Incense masterclass

Fables d'Orient Extrait is a mature, elegant scent built around the same family of ingredients as Amouage's Purpose 50. While Quentin's work is very sharp and direct, almost oversaturating the colors he uses to the point of feeling like a copy, Christophe takes a very different approach. He uses the ingredients like watercolors, masterfully achieving the same "effect" but in a more refined way. The similarities end there, as I believe Fables has much more to express, despite sharing what I'm simplifying a bit as the "cola chord."

This scent opens with resins, nutmeg, spices, pink pepper, and bergamot, immediately evoking a nutmeg and lemony cola accord. I think the iris, placed very intelligently in the opening, contributes to this, though with a different nuance than what follows. It's a sparkling scent at first, with the bergamot and resin-iris combination creating a very lemony feel, yet it never becomes too citrusy. The sweetness comes from the elegant nutmeg. Fables doesn't hit you over the head; it transitions elegantly into the dry down with a special steamed rice effect and a key sweet nutmeg, where its beauty truly unfolds. At the heart of the scent, you understand what it's all about. I've been to certain historical libraries that have this effect on me; it feels like a sacred room filled with old, exceptionally well-preserved books. Don't ask me why, but rooms like that have a very interesting smell that, without consciously thinking of the ingredients, gives you a feeling of calmness, serenity, and, as silly as it sounds, it feels like there's history in the air, knowledge, and ancient maturity. This is definitely a scent that transports you to a beautiful state of mind, reminiscent of a place or room where history has passed. This is definitely a signature scent for me, every time I wear it, everybody knows it’s me.

While is true that AP is sadly erasing some of their best old hits that we will never be able to smell again, they are keeping their pace with works like this, best blind buy ever on my side. Meditative, Elegant, with Depth and Purpose ( you got the joke? :P)