Skin Graft
Phoenicia Perfumes (2013)

The weather turned cool this week. Autumn is here, and I wanted to wear a tobacco fragrance. So I reached for Tobacco Rose...Bzzzt, wrong answer, there is no evident tobacco in Tobacco Rose. That was yesterday. I woke up today intending to reach for Odori Tabacco or something similar. Instead, on impulse, I decided to postpone my tobacco gratification in favor of something different -- a sample I had recently received of Phoenicia Perfumes' Skin Graft.

The choice was serendipitous. For, although Skin Graft is sui generis, I found it to be similar to a tobacco scent, albeit with a modern twist--even though it contains no tobacco and the leaf is not listed in any Notes Pyramids or reviews I have seen. (The official notes are iso e super, honey, jasmine sambac, opoponax and cedar.) Skin Graft is an unusual but easily worn scent, and is a terrific choice for a cool autumn.

As always, I applied 2 sprays to my arm. Out of the gate, SG delivered animalic honey and a smokey, charred wood aroma. After 5 minutes or so, the jasmine and oppoponax come up. They combine for a rather boozy accord that smells at first like a fruity liquor. In the heart stage, after about 30 minutes or so, that central accord morphs to a flowery tobacco. WITH, a very unusual medicinal plastic note, accurately described by DeadIdol as Band Aids! It sounds odd, but it works nicely. And that is what the scent delivers for the next 8 hours or so --a flowery, boozy faux tobacco and Band Aids, with funky honey and charred wood wafting in and out.

What is it similar to? Well, nothing I've tried. The honey and tobacco suggest Fumerie Turque; while jasmine & tobacco call to mind ELDO's Jasmin et Cigarette. But the Band Aid?? Skin Graft goes its own way.

The Scent projects moderately and has very good longevity for a (nearly) all natural concoction. I enjoyed it thoroughly.