Viper Green
Ex Nihilo (2018)

It's a straightforward clean scent - smells like using very mild vetiver soap and then putting on clothes recently washed with a strong floral/lily scented laundry detergent. It lasts a long time, was lingering after 12 hours though was strongest during the first 6 or so.

A beautiful green floral that is long lasting with moderate silage. It is not exceptional and there is nothing dangerous about it. On the opening a dry herbal and a bit resinous accord makes me thing of marijuana but this subsides within half an hour. Iris is distinguishable here and maybe also the vetiver, but all well-blended and subtle. This might be a compliment getter from women and I seriously doubt men will appreciate it on their mates. Too bad! I enjoyed my two samples to the dismay of my partner who found it too much like a mature-lady's perfume. In the last wearing, I remembered what it reminded me and maybe the reason I appreciated it! VG reminds me of The Different Company's Charmes & Feuilles that I used to have. So, thanks to VG I just snapped up a bottle of C&F that I spotted on ebay for a fraction of the Ex Nihilo creation. Longevity of the latter, however: more than 12 hours.

Men: Avoid this. This is a pale green floral in pastel hues reminiscent of a dewy green garden on a spring morning. It smells like a women's perfume. Comparisons to Green Irish Tweed should stop at the word "Green." There's a faint mandarin note in the beginning, followed by soft, pale florals (rose? jasmine?) and the emergence of a very green galbanum. The galbanum accord is interesting; it's bitterly verdant and also kind of oddly sweet. This note is strongest in the second half of Viper's development and it's my favorite aspect of the composition. I'm not familiar with a lot of female perfumes, so judging this one from that perspective is impossible for me to do. However, as a man, this is not something I enjoyed wearing at all. There were also times when it reminded me of Glade air freshener (the kind you keep in a spray can next to the toilet). So I wouldn't even say that this feels worth the price, regardless of your gender. It's not bad, but quality wise there isn't much about it that really stands out. I found Ex-Nihilo's Fleur Narcotique a much more satisfying floral (that men could pull off well). Since I just gave it a brief wearing one day, and I really think it's meant for women, I'm going to hold off on a numerical rating, and just say that for me, it gets a thumbs down. 5/10

Side note: While I'm able to articulate fragrances with some vocabulary and jargon related to the field, sometimes it's best to trust those who can't: The other day I sprayed some Viper Green on my arm while my wife was out running errands. The minute she arrived home and stepped through the door she exclaimed loudly, "Uggh! No! Grandma's Underwear Drawer!" Sometimes a succinct comment like this is all you need to know whether a fragrance is for you or not. In my case, Viper Green certainly isn't.

Where's the viper? Brilliant emerald slithery thingy loaded with venom this ain't. It's a cool, pale green floral which, if one is feeling generous, has a certain just-showered charm, and, if one isn't, smells like air freshener, pleasant but a bit mono.
Viper Green settles quickly – opening with a squirt of citrus, one gets musked up greens (a kind of galbanum-lite without any of the characteristic bitterness and some watery angelica) merging with vague white florals. Once settled, this reads – to me – like the umpteenth wispy attempt at rendering lily of the valley, nice enough if you're a noob where perfumes are concerned, but with little to lift it above the cheaper and just as refreshing drugstore variants.

Light, airy and herbal green. My wife was detecting some citrus but it just smelled like green plants and spa soap to me. I'm surprised this isn't classified as unisex as it leans feminine to me, has something of a white floral vibe. Not something I want to wear but it smells fresh and clean, which is always nice.

Projection is okay, especially during the first hour. After that it calms down but is still detectable. Longevity is good and the scent in the late drydown is weak but much better, losing the floral and herbal notes.

Sweet, brief Mandarin. Galbanum, in its usual bitter character. Thick, green stalks. Sweet and sour vetiver. Thankfully, the vetiver overcomes to race past the galbanum. It sweetens this up a bit. Slightly soapy later. An interesting, simple fragrance though it is not full bottle worthy, to me.