My first review.
I'm fairly new to the fragrance hobby. I buy random samples and decants periodically. The current pandemic has left me with a lot of time to receive packages at home and read blogs. And my collection has grown.
I also rarely buy bottles. I have maybe ten, and some I've owned for 20 years. I have a ton of samples though.
I just bought Sayat Nova.
It's one of the strangest and most compelling things I have smelled. I'm not even 100% sure if it smells good, I just can't stop sniffing it.
It opens with a strong, slightly sour and fairly quickly fleeting blast of apricot. A dry vanilla is also prominent throughout. The drydown happens fairly quick and is extremely long lasting: natural smelling oud and a powdery smell (I presume from the oakmoss).
This isn't a sweet smell. It's very dry . . . I think? The vanilla is the smell of dried vanilla pods, not ice cream. The vanilla, at least on my skin, is so prominent however, it gives the impression of sweetness.
Like if you've ever tasted a milk stout ale (dark beer with lactose added), where it tastes like beer but a part of your brain goes "MILKY!" because it's so used to associating the lactose with milk? That's what this vanilla does. It's a dry, powdery, woody smell that tricks your brain into thinking it's a gourmand.
I love it.
15th October, 2020 (last edited: 10th November, 2020)