Old Norse

Old Norse opens with a punchy aromatic accord of clary sage, lavender and bergamot, echoing the bright fougere start that makes Parfums de Marly Haltane so distinctive. The heart turns gently gourmand with praline and seductive saffron, before the base settles into a dry, slightly earthy oud-and-cedar woodiness - the synthetic 'oud' accord at the centre of the original. The effect is a spicy-woody, fougere-meets-oud composition with a playful sweet streak. As a Perfume Parlour budget interpretation it renders the blend flatter and more 2D than the niche original: the rich saffron-leather facet is thinner, the woods less refined, and longevity sits skin-close at a few hours rather than the long, if intimate, wear Haltane is known for. Even so, the lavender-praline-oud signature and the confident, dressed-up mood come through, making it an affordable route to the Haltane idea for cooler-weather evenings.