Valar A Chaos in the Ocean

How it Smells

Valar A Chaos in the Ocean opens with a jarring clash. The bergamot is present, but rendered as a harsh, concentrated lemon cleaner accord, stripped of any natural zest. This quickly yields to a heart dominated by calone. The seaweed note is identifiable but muddled, lacking the briny, photorealistic quality of a true marine fragrance. Instead, the calone is amplified to an almost nauseating degree, reminiscent of a public swimming pool overly treated with chlorine. As it settles, the base emerges. The ambroxan is prominent, lending a sharp, scratchy, synthetic ambergris impression. The cedarwood is barely perceptible, struggling against the tidal wave of calone and chemical musk. The drydown, after many hours, is a faint, ozonic musk with lingering hints of that initial lemon cleaner. This deviates significantly from its inspiration, lacking the oceanic depth and complexity.

Projection Power

Longevity is extreme; I detected it for over 12 hours. Projection is initially enormous, easily filling a room for the first two hours. It then settles to about an arm's length for the next six, before gradually fading. I tested it in a closed office environment and found it cloying and somewhat irritating to others. Outdoors, the projection is less overwhelming but still significant.

Final Thoughts

If this scent were a character, it would be a used car salesman in a cheap polyester suit, trying too hard to impress.