Indian Mount

Indian Mount opens on a plume of smoky incense lifted by dry spices and resinous labdanum, a clear nod to Mancera Hindu Kush's unusual aromatic-woody character. The heart settles into warm woody notes and earthy patchouli before a base of amber, guaiac wood and vanilla pod rounds things off, softened by clean white musk. On skin it wears as a cozy, grounded smoky-woody scent rather than the hypnotic, almost narcotic original; the cannabis-tinged funk and provocative sweetness of Hindu Kush are dialled back here, leaving a more linear resin-and-amber accord. Longevity and projection are the obvious compromises, the dupe hugs the skin and fades sooner, but for autumn and winter evenings it delivers a convincing, affordable echo of the house style.