Year: 2015
Notes: nutmeg, salt, acacia, geranium, may lily, cyclamen, rose, ylang-ylang, vanilla, amber, leather, cedar, oud, rosewood, sandalwood, musk
Comment: Ducalis is part of the Hatria Collection
After all the hype that this Italian niche house has been receiving, one is completely aghast by the monstrosity that is Ducalis.
It's a disgustingly artificial woody-floral, with oud and a prominent marine note thrown in for good measure. Both the acacia and geranium provide an aromatic leaning, with the addition of a touch of nutmeg to complement the composition's sweetness. Unfortunately, the aroma chemicals are crudely blended and come across as deeply offensive to one's nose.
With subtle floral flourishes, it's mainly the dry norlimabol-esque woody-amber base that dominates. Ultimately, it's piercing, very metallic and highly derivative (but its synthetic abrasiveness does soften over time). Ironically, while it's potent and very long-lasting, it long outstays its welcome within a matter of minutes.
Extremely redolent of a designer sport release, or (even worse) a Montale reject, Ducalis doesn't even deserve to be considered an artisanal effort. It's practically bargain-bin rubbish, masquerading as something that should be perceived as exclusive and highly desirable.
This is the classic case of a pseudo-niche release that's, to put it mildly, an expensive joke.
It's a disgustingly artificial woody-floral, with oud and a prominent marine note thrown in for good measure. Both the acacia and geranium provide an aromatic leaning, with the addition of a touch of nutmeg to complement the composition's sweetness. Unfortunately, the aroma chemicals are crudely blended and come across as deeply offensive to one's nose.
With subtle floral flourishes, it's mainly the dry norlimabol-esque woody-amber base that dominates. Ultimately, it's piercing, very metallic and highly derivative (but its synthetic abrasiveness does soften over time). Ironically, while it's potent and very long-lasting, it long outstays its welcome within a matter of minutes.
Extremely redolent of a designer sport release, or (even worse) a Montale reject, Ducalis doesn't even deserve to be considered an artisanal effort. It's practically bargain-bin rubbish, masquerading as something that should be perceived as exclusive and highly desirable.
This is the classic case of a pseudo-niche release that's, to put it mildly, an expensive joke.
