Harvest Moon
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements (2015)

Smelling Harvest Moon from the sample vial, the note I immediately pick out is “headshop” patchouli. Though not listed as an official note, I get a strong dose in the opening; it’s much less prominent on skin. Perhaps the “hay” note is playing tricks on my nose, but without looking at the note list I would have sworn this contained patchouli. There is also a sort of woody-resinous quality that to me calls to mind dank woods and peaty soil. At this stage, I’m reminded of an airier Jacomo de Jacomo.

As the top notes fade, this somewhat dour, woody-earthy accord (for lack of a better description) is predominant, thrumming steadily along at a low but pleasant volume. Notably, carrot seed extract is listed as an ingredient in the “aftershave/cologne”, and to my nose, the earthy-vegetal smell of carrots is not unnoticeable, though it could be my imagination. Finally, I also get the impression of body odor (and perhaps something else a bit funky) flitting throughout as the top notes fade. It isn’t an unpleasant smell and is barely noticeable, but some may find the association a turn-off.

This all makes Harvest Moon sound challenging, but its notes are tuned way down and the overall impression, as I said, is of patchouli. It’s a tough fragrance for me to pin down - the scent seems to change depending on where it’s applied (a soapy patchouli accord is more predominant on my arms, for instance). The imagery provided by PAA on their website is also curious, evoking desert carnivals, flying saucers, and barbershops of Mars. Here’s a excerpt:

“Miles outside the town limits an event takes place, a mingling of space and time, a blurring of liquid reality, an accidental curiosity touches down. Lost time on a lover's lane lit up, the desert seems to burn without heat...to breathe without breath.”

Strange indeed. I can imagine Rod Sterling reading this in the opening of a Twilight Zone episode, but Harvest Moon is more Big Lebowski than it is X-Files. But that’s just, like, my opinion, man.

Overall, I can appreciate the intricacies of Harvest Moon, but for me it’s just a ‘like’, not a ‘love’. Performance is very intimate; it sits a bit too close to skin for my taste. That carrot-ish note running throughout further gives me pause, and and I can’t shake the impression of headshop patchouli. The composition feels just a bit “incomplete”. I’d be interested in sampling the edp to see what effect adjusting the concentration has on the overall effect and, if nothing else, to smell the notes more clearly.

I want to give this a thumbs up, but for me it falls just short.

TL;DR: carroty patchouli.

This is a niche scent which, for me, invokes a sense of a field of wheat, earth and natural essences like you would catch on a breeze. I think it's very original, and like so many other PAA original creations, there isn't anything else like it on fragrance counters. This one is yet another example of the real perfuming talent of this little shaving business. I highly recommend this be sampled by fragrance enthusiasts as it will undoubtedly match someone's fragrance palate. It's a well done fragrance.

One of the most beautiful fragrances I have ever owned. Oud, tobacco and sage...all there and all discernable. I can't think of a better fall fragrance since GpH 1. Wearable for all occasions...and especially good for a night out. I get 10 hours of longevity and moderate sillage and projection. This is a good underground fragrance for enthusiasts of Tobacco and oud. 9.3/10.