green citrus with a raw herbal tinge of lavender. As the sharp opening settles and blows away, the smokiness starts to reveal itself, and I am left with an herbal, leathery, smokey and slightly vinegary base. For an eau de toilette, I am very impressed at longevity and sillage. This is my go-to when I am in the mood for an eau de cologne-esque scent.

Parfum d'Empire: Ambre Russe

Probably the best amber scent in my personal collection, and my favorite among the Parfum d'Empire line-up, Ambre Russe opens with an accord that smells like bitter dark chocolate and incense. It then reveals a heart that smells like whiskey and some leather. When everything else blows away, a light skin scent of honeyed and spiced dried tea lingers on top of a minimal dash of vanilla. Glorious. Satisfyingly intense. Hard liquor and amber. If you're thinking that this might cost a bomb, you'd be surprised to know that Parfum d'Empire offers rich, quality niche fragrances at not-so-niche prices.