I got a sample of the '08 one and fell in love, because I love anything leather, and was so excited when they brought it back for '13, so I got a bottle even though I really couldn't afford it, and.... blechhhh.
'08: Warm, soft leather and gaufrette, which is the kind of cookie you let sit on top of a cup of tea to cover it, mild and waffly and a tiny bit of caramel or syrup. The licorice is stronger at first, then becomes mild and adds a dark note, but supports the leather and cookie with its natural anise fragrance. The coal is barely noticeable, just another supporting dark, dusty note. It ends on a strong, warm, soft, sweet, cozy, friendly, snuggly leather finish. LOVE. I give it a 9/10.
'13: Dark, industrial. If you want to smell like a steam train engineer after a long shift, this is for you. The leather is barely there, and the cookie is only a hint of sweetness, both buried under the sharp blackness of the licorice and industrial stink of coal smoke. When sniffing the bottle, it literally makes my throat close up a bit, and on the skin, it's no better. It never morphs to the '08 version, and has not changed at all in the aging. Awful. I give it a 2/10.
