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After getting your recommendations Dane and browsing the last 10-15 pages of this thread, I ordered a bunch of samples. I'm a 'noob' when it comes to fragrances but here are some reflections anyway. Hopefully someone might find this helpful.
Carnation by CdG - The aldehyde, black pepper, cayanne and floral notes are the most clear. The combination is refreshing, energizing and light. I would wear this in the summer.
L'Air du Desert Morocain by Tauer - cedar, warm, inviting, comforting, sickly sweet, slightly spicy and foody. Compared to the other incense/spice scents I tried, this one has a 'beveled edge'.
L'Homme Sage by Divine - muted, understated, pleasant, masculine. Woods, spice, incense and lurking fruit. The notes mingle together and give a more unified impression as opposed to something like Carnation where the notes are split and clear.
Vetiver 46 by Le Labo - Very spicy, very 'dry', strong and lasting. The scent seems to float above my skin! I have read many reviews that compare this to CdG 2 Man and the similarity is unmistakable. This is distinguished though by a sharpness I don't find in 2 Man.
Wonderwood by CdG - Similar to the woodsy/spicy scents I have tried, but this one is more subdued, smudgy, dark, 'wet' or dank. I'm actually a little disappointed; it doesn't smell quite as intensely of any pine or cedar that I expected. If I wanted woods I would actually go to Sequoia or Fille en Aiguilles before this one.
S-ex by S-perfume - The mystery of this one isn't easily unraveled. I can pick out a strong suede accompanied by a malty sweetness. Both parade into your nose in this synthetic, artificial kind of way. It's not 'sexy' in the sense of being animalistic, I find it far more cold and even robotic. I think a key tension in this fragrance is a sperm-leather scent that pulls you in, but a plastic/factory-fresh rubber pushes you away. My interpretation at this point is 'sex with a condom on, maybe a little lube.' It's a subtle, quiet, 'round' frag and wears away from the skin. At least on me.
Shaal Nur by Etro - The talcum powderiness and clean nature of this scent stand out most strongly to me. I can pick out the citrus and incense walking around amid the sandstorm of powder. Probably my least favorite of the bunch I sampled.
Terre d'Hermes by Hermes - The most wearable and versatile scent of the bunch. Bright orange peel and grapefruit grounded in dark earthiness of soil and cedar. It smells delicious without being foody. Airy and fresh. I can see why this scent is immensely popular.
Black Tourmaline by Oliver Durbano - Ash. A friend coming back into the bar after going outside for a cig. Dark and 'black' with just the right amount of spiciness. A tinge of sweetness behind outlining the oud and woods. Beautiful, complex, addictive. A complete and self-contained universe of a scent if I ever smelled one. This scent just knocks me out even though its more of an alienating scent than inviting or personal.
Pentachord Verdant by Tauer - Wow! This is a stand-out, unique and unusual fragrance even among all the other 'unusual' fragrances I sampled. Loud, vibrant, insistent. It's linear and has the sharp tanginess of moss, fungus or mold. It's grassy, green and minty rounded out by black licorice and tobacco. The most 'unwearable' of the lot, but I don't think that's a bad thing.
Incense Oud by By Kilian - This stuff wears so close to the skin, I swear it's oozing out of my sweat glands. Boozy, wet and sticky. The notes are complex and like Homme Sage they meld and blend together into something special. The rose and musk bog down (in a good way) the woods, incense and pepper. Addictive and the most 'sexy' of the lot.
Fille en Aiguilles by Serge Lutens - A pine, cedar and doug fir campfire, with sap that sizzles and boils from the heat. Fruity sweetness and a little powder come in at the drydown.
Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens - If you ever wanted to smell like carrots, tulips, or the center of other root vegetables, this one is for you. And iris, of course. You're preparing a salad with garden vegetables you just picked from the garden and washed, the moment of this scent is cutting into the veggies.
La Myrrhe by Serge Lutens - Fresh and light, with myrhh of course. Unisex but erring on the side of feminine, if that matters to you. Gentle and fruity, bright.
Opus V by Amouage - Murky, swampy, mossy and wet. The rum and rose are easy to pick out. The rose gives it a more feminine aura to me. Wears close to the skin but projects quite well.
Rahat Loukhoum by Serge Lutens - Pure sweetness with a bit of cream, like a sugar cookie or shortcake. The almond and cherry stand out.
Maghreb by Tauer - Bought this just because it seemed to be Tauer's latest release. Warm and sunny. Skin musk. A close relative of l'Air Desert Morocain for sure, but less sweet. More citrus, more herbs.
Carnation by CdG - The aldehyde, black pepper, cayanne and floral notes are the most clear. The combination is refreshing, energizing and light. I would wear this in the summer.
L'Air du Desert Morocain by Tauer - cedar, warm, inviting, comforting, sickly sweet, slightly spicy and foody. Compared to the other incense/spice scents I tried, this one has a 'beveled edge'.
L'Homme Sage by Divine - muted, understated, pleasant, masculine. Woods, spice, incense and lurking fruit. The notes mingle together and give a more unified impression as opposed to something like Carnation where the notes are split and clear.
Vetiver 46 by Le Labo - Very spicy, very 'dry', strong and lasting. The scent seems to float above my skin! I have read many reviews that compare this to CdG 2 Man and the similarity is unmistakable. This is distinguished though by a sharpness I don't find in 2 Man.
Wonderwood by CdG - Similar to the woodsy/spicy scents I have tried, but this one is more subdued, smudgy, dark, 'wet' or dank. I'm actually a little disappointed; it doesn't smell quite as intensely of any pine or cedar that I expected. If I wanted woods I would actually go to Sequoia or Fille en Aiguilles before this one.
S-ex by S-perfume - The mystery of this one isn't easily unraveled. I can pick out a strong suede accompanied by a malty sweetness. Both parade into your nose in this synthetic, artificial kind of way. It's not 'sexy' in the sense of being animalistic, I find it far more cold and even robotic. I think a key tension in this fragrance is a sperm-leather scent that pulls you in, but a plastic/factory-fresh rubber pushes you away. My interpretation at this point is 'sex with a condom on, maybe a little lube.' It's a subtle, quiet, 'round' frag and wears away from the skin. At least on me.
Shaal Nur by Etro - The talcum powderiness and clean nature of this scent stand out most strongly to me. I can pick out the citrus and incense walking around amid the sandstorm of powder. Probably my least favorite of the bunch I sampled.
Terre d'Hermes by Hermes - The most wearable and versatile scent of the bunch. Bright orange peel and grapefruit grounded in dark earthiness of soil and cedar. It smells delicious without being foody. Airy and fresh. I can see why this scent is immensely popular.
Black Tourmaline by Oliver Durbano - Ash. A friend coming back into the bar after going outside for a cig. Dark and 'black' with just the right amount of spiciness. A tinge of sweetness behind outlining the oud and woods. Beautiful, complex, addictive. A complete and self-contained universe of a scent if I ever smelled one. This scent just knocks me out even though its more of an alienating scent than inviting or personal.
Pentachord Verdant by Tauer - Wow! This is a stand-out, unique and unusual fragrance even among all the other 'unusual' fragrances I sampled. Loud, vibrant, insistent. It's linear and has the sharp tanginess of moss, fungus or mold. It's grassy, green and minty rounded out by black licorice and tobacco. The most 'unwearable' of the lot, but I don't think that's a bad thing.
Incense Oud by By Kilian - This stuff wears so close to the skin, I swear it's oozing out of my sweat glands. Boozy, wet and sticky. The notes are complex and like Homme Sage they meld and blend together into something special. The rose and musk bog down (in a good way) the woods, incense and pepper. Addictive and the most 'sexy' of the lot.
Fille en Aiguilles by Serge Lutens - A pine, cedar and doug fir campfire, with sap that sizzles and boils from the heat. Fruity sweetness and a little powder come in at the drydown.
Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens - If you ever wanted to smell like carrots, tulips, or the center of other root vegetables, this one is for you. And iris, of course. You're preparing a salad with garden vegetables you just picked from the garden and washed, the moment of this scent is cutting into the veggies.
La Myrrhe by Serge Lutens - Fresh and light, with myrhh of course. Unisex but erring on the side of feminine, if that matters to you. Gentle and fruity, bright.
Opus V by Amouage - Murky, swampy, mossy and wet. The rum and rose are easy to pick out. The rose gives it a more feminine aura to me. Wears close to the skin but projects quite well.
Rahat Loukhoum by Serge Lutens - Pure sweetness with a bit of cream, like a sugar cookie or shortcake. The almond and cherry stand out.
Maghreb by Tauer - Bought this just because it seemed to be Tauer's latest release. Warm and sunny. Skin musk. A close relative of l'Air Desert Morocain for sure, but less sweet. More citrus, more herbs.
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