Donna Karan Essence: Wenge (2005)
by Donna Karan

Wenge is quite similar to Black Cashmere. It is softer… not as dark. It has the addition of labdanum, a noticeable vanilla, and more amber; in fact, with its sweet note, Wenge approaches gourmand status. The wenge (wood) note is like a sweeter sandalwood note and the sweetness has a strong transforming effect on the whole fragrance because the wenge note is there from beginning to end contributing its essence and character to the fragrance. I think the incense is a bit weaker in Wenge than in Black Cashmere and Wenge is less dramatic and more comfortable. Wenge has that heart of sweetness that escapes Black Cashmere. Whatever the differences between BC and Wenge, they both work handsomely: Wenge is another great fragrance, different enough from BC to deserve a consideration even if you own BC.

Woody, but not dry or bitter like some woods. It's a smooth, musky, buttery soft wood note like Mysore sandalwood. Actually, it's a dead ringer for some amber notes: sweet, powdery, golden, exotic, rich... I really enjoy it, and I think it can easily be worn as a scent in its own right. To layer it... well, perhaps a little citrus for a sparkly top note? Or peppery spices for an oriental? Can't imagine it'd be very good with either jasmine or lavender, but then I'm not a fan of these notes. I'll have to try the Labdanum though.

Smelling this, one can easily sense that this was a key component of Black Cashmere. It's a mostly linear, slightly sweet, lightly smokey, powdery wood scent with that soapy-musky "cashmere" thing going on. Overall, it's just not interesting enough on its own to warrant buying. I like Black Cashmere much better - it's more interesting, more complex, spicier, and overall better.

This scent totally reminds me of Coty's Tigress!!! Spicy. Hot. Seductive too. Great product to layer.