Gold II Sahara / Gold II
Widian (2016)

Beautiful.

Too bad it is discontinued.

A perfume in the whacking-great-cloud manner of Montale where one is hit by a concentrated blast of heady notes – in this case a sweet woody amber, but with musky propulsion and bitter orange peel and saffron glinting through. At its heart is a kind of scented gunk – like a fudged up vanilla and patchouli combo that smears its rich endearments over much of the rest that is going on in this perfume. If that kind of density appeals, you should give this a try. I personally find that this kind of style if not done exactly right weighs me down and makes me feel sluggish, like I had overindulged at the pastry counter.

Mary Poppins said it - "Perfectly perfect in every way". The saffron is ambery sweet and lightly floral. The orange and orange blossom meld in the mid notes. Rose is there, too and amber mixed with cedar flanked by vanilla round out the composition in high style. Sometimes vanilla is too sweet but here it just warms the components. Delicate, golden and sweet but woody. A smudge of incense gives it teeth and bite near the end. This is a heady pleasure. Why, oh why is it soooo $$$$? Still, I feel I must have this. The citrus of Eau de Merveillies is missing but the comparison is apt. The longevity and wafting power is superior, however and that is the attraction. I feel like a spoiled princess in this scent.