Libertine

Libertine is set in a Venetian palazzo, home of Casanova, and the scent follows the story: a cordial of orange flower and cognac, the glow of beeswax candles and a single dark rose. It opens with bitter orange, cognac and beeswax. Orange blossom, rose, cumin and saffron shape a spiced, floral heart, then leather, amber and dark woods settle underneath. Wearers repeatedly describe a bright orange opening that turns warmer and darker as rose and spice come through. Words that recur are boozy, waxy, leathery and sensual, and for some sweaty or animalic, because cumin brings an earthy heat. Many call it distinctive, well blended and confident, and several find it wearable on any gender. Others dislike the cumin, find the woody drydown more masculine than they want, or say the rose and cognac barely register on their skin. Votes put longevity at long or moderate and projection at moderate or strong. Accounts range from a few hours of modest presence to a strong first two hours and a skin scent that lasts all day. Autumn and winter lead the season votes, and night leads day. Libertine is the dark half of a pair with Virtuous, and the house says the two can be layered in either order. It is for the bold of spirit, in the house's words, and a sample is wise if cumin is a sticking point. It is a 50ml extrait de parfum with a 20% oil concentrate.