Of the Unicorn

[AmyO'Shields]

Patchouli absolute, white orris, agarwood, and ambrette seed.

Wow.

Something comes across as honey or beeswax ish which I can't stand on my skin. In the next 15 minutes it transforms and blossoms...the patchouli and orris are a great combo. It reminds me of an earthier Dance of Death (which I love) and then I think I start smelling the ambrette and it turns into an almost sweet, sensual outdoorsy scent. Whatever it is, it smells comforting and I can only imagine how well this will age. It feels like a late Autumn scent to me, so I will put it away till then. Another beautiful creation and I am happy to have a bottle.

ETA: I give. I cannot stop huffing my wrists...it feels like Our Lady of Pain with the lavender replaced with orris...feels. Absolute love. I think I need a bottle to cellar...anyone waffling on this? Don't. It is a masterpiece.

ETA 2: this keeps getting better. I had to edit the funky bit I wrote because it just isn't happening anymore. Pure love. Edited August 16, 2016 by Herb Girl

[bheansidhe]

This is a dry, earthy, husky patchouli-and-woods blend, with ambrette lending a nutty warmth. This isn't the toothy, gnarly patch in Banshee Beat. It smells autumnal and polished. It has a very male feel to it, but it's nothing like a cologne; more like a carved and oiled wooden statutette of a forest god.

 

I normally pass on anything with orris, but this one is beautifully done.

[Dark Alice]

This is just beautiful. The patchouli started off rough but, it has dried down to the most beautiful, ambrette, patchouli, orris scent. This is a must have.

[Blood onmy hands]

I love patchouli, and I've tried so many amazing patchouli fragrances in the 15+ years that I've been collecting fragrances. I wasn't sure that I was going to need a bottle of this, but I do. Such a good, rich, heavy patchouli with nuances of pine needle, forest floor and sap. Agarwood/oud is hit or miss on me, but I love the slightly smoky, rich, dry woodiness in this. The orris is barely there for me, adding a hint of sweetness to the natural chewy sweetness that patchouli can sometimes have. I was worried about the orris turning powdery, but I'm not getting powder from this at all.

 

It's hard to explain different types of patchouli, but this one is a love for me. Forest floor, golden sweetness, black earth and gold, sweet tones, with a dark woodiness to it... just... mmmm.

 

I'm definitely keeping my bottle, and it's going to be hard to resist buying a backup bottle or two.

[LiberAmoris]

Of the Unicorn is definitely earthy—that's such a good word for it, Herb Girl! It's patchouli-dominant on me but far from simple. The orris, agarwood, and ambrette add subtle notes of violety oudh, sweet soil, a hint of woodsmoke, and an undercurrent of cinnamon-vanilla animalic musk. The result is a sexy, earthy patchouli blend that's also gentle and very relaxing to wear.

[zankoku_zen]

Masculine, earthy, patchouli with ambrette and agarwood. Masculine, and heady. Good throw and wear length.

[VetchVesper]

This comes across more woody than earthy on me. Bheansidhe's description of a forest idol is spot on. It smells nice b/a bit too masculine on me, probably b/c I'm not getting any orris. I'm curious how this one will age though.

[Casablanca]

Orris and patchouli, skipping hand-in-hand.

This seems a chewy patchouli to me, in the way that some tobacco notes are chewy. The orris is a ghostly, powdery presence next to it. Of the agarwood/oud, and the ambrette, I get a blended hint, together forming a woody and slightly nutty background. This is a very base-notey blend.

After an hour, Of the Unicorn is a dusty, powdery earth scent on my skin. Hours later, I can barely catch it.