Alpha

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.