Sneezing Never Smelt So Good

Tero opens with a sharp burst of familiar greenery, courtesy of the vetiver, which quickly morphs into what I'd describe as roughed-up caramel. It's undeniably sweet, yet tempered by patchouli's smooth, clean earthiness - here rendered green and vibrant rather than vintage and musty.

For the first 30 or so minutes, it gives the prickly, tingly sensation of accidentally inhaling ground pepper. Even as that subsides, the texture remains spiky - the presence of oak often leaves this impression, far removed from the rounded woodiness of cedar or the creamy softness of sandalwood.

Nishane is a house that rarely misses for me, and Tero is no different. The dominant presence of caramel makes it a bold choice for the hottest of days, yet it remains a fantastically unique sweet-and-savory blend.