WHAT I SMELL:  Marlowe opens with an almost stinging tuberose note that quickly turns to a big and bursting soured floral.  I can’t say that it’s pretty, but it’s intriguing in that it feels like there’s some measure of decay involved.  In a few minutes, the perfume starts to powder and blend with a dried osmanthus.  Soon, all of the moisture is sucked out of the perfume making it incredibly dry.  Past this point, and for the first few hours, the perfume radiates substantial layers of powdered florals that seem broken down and aged.

From the Jardins d’Ecrivains website:

This scent is dense, heady, feral, and theatrical. The top notes feature the poisonous nectar of the tuberose blended with opulent osmanthus. The middle notes of dried flowers evoke tragic poetry. Hints of powdered leather with chypre make up the base notes. 

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Bilbo Baggins restaurant, Alexandria, Virginia.  OK, let me explain…Bilbo Baggins is a restaurant in the town where I live.  The interior of the restaurant feels like it has not been updated or cleaned since 1975.  It’s dusty, tired and someplace I will not return to if I can help it.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE MARLOWE: labored, tired, burdensome

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MARLOWE: Kafkaesque, The Non-Blonde, Colognoisseur

BOTTOM LINE: Marlowe is a complete miss for me.  There’s something about the tired and powdered florals that just weighs it down, like a forgotten sachet in the back of your mother’s “delicates” drawer.  Only hours into the wear does it soften to a point of actually being amenable.

• Bone Rating:  2 out of possible 5 bones
• Scent:  Floral
• Classification: Unisex
• Expense: $110 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum