Secret of the Orient

I must honestly say that this fragrance blew me away the first time I smelled it. I completely forgot all the scent strips in my trusted perfumery and only wanted "that one." Up until then, I had never heard of "that one," alias Black II. A few months and some usage later, I can now think and write about it a bit more differentiated. The top note is fruity sweet, a fine delicious dream of plum and mandarin, something deeper can be sensed but is ruthlessly overshadowed by the fruit. The heart note, rosy, pleases me very much; this deeper something makes more sense: something is not present but rather serves as a rounding off, which also makes sense considering that now something woody or mossy should slowly show itself. I find the base note remains dominated by the rose, only something fruity-sweet shifts with a hint of the base into something floral-sweet with a hint of the base. Additionally, the fragrance has good longevity; after 12 hours, something is still perceptible and also pleasantly noticeable. However, Black II is really "close to the skin." No big scent cloud. No space is filled with this fragrance. It is very subtle, which is a matter of taste, but I think it fits very well as it makes it more wearable, especially as a unisex fragrance that, in my opinion, leans towards the feminine side because the mossy and woody aspects simply do not come through accordingly. So, a confident woman or a sensitive man, in both cases, elegant. Occasion-wise, definitely something for the evening with a tendency towards the special. A dinner, date, dance ball, or lecture. Conclusion: Beautiful fragrance, but one must understand it.

Black II opens with a pleasantly light vanilla that immediately conveys warmth without slipping into sweetness. The promised earthiness from the moss accord is noticeable, but remains restrained - more of a dry hint than a truly earthy core. This creates an interesting interplay: the fruity accents round out the base and give the fragrance a certain curiosity-tinged tension. It feels inviting, yet distant enough to evoke that subtle sense of mystery. The woody notes stay in the background; they emerge barely perceptibly, but stabilize the composition. Combined with the musk, this results in a calming, almost smooth undertone that makes the fragrance quieter and more wearable. Overall, Black II is not a loud fragrance, but one that remains quietly complex: warm, soft, lightly fruity, and with a subtle, mysterious character that indeed invites you to get to know the person behind it better.

I still remember the evening when I wore Black II for the first time. It was a cool autumn day, the streets still glistened from the rain, and I had a long-awaited meeting with friends at an old jazz bar in the city. Before I left the house, I reached for the simple yet elegant bottle. A spray on my wrist, one on my scarf, and suddenly there was this blend of warmth and elegance. The fruity-spicy sweetness of the top note settled on my skin like a smile, while the heart of vanilla, amber, and wood slowly gained depth. As I entered the bar, someone turned to me and said, “You smell like a story that wants to be told.” I had to laugh, but deep down I knew what they meant. Black II felt like an invisible jacket, something that made me feel bigger, more confident, and at the same time more mysterious. Later, as the music softened and we walked through the night streets, the scent still mingled with the crisp autumn air. I felt that it was not just a perfume, but had become a part of my memory connected to that evening, the people, the laughter. Since then, I never wear Black II “just like that.” Every time I spray it on, I know: This will be a moment I want to keep.