Year: 2015
Notes: Calabrian bergamot and orange, mint, aromatic and green notes, clove, saffron, violet, rose, jasmine, Madagascan vanilla, amber, cedar, sandalwood, white musk
Golden Sand is classified as a spicy woody-oriental.
The first thing to greet one's nose is the saffron, which is slightly medicinal. It's only after a few moments that the citrus, mint and aromatic notes meekly emerge. As for any green notes, these are largely nondescript.
Shortly afterwards, a serving of clove briefly becomes discernible, before both the violet and rose fully surface to intermingle with the saffron. A creaminess eventually infiltrates the proceedings, courtesy of the jasmine, yet the composition never veers into overt floral territory. With a light touch of amber and vanilla, the cedar slowly engulfs the florals but allows the saffron a little extra time to breathe. With most of the initial components now faint, a woody-musk base ensues, with traces of amber and vanilla providing a subtle sweetness.
Now, although one finds it intriguing, one has a couple of reservations. Firstly, its development is too rapid and it doesn't allow for certain stages (or even accords) to be fully appreciated. And, secondly, its performance is quite pitiful – quickly becoming a mere whisper, after a pungent opening, and lasting less than four hours.
If it wasn't for these issues, one would have awarded it an extra star. Unfortunately, it performs on the skin like sand slipping through one's fingers.
The first thing to greet one's nose is the saffron, which is slightly medicinal. It's only after a few moments that the citrus, mint and aromatic notes meekly emerge. As for any green notes, these are largely nondescript.
Shortly afterwards, a serving of clove briefly becomes discernible, before both the violet and rose fully surface to intermingle with the saffron. A creaminess eventually infiltrates the proceedings, courtesy of the jasmine, yet the composition never veers into overt floral territory. With a light touch of amber and vanilla, the cedar slowly engulfs the florals but allows the saffron a little extra time to breathe. With most of the initial components now faint, a woody-musk base ensues, with traces of amber and vanilla providing a subtle sweetness.
Now, although one finds it intriguing, one has a couple of reservations. Firstly, its development is too rapid and it doesn't allow for certain stages (or even accords) to be fully appreciated. And, secondly, its performance is quite pitiful – quickly becoming a mere whisper, after a pungent opening, and lasting less than four hours.
If it wasn't for these issues, one would have awarded it an extra star. Unfortunately, it performs on the skin like sand slipping through one's fingers.
