Knize Forest by Knize

What a stunning grassy, aromatic, coniferous scent, one of the most gorgeous minty, green, resinous fragrances ever created. The smell conjures woodsy environments and aromatic, sparkling, mountaneous air early at morning while walking on the side of a dark-green forest. I agree who with writes about a certain olfactory resemblance with Green Irish tweed but i comply with Off-Scenter when asserts that this impressive resemblance is evident basically along the first stage of the development (in this phase also Cool Water could for a while come to mind) when the blend of moderate lavender, citrus (mainly orange), flowers and grapefruit stresses a watery, orangy, more dynamic and versatile feature before the boise', aromatic and incensey soul starts exhaling from the background. As well as the grassy, incensey, rooty,  mysterious and dark soul of Knize Forest comes out the fragrance expresses itself as a different, less ambery and more earthy, resinous,  almost spiritual kind of beast, surely more aromatic, herbal and dusty than the basically strongly ambery Creed's one. In this phase the main notes are greens (over all sage, rosemary and basil), patchouli, labdanum resin and oakmoss and i smell more similarities with fragrances as Cardinal, Route du Vetiver or Fou d'Absinthe. The vetiver is present but subdued in comparison with Green Irish Tweed while the note of patchouli is distinguished and discreet. A wonderful, wonderful scent. 

Knize Forest is a spicy fougère which increases in warmth as it dries down, but never loses its herbaceous identity. At its core is a not too sweet fruit note I cannot place which creates a kind of delicious tension as if it were a memory one cannot quite retrieve. In its complexity this fragrance has some subdued echoes of Knize's signature leather notes.

To me it is a misnomer to characterize this as a "green" fragrance, or as a "forest" fragrance, if it is the green forest of trees one imagines. If this creation is inspired by forests, it must be Hobbit forests close to the ground where mosses and an array of exotic but soothing herbes grow among the grasses. When I think of a green fragrance, I think of Alliage by Estee Lauder, a fragrance I have not smelled since 1972 when it first came out, but that I still remember as impressing me with the vision of all things green.

Knize Forest is a creation set on a smaller scale than Knize Ten. It is not as flamboyant or active in its mutations over time. Forest is almost like a miniature Oriental, a Trio Concerto Oriental played on a Hobbit green near the forest down where the mosses grow, Unlike Knize Ten, there is nothing symphonic about this interesting and comfortable work.

Knize Forest is not available in the United States, and to my knowledged has never been officially distributed in the states. Knize Ten is available in the United States but currently has no distributor so sources who hold old stock must be found. I recieved my small bottle from a very pleasant basenoter, mi-hooked? and wish to thank him again. Here are the ingredients listed on my Knize Forest box:

Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Evernia Furfuracea (Treemoss) Extract, Citral, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronelal, Coumarin, Citronellol, Geraniol, Benzyl Cinnamate.

Sillage is excellent, but more discrete than Knize Ten. The fragrance lasts long, but settles down to a warm,spicy halo around the body. Knize Forest does not smell like any other fragrance I have encountered. This is a superlative scent to layer with more linear creations to add a spicy zest, and some quiet, warm complexity.

Knize Forest a hint of simplicity (ein Hauch Ursprünglichkeit Id translate this as primordial) natures declaration of love for the modern man a fresh, green and balsamic fragrance. Knize brochure which came in the box with my bottle
Knize Forest is intriguing and complex. It is very herbal and green, so it wont be to everyones taste. I like it, and find it to be a classier and very satisfying scent. Ive revised this review, as my knowledge and understanding increase.
First, my brochure lists the following as elements (some of these differ from the BN pyramid):
TOP: lavender, bergamot, lemon, juniper, clary sage, verbena
MID: oregano, spruce, carnation, rose, geranium
BASE: cedarwood, moss, labdanum, amber, tonka, sandalwood.
In addition to these elements, I am convinced that there are mint and violet leaf notes.
Forest opens with a green-citrus blast from the lemon and verbena. The juniper and lavender add a fresh, even perky quality. This phase is excellent. There is a hint of a rubbery note here (not unpleasant) which may be from the clary sage.
The mid notes are primarily herbal and floral. This is not a pine or spruce-dominated scent at all. In this phase I get a very strong minty note. I used to think it was rosemary but it is less resinous and more creamy, like mint leaf. Here the scent is quirky but pleasant, as it moves from a somewhat deep rose floral to an assertive herbal tone.
The drydown has light cedarwood and sandalwood notes. Tonka gives a grassy flair due to its coumarin.
Underlying everything, Im convinced, is an excellent application of violet leaves. Not too much, just enough to give a quirky freshness to everything. Certainly Knize Two has lots of violet leaves and I get a whiff of them here too.
If you like herbal scents, then Forest is worth a try. I own many, many green scents and I can say that Knize Forest is unique. What we have here is a quiet walk in woods which border on grassy meadows: everything is aromatic, restful, and cool (but not piney).
Revised from 14 July 2008