Year: 2008
Notes: green fig, dates, jammy notes, tonka bean, sandalwood, musks
Portrayed as a "creamy green fig delight", Kadota (the name of a variety of fig that has a yellowish-green skin) is a world away from the more conventional quality fig offerings, such as L'Artisan's Premier Figuier, Diptyque's Philosykos and Heeley's Figuier.
As opposed to a fresh, creamy and woody rendition of ripe figs, Kadota investigates the dried syrupy aspect of this fruit. Evocative of Serge Lutens' Arabie, Kadota is all about dark stewed fruits, but without the challenging spices and resinous-balsamic underlining. In their place, one can discern salty green flourishes, akin to celery, and dried grass instead.
With more emphasis on the dates and jammy notes, the fig tends to play more of a supporting role. However, over time, everything starts to structurally fall apart. The lush sweetness is dramatically toned down, any initial clarity is lost and an immortelle-like earthiness suddenly takes over. By the drydown, Kadota smells more like Serge Lutens' Chypre Rouge than a fig scent, which is the last thing that one was expecting.
Both sillage and longevity are also severely lacking.
As opposed to a fresh, creamy and woody rendition of ripe figs, Kadota investigates the dried syrupy aspect of this fruit. Evocative of Serge Lutens' Arabie, Kadota is all about dark stewed fruits, but without the challenging spices and resinous-balsamic underlining. In their place, one can discern salty green flourishes, akin to celery, and dried grass instead.
With more emphasis on the dates and jammy notes, the fig tends to play more of a supporting role. However, over time, everything starts to structurally fall apart. The lush sweetness is dramatically toned down, any initial clarity is lost and an immortelle-like earthiness suddenly takes over. By the drydown, Kadota smells more like Serge Lutens' Chypre Rouge than a fig scent, which is the last thing that one was expecting.
Both sillage and longevity are also severely lacking.
