Ebene Fume Clones

"### The Scent Profile Ebony Fume opens with a blast of incense, not the churchy kind, but more like smoky campfire – a potent and somewhat harsh beginning. The palo santo adds a touch of sweetness, but it's quickly overshadowed by the black pepper, giving it a spicy bite. The heart is where the leather emerges, a stiff, almost vinyl-like leather. The cade oil adds a smoky, tar-like quality that blends with the labdanum. The drydown is a blend of resins and woods, predominantly guaiac wood. It is dry, woody, and slightly medicinal. The ebony tree note is subtle. It differs from the Tom Ford in that it is less refined and more raw in the opening. It lacks the smooth, polished feel of the original and leans towards a more synthetic presentation in the later stages. ### Bottom Line This is for someone who appreciates bolder, more rugged scents. Picture a craftsman who works with wood, perhaps a furniture maker or a luthier. Someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, camping, and doesn't mind smelling like a slightly refined campfire. It's not a fragrance for delicate sensibilities. It commands attention. ### Performance Reality Check Longevity is decent, clocking in at around 6-7 hours on my skin. Projection is moderate for the first hour, extending about an arm's length, before settling closer to the skin. I wore this to a casual Friday at the office and then to an outdoor brewery afterwards. It performed respectably in both scenarios."

"### The Scent Profile Alpha opens with a blast of dry incense – think Catholic church during a power outage. The palo santo adds a medicinal sharpness, like camphor mixed with a hint of pencil shavings. Black pepper is present but muted, a dull spice rather than a vibrant spark. The heart introduces a pliable leather accord, recalling new car seats, undercut by the tarry smokiness of cade oil. Labdanum lends a slight amber sweetness, though the resinous base quickly asserts itself. The ebony tree note is difficult to discern; instead, I get an ashy guaiac wood with a distinct plastic doll head vibe in the drydown, where it deviates sharply from its muse. ### Wear time & Sillage Longevity clocks in around 6 hours, with the projection strong for the first hour, filling a small room. After that, it retreats to a skin scent. I wore it to a rainy outdoor cafe. The damp air amplified the incense and wood notes, though it also highlighted the synthetic edge in the drydown. ### To Buy or Not to Buy? If Alpha were a character, it would be the stoic, world-weary detective in a noir film, perpetually shrouded in smoke, investigating a case they already know has a grim conclusion. The initial impression is intriguing, a veneer of sophistication. However, the plasticky undertones betray a hidden vulnerability and a certain inauthenticity, like a beautifully constructed facade concealing a hollow interior."