The Shadow

Bottom Line

This fragrance is strictly for cold weather. The sweetness combined with the heavy incense would be suffocating in warmer temperatures. It's more suited for a dimly lit bar or an outdoor event where its powerful projection can be appreciated, though I would advise caution about overspraying. The assertive profile lends itself best to evening wear.

Scent Breakdown

The Shadow opens with a forceful blast of smoky incense laced with a cloying, almost medicinal raspberry, think cherry cough syrup spilled on a smoldering charcoal briquette. The initial impression is loud, synthetic, and lacking the nuance I expected. As it settles, a leathery oud emerges, battling for dominance with a soapy rose and a whisper of birch. This heart is where it veers furthest from its inspiration; the rose feels tacked on, and the oud has a sharpness, like a freshly sharpened pencil. The drydown is a plasticky amberwood accord, propped up by benzoin; a vaguely sweet, synthetic base that lacks the smooth, resinous depth. It attempts to capture the original's darkness and richness, but falls short, trading complexity for sheer volume.

Performance Reality Check

Longevity is impressive, clocking in at around 8-9 hours on my skin. Projection, however, is nuclear for the first 2 hours, easily filling a room. After that, it settles to a more reasonable arm's length. I wore this to a casual dinner and found it overwhelmingly strong and out of place.