No. 294

Bottom Line

Wearing No. 294 offers a fleeting glimpse of the Reflection Man architecture, but with significantly diminished artistry. One gains a superficial resemblance. One loses the smooth transitions, the depth of the individual notes, and overall refinement. What remains is a paler, flatter construction. The aroma presents with a synthetic edge throughout, a stark contrast to the naturalistic beauty of the source material.

Scent Breakdown

No. 294 opens with an herbaceous burst dominated by rosemary. The pink pepper is present, but subdued, lending only a slight citric tingle rather than the vibrant spice expected. Petitgrain offers a green bitterness, though with a somewhat artificial quality, reminiscent of lemon-scented cleaning fluid. As it transitions, the heart reveals a jasmine accord that feels isolated, not seamlessly blended. There is a fleeting, almost metallic neroli note. The orris root emerges weakly, lacking the luxurious, powdery depth; instead, it manifests as a starchy potato note. The base offers a linear sandalwood impression, far removed from the creamy richness of high-quality sandalwood oil. The cedar is somewhat astringent, creating a discordant woody accord with the vetiver, which registers as acrid and earthy, similar to scorched roots. It deviates significantly by presenting a synthetic ambergris-type aroma that wasn't present in the original.

Projection Power

Longevity is surprisingly robust, clocking in at around 7 hours on skin, though it becomes a skin scent after 3 hours. Projection is moderate for the first hour, extending to about an arm's length, before quickly retracting. Tested in an office environment, it garnered no unsolicited comments, positive or negative.