Tuxedo Hour

Tuxedo Hour is short on notes and big on mood. It begins with oud wood and incense, which arrive together as a dark, dry smoke with a slightly leathery edge. It feels like the moment you step into a room after a party has started. The heart is a single resin. Benzoin tears give a soft, vanilla-like sweetness with a balsamic warmth that rounds off the smoke and keeps the oud from feeling stark. The raspberry sits at the very end, which is the unexpected part. It is a small, jammy flash of fruit that lights up the resin and makes the dry-down plush and slightly playful. Because the structure is so simple, the progression is easy to follow and the wear is clean and focused. At 30 percent extrait strength it lasts well into the night with a noticeable but steady trail. Wear it in autumn and winter, to dinners, concerts and formal events. A couple of sprays on clothing hold the smoke nicely. Bottom line: a sleek oud and incense with creamy benzoin and a surprising raspberry finish.