Origin

Origin is the rose-led oriental that Aqualis London launched in 2016 as one of the four fragrances in its first collection. Amandine Galliano composed it, and the brand frames it as an explosive, creative and enveloping homage to perfumery's oldest ingredients. The opening is a vivid, velvety rose with heady jasmine and a sharp, bitter flash of spice that some wearers find harsh for the first minutes. Then the rose settles, warm and sweet, and the heart turns oriental: patchouli, saffron, sandalwood and tobacco, with a smoky oud that the brand describes as plush and enveloping. Wearers disagree about the oud, and a few say they cannot find it at all, hearing woody warmth around the rose instead. The base is vanilla, amber, cedar and musk with an animalic accord. The vanilla arrives late and gives the scent a soft, almost powdery warmth. The animalic note is where opinion divides most sharply: most voters love the scent, while a small minority find it sharp, harsh and unpleasantly animal. Staying power is long, with several wearers reporting around eight hours, although a few find the projection modest. It is a cold-weather and evening scent, at its best from autumn to winter. Try it on skin before buying.