mb03
by Biehl Parfumkunstwerke

“The dark side of power. Frivolous and worth every sin.” (Biehl Parfumkunstwerke website)

One of the better releases from this house. Unfortunately, this is simply an extension of the CdG Incense series (which Mark Buxton was creatively involved in). If you didn’t appreciate those (like me), you won’t be able to fully appreciate this offering.

[Original submission date: 05 July 2008]

bm03 reminds me of Armani Prive Bois d'encens, although it's more muted and hasn't the latter's root-piercing radiance. I like it, even if it only lasts a couple of hours on my skin.

mb03 is a nice enough fragrance with a scent falling somewhere between Zagorsk and Avignon with a little extra spice thrown in for good measure and a drydown that is a little sweeter than the two CdG's previously mentioned. This is really a skin scent, it doesn't seem to project very far off the skin at all. Longevity was about 4 hours. Personally, I think I'd prefer to spend my money on the Incense Series by CdG than for a bottle of mb03.

Mb 03 is probably my least favorite in the biehl’s mb line but that is only because I am so enamored of mb 01 and 02. Mb 03 is predominantly an incense perfume which is similar to CdG Zagorsk but the chief difference is that mb 03: a) is smoother due to the addition of chamomile, and b) comes across as slightly more complex given its swirl of spices. The gentleness of mb 03 also had me thinking of CdG’s Palisander. After 10-15 minutes, mb 03’s sandalwood notes gently emerge in a dry aromatic way and combine nicely with the red pepper. Lest you be concerned about the red pepper aspect, I think it is extraordinarily well blended and serves to complement the other notes rather than overpower them (ie. this is not like TDC's Rose Poivree).

Mb 03 also has Mark Buxton’s trademark etherealness and is very much in keeping with his style of creating perfumes that stay close to the skin. By that, I mean that you really cannot smell it unless you have your nose right next to your skin. But, even with this closeness, it lasted about 2 hours.

Here are the notes for biehl parfumkunstwerke’s mb 03, courtesy of The Perfumed Court: roman chamomile, red pepper, elemi, cistus, cashmere wood, styrax, amber, incense, sandalwood, patchouli.