Wild Night
Alendor (2020)

Wild Night could just as easily have been called Morning at the Office and I doubt anyone would have blinked an eye – except that the latter name is a disaster in marketing terms. Still, the point is that this is a mass-appealing gentleman’s freshie and would go just as well with white shirt and tie (not that I’ve worn one in decades), indeed better even than with whatever attire or lack thereof that debauchery may demand.
But before I be accused of damning with faint praise, let me say that there are interesting twists in the template – and applause for Nathalie Feisthauer for executing them with panache. First there is the trick of pulling off a fresh tobacco-centred fragrance – there’s nothing pruney, muddy, or cured here. Then, there’s the freshness itself – brought about by the pale watery green of calamus, light dabs of geranium and bright (as opposed to earthy) vetiver, rather than standard-issue citruses. And finally, bang in the middle is the odd, dusty vegetal note of mate – delicately bitter but also bringing powdery accents. It seems to keep tilting the whole thing from side to side like a gyroscope, making the scent impression dance. When settled, Wild Night feels both comfortable and stylish, like a garment that’s so easy to return to that others in the wardrobe get neglected. Fine work.