Pardon

Undoubtedly an olfactory masterpiece. It conjures images of an old, exclusive, members only club in London, which is entirely panelled with rare, beautiful, dark woods - the kind of place Churchill would’ve frequented in the 30s and 40s but now they’ve allowed a younger, hipper clientele to join the ranks. The chocolate note is sublime - only slightly sweet but rich and indulgent - blending in with a deep resinous, incense like note. I wish it projected a touch more (although it is already a strong performer) because I just want to be entirely enveloped by this smell. Therefore I’ve placed an order for the accompanying 10ml Oil version to layer under the perfume.

Doesn't over assert itself which is a plus, true to its name, it's polite and quite tame compared to the other Nasomattos which I like. Despite being polite, the closer you get to it, the more you encounter its depth and richness. Was not expecting this to be as gourmand as it is, it's got a slightly spicy almost herby edge to its chocolatey woody nature. The oud here is extremely safe, it definitely isn't the main player, it's woody and dark with a slightly sour fermented facet to it. The slightly creamy chocolate smells realistic and indulgent. A perfect evening, dressed up date night/event fragrance.

The heart of this perfume beats with the scent of oud. The scent of oud in this perfume is extremely precise and measured, and its like can be smelled in few perfumes. In a way that allows the body to express each and every note used in the perfume. An oud that is very, very much seasoned and sweetened with the scents of cinnamon, tonka bean, and sandalwood. But as for the magnolia and flowers used in this perfume, you can fall in love with it forever and never get tired of smelling them. It is highly recommended on sunny autumn days, when the sunlight has lost its vigor and the heat of summer.

i'm generally not a fan of chocolate-forward scents as i often find them too cloying, too immature, or both, but pardon nails it in a way i don't think anything else ever has. rich and sweet but not aggressively so, with a smooth woody, slightly leathery base. i can't say i really get any floral notes, if they are present they are imperceptible to my nose. the combination of chocolate, tonka bean, cinnamon, patchouli, and oud is much more dominant. the best way i can describe the overall scent is that it smells like drinking a really, really good cup of hot chocolate tastes.

My Fathers business partner wore a scent in the 60's through 90's, it was the most elegant patchouli scent and he kept it a secret for decades. About 3 years before he passed, he revealed that mesmerizing fragrance: Gentleman (the OG) from Givenchy. It became my signature fragrance for years; however, I felt that I never quite "captured" his smell and eventually moved on to other fragrances until this hit my nose: It transported me back in time; emotions flooded me and it brought me to the brink of tears. What a gem and what a genious behind it. Graccie Sre Alessandro!