I always lament the change from summer to fall.  I could live in shorts all year round and the prospect of cold winter nights for months is not something I look forward to.  But soon enough, I wake up on a day like today (crisp, sunny, cool, refreshing) and I quickly remember the joy in the change in seasons.  The other things great about the change of seasons is the breakout of all those fragrances that are best suited for the fall.  1697 is one of them.

 

WHAT I SMELL:  1697 opens up with a carmelized booziness.  It’s sweet, slightly leathery and “yummy” in the way that you almost want to taste it.  As it dies down, out comes a thickened chocolate/cocoa goodness.  It’s very gourmand, but not too sweet and is somewhat buttery.  The drydown stays away from being too sweet and you’re left with a very nice vanilla/patchouli blanket.

1697 Notes:  cabreuva, davana, Jamaican rum, cistus, pink pepper, jasmine sambac, hawthorn, ylang ylang, clove, cinnamon, dried fruit, rose, ambergris, tonka bean, myrrh, patchouli, cedar, white musks, vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: I find that 1697 is very similar to Ineke’s Field Notes from Paris, although 1697 has a boozier finish.  It’s like an innocent cup of hot cocoa with a secret shot of whiskey!

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE 1697:  boozy, tasty, buttery

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT 1697: Grain de Musc, Now Smell This, Bois de Jasmin

BOTTOM LINE: 1697 is pleasant, but is a fragrance that I would not wear on a regular basis.  It lasts a long time and has decent sillage – it’s good, not great.

• Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent: Oriental Spicy
• Classification: Unisex – leans a bit masculine
• Nose: Bertrand Duchaufour
• Expense: $155 for 100ml EdP