Narciso Rodriguez for Him Vetiver Musc
Eau de Toilette, Narciso Rodriguez (2024)

Another Narciso Rodriguez's stationary stop in a musky-cardamomish pit-box. A super cardamomish balmy exotic fragrance (in line with Narciso Rodriguez For him Bleu Noir Eau de Parfum but in a greener-ozonic way), a modern musky creation in such of a mineral-slighly marine-green way, with a neo-classic inner vibe (partially a la Terre d'Hermes without the rootiness but with its cedary fluidy elegant spark) and hints of "viveur" dandyism like a sort of conceptually new-millennium "far-land evoking fragrance" a la Guerlain Vetiver (which is anyway a different and superior fragrance with its hesperidic, spicy and cologney vetiver's gentlemanly interpretation). First of all I have to say that effectively the note of vetiver, although present is not playful, playing in here neither a role of protagonist nor the one of co-protagonist. Musk, cardamom, red algae and bourbon geranium are the absolute dominant patterns while a complementing connection of cedarwood, vetiver and patchouli imprints a vague "grand soir" and classic twist despite this fragrance could be perfectly fitting for breezy daily holiday times in Costiera Amalfitana. The combination of lavender, fluidy fresh incense, super bright cardamom, piney patterns, red algae (a key presence), geranium barboun (another real protagonist) and vetiver is something for great characters, Casanovas, heroes of old and new world and "freshly elegant" travellers (gold pendant around the neck). The rich green aromatic patterns are never vivid or realistic but sort of soapy-musky-cardamomish-ozonic in a kind of lip-stick musky modern synth way a la Narciso Rodriguez (could it be or not endorsed). Green freshly bright/fizzy musk and marine patterns arouse an "invincible" modern sort of "holidays in Riviera by a convertible car" dandyism full of charme and optimism. The cardamom's implementation is in here kind of Cartier Declaration-conjuring (imagining the former - due to algae, vetiver and further included in For Him Vetiver Musc - as ideally blended with the musky/figgy ozonic Kenzo Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Intense) but while For Him Vetiver Musc is a dandy and bright affair in to a charismaric way the Cartier's one is moodier, romantic and more introvert. An ambience of succulent plants, superb Ville al mare, Grand Hotels et de Mar, Caribbean gulfs and tiny touristic ports jump more than vaguely on mind with their charge of posh dandyism and high class welfare. An uncompromisingly masculine fragrance. Performances are in the average on my skin.