Marrakech (2005)
by Aesop

The longevity is rather an issue, but while it lasts it is a genuinely intersting scent with lots of clove, freshly cracked pepper and other spices up front. Apparently it is all natural (does that explain the longevity?). In its heart it can seem almost grubby and earthy. Certainly interesting, but a bit homespun?

28th January, 2011.

Marrakech is one of my favorite places, and this fragrance doesn’t really provide much of the old déjà vu. The fragrance is very smoky and spicy… Chai tea. It’s a fragrance that makes a strong statement: There’s depth and darkness and drama in the fragrance… much more darkness than the actual city has. Marrakech, the city, I experienced as bright and direct and full of life. Marrakech the fragrance seems dark, dramatic, and even a bit sinister. Even though it is replete with drama and darkness – with a smoky and spicy demeanor – it can be carried off successfully because it is in reality a rather light fragrance sillage-wise. Once the spices settle down, Marrakech is a wearable skin scent for as long as it lasts... and lasting is its major weakness: It has way too limited longevity.

There’re possibilities with Marrakech, and its uniqueness is admirable, but I wish Trebor hadn’t mentioned that thing about fried seasoned chicken legs (in his now deleted review), because now I sometimes think that I catch a gourmand note, and I momentarily see myself as having rubbed spicy fried chicken all over my body. This is not an olfactory or visual image that I appreciate. My major complaint, though, is that, even though it is truly an interesting fragrance, it doesn't last more than an hour on my skin.

21st November, 2008. (Last Edited: 28th November, 2010.)