The Hound in the Velvet Cloak

Pardon is deeply romantic. Not in a floral, rosy-sweet way, but in that dark, seductive, gentleman-in-a-candlelit-room way.

When I first tested it, this is what I wrote: "Despite Nasomatto's secrecy about the notes, it's clear from the very first sniff that they've used a ton of patchouli - the damp dog, soily earth kind, and an oud that smells like something in the early stages of decay." I no longer experience it with such passionate distaste, but I can still understand why others might.

The longer it dries, the more magical it becomes. The oud softens into a smooth, woody smoke, and the patchouli morphs into its dark chocolate variety - not sugary, but with a balsamic, shadowy, 90% cocoa richness. Warm spice, softer woods, and faint florals dance around the edges, giving texture to the core.

No longer a swamp dog, but a regal hound of quiet authority. He wears a three-piece suit and a top hat, with a dark brown velvet cloak draped effortlessly over his shoulders, stitched with threads of deep forest green. In one paw, he sips a cup of bitter cocoa, and in the other, he turns a polished oud bracelet, its rich aroma a reflection of his calm, commanding presence.

When it comes to performance, it’s difficult to rate. On one hand, the sillage is never strong enough to fill a room, but at the same time, its persistence is, in my experience, near-unmatched. There have been times when, even 14 hours later, Pardon’s trail is still following me around. It deserves 5⭐️ in this department - just know that it’s not going to choke anyone out, but people will still be smelling you many hours into the wear.