Patchouli
by Martine Micallef

I generally dislike patchouli dominant scents, so I blind bought this one with a great fear it was not going to work for me. I should not have feared anything, as I like Patchouli from Micallef quite a lot. It is not a straight-up patchouli scent as the name might make one suspect. Instead the patchouli is accompanied by woody notes (cedar, I suspect) and earthy vetiver. They add some "dirtiness" to the patchouli to make it much more tolerable. Patchouli is only slight sweet (thankfully), and projects like crazy with above average longevity. Bottom line is Patchouli by Micallef succeeds in being a unisex patchouli scent that can be enjoyed even by those that do not care for the primary note as a general rule. Good stuff, and recommended.

2nd January, 2012.

Another patchouli fragrance where this ingredient occupies the 90% of the  scene. It starts with a touch of citruses leaning on the orangy side and morphs in an hippy and musky patchouli with some nuances of violet. The presence of violet leafs is faint in the air and any trace of coolness manages to emerge despite the fragrance is averagely dry and woodsy. The violets impress a touch of obscurity but not a certain level of sophistication. The fragrance for example lacks that smooth level of sophistication that in the Patchouli Noir by Il Profvmo is imprinted by mint, sensual flowers, balsams and poppy. This is a good quality fragrance for sure but lacks of any element of distinctiveness. It's basically a patchouli, an almost dry patchouli that i guess for many could turn out not so captivating if not boring. I don't smell traces of animalism or brewing process in its evolution as for instance happens in the Mazzolari's patchoulies or in Muscs Koublai khan and Absolue Pour Le Soir (that are not strictly on patchouli based scents).

8th June, 2011. (Last Edited: 30th September, 2011.)

I have to believe that if a perfumer is going to put another patchouli fragrance on the market, they better have a novel take on it.

Consider Organza Indecence, which pairs it with cinnamon and plum (sensuous and warm); Il Profvmuo's Patchouli Noir, which adds a mint top note (unexpected and refreshing); and my beloved Isvaraya which pairs it with jasmine and plum (simply glorious).

This starts off with violet leaf, which doesn't really pop here. Violet is best left as a basenote, and i would have liked to see that citrus in the opening instead.

This isn't a bad fragrance, it's just not a novel fragrance. It also has short longevity and the patchouli tends to fade faster than I would like.

If this scent were an American Idol contestant, it would be voted off early and forgotten about, i'm sorry to say.

12nd March, 2010.