Emeraude Agar
Atelier Cologne (2016)

I smell dusty wood incense, like the pressed cubes you buy in the import shop. It's that way from beginning to end and while it isn’t shocking or different, it is so very well done, it's hard not to like it. I get hints of rose now and then, but it's mostly a clean dry wood. Really nice. No huge longevity, but it doesn't need to be. Very nice.

A beautiful fragrance with a nice oud accord (warm, present but not in-your-face or pungent), supported by a noticeable eucalyptus note, and other notes that are not identifiable individually, but give a round and warm support (guaiac wood, sandalwood, rose). I also get an impression of saffron (Angelica, black pepper and geranium I guess).
It reminds me of several fragrances without being able to link it to a specific one. Not unique, but masterfully blended.

The scent is heavenly, that said on my skin the projection is soft and the longevity moderate at best (disclaimer: I tested it from a decant, not a full bottle).

The scent is heaven-level. If performance was better on my skin, I would have already gone for a full bottle, but I'll first test it further and finish with my decant before making a decision (and edit this review). For now, because of that weakness, it'll be only a neutral rating.
Still, a great oud accord fragrance, that is office safe (strong point).

Fall/Winter/early Spring days, 30+, unisex

Starts off with a mineral smell, the wood and pepper giving it a slight rubbery mineral quality. There's so much wood in this it comes of smoky, but the eucalyptus freshens it up. I accidentally poured the entire sample on my arm, so this is it! It's like a unique minty wood, with pepper to add minerality. I really like this one. There is some floral that gives it a "new clothes" smell, but is off set by the eucalyptus. It makes you want to breathe deeply to take it all in. This is a good counterpart Oud to the classic M7. This could have come off as a menthol cigarette, but happily it's much better than that. Very unique.

Emeraude Agar A most intriguing fragrance. This one seems to play on themes that have been really heavily played out recently - but with an AC type twist. It seems more than a sum of its parts. A better 'OUD' than OUD Saphir - even if agar wood / oud is a farily background player. It comes accross more similar to Poivre electrique from the same house. It seems to take the mind in different directions depending when worn.

The first words I jotted down were: OUD/dry/sandalwood/cedar/grey/green/pepper/rose/minty/geranium/leather/tar/coffee/clean/ashy/polished/coffee/incense. Certainly, not all these elements would be intended - but, these are all brought to my mind to various degrees by the notes present. A fresh oud done this well is a rare creature and it doesn't fall into a stereotypical oud-floral or oud-leather category. in fact the oud is no more important than any of the other notes. Reminiding me a little of Lalique homage L'homme

An unfortunate observation. Most of the ACs I find worth exploring are also in the exclusive / extra-expensive lines. I'd happily wear many, some of which are truly unique, but would have to be looking at good deals.
81/100

Emeraude Agar is one of my favorites from Atelier Cologne. There is a deep masculine "almost leather" at the heart of this fragrance - agar oud followed by cooling guaiac wood. An interesting prelim to the depth of the oud rich leather part is eucalyptus which definitely plays up a green leafy aspect. The black pepper with geranium as well as eucalyptus gives it a peppery dry leafy mint tone. This is a very unusual combination but it works here nicely without getting heavy or muddled. Bergamot and rose are not noticeable but add expansiveness to the mid notes. A side observation is the compatibility of Emeraude Agar with another Atelier perfume - Camelia Intrepide - which was introduced at the same time as Emeraude Agar. Camelia Intrepide is a nutmeg spiced iris and violet toned leather scent that when applied on top of Emeraude Agar creates a very compatible and much more complicated leather masculine which gathers the most interesting parts of both. I happened to have both of these and discovered this happy accident. Anyway, I give Emeraude Agar 8 of 10 stars and am enjoying it in the howl of winter much more than in the simmering summer heat. A very nice scent with solid masculine character - no doubt of that.

Atelier Cologne does Creed Royal Mayfair