Boldly Seoul

Final Thoughts

This fragrance is for the individual who prioritizes quantity over quality and doesn't mind sacrificing refinement for a fleeting impression of luxury. Someone who values a grab-and-go option, never demanding the utmost in sillage or sophistication. They’re most likely a student or someone starting their career, exploring different scent profiles, without the budget for high-end niche.

First Impressions & Dry Down

Boldly Seoul opens with a jarring chemical grapefruit note, less fresh citrus and more industrial cleaner. The pink pepper tries to cut through, but it's fighting a losing battle against the initial synthetic blast. In the mid, a medicinal incense emerges, reminiscent of cherry cough syrup, mingling uneasily with a muted tobacco that's closer to pipe ash than cured leaf. The saffron is barely perceptible, a ghost of spice. As it dries down, a leathery accord surfaces, thin and plasticky, accompanied by a vaguely sweet amber and a muted oud. The oud lacks depth and smells more like woody aromachemicals than anything authentic. The scent is not a duplicate, but rather a diluted interpretation that captures facets of the original’s DNA imperfectly.

Wear time & Sillage

Longevity is a middling 5-6 hours on skin, with projection that extends to about an arm's length for the first hour, then quickly fades to a skin scent. Tested in an office setting, it garnered no compliments and only a slight "what's that smell?" from a colleague. In warmer conditions, the opening becomes even more cloying and unpleasant.