303
Bon Parfumeur (2019)

I'm quietly impressed with this offering from Bon Parfumeur, with a slight side helping of self-congratulation for evidently ordering the right samples from London's Bloom boutique. If I don't know my own tastes... well, there have been some blinders. This one is another musk-heavy offering in the manner of the Tom Ford Noir series, but I like 303 more than any of the Tom Fords. This is more unobtrusive, but has long-lasting quality and a strong development that has spicy chilli and cardamom present throughout. The vetivers and musks take over but you never lose an element of freshness that accompanies you to the end of the day. This is, I would admit, niche perfumery for the timid, or those who are mostly comfortable with designer offerings. However, it's a step above many comparable compositions. It's not a genre I need to consider at the moment, but to do "mainstream" this well is something of an achievement, albeit a minor one.