La Via del Profumo (Profumo.it) - I ordered a custom perfume!

I saw the ad for a custom perfume on Profumo's website and thought that I could try it. You can choose up to seven essences with which the perfume will be created. You have to be really sure about the ingredients because the perfume will be made only with these essences and you have to trust the perfumer's blending skills! I picked the following notes: Frankincense, Myrrh, Rose, Jasmine Sambac, Clove, Tobacco and Castoreum. The perfume should go in a deep woody and resinous direction with some floral notes. I am very curious how the perfume is going to smell? Humble as I am I chose my first name as the name of the perfume: "Alexander"

I will keep you informed how the perfume smells when I receive it.

I hope that I will like it. I must admit that I am a bit nervous how it will turn out.

I have samples from almost all of his "Scents of the Soul" and my favourites are "Mecca Balsam" and "Hindu Kush". Since two years(!) I couldn't decide whether to order "MB" or "HK" or both. Then I thought: "Okay, if you have doubts and can't really decide between the two, then take something else because there must be some reasons why you hesitate to buy one of the two." Then I saw the ad for the custom perfume and just ordered it without much thinking.

Yesterday I received my custom perfume. Well, better said two custom perfumes!


When I chose the notes with which the perfume should be composed I wanted also to choose Oud, but there was no option for it, so in the comments-section I said that to Profumo. He made two versions of the perfume, a non-Oud version and one with Oud. He sent me both bottles and I should keep the one that I like the most and send the other one back. But it came how it had to come: I liked both versions! I asked Profumo how much it would cost to keep both bottles and for 100 Euro more I am now proud owner of two custom perfumes! I think the additional cost for the second bottle is very fair considering that the additional cost for Oud alone is 300 Euro which is on the option list now under "rare fragrances"!


So, how do the perfumes smell like?

The non-Oud version smells very fresh and clean with a strong Frankincense-note and nice floral accents. Surprisingly this has better longetivity on my skin than the Oud-version!

The Oud-version smells darker with a nice smoky Oud. This one has good longetivity on fabric. The Oud-note is not very strong but it's there. In both perfumes I have problems detecting the Tobacco and the Castoreum, but I am still exploring the perfumes.


Do I have something to criticise? Of course I have, it wouldn't be me if I hadn't!

Longetivity is not that good, but this is not a surprise for a natural perfume. And the perfumes are quite safe and polite with a little bit too much emphasis on the rose but they are very sophisticated.


All in all I like both versions very much and like wearing them, they remind me of my childhood but I don't know why, and it's so cool to spray something that has your name written on it!

@ iivanita: Yes, both perfumes can be considered as unisex. This is good because I am quite young (30) and have a teenager-like appearance. Too masculine wouldn't fit me!

I made a comparison to some samples of the "Scents of the Soul" that I have and the perfume that smells the closest to both "Alexander"-perfumes is probably "Holy Water". Both perfumes are equally spiritual and uplifting without being dogmatic but also very friendly and light.

I wonder if Profumo will make both "Alexanders" available for others in his "Outsiders/Private Collection"?

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@ Diamondflame: The procedure for this type of custom perfume is very easy. Choosing some notes and trusting in Profumo's blending skills! If I remember correctly there was once an option for a more in-depth procedure for a custom perfume where the customer was more involved with samples etc., but at a much higher cost. Here you have to really trust the perfumer and choosing only notes where you are sure that you really like them!

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Definitely!

In post #13 I wrote that the perfumes have "a little bit too much emphasis on the rose", but after further exploring I think it's not just the rose, it's a combination of rose and clove buds that creates the image of a dark and sweet rose.