WHAT I SMELL:  Goes on herbal and astringent to the skin.  It smells of bergamot and light jasmine and an almost brown sugar sweetness that’s slightly spiced by the clove.  Gaiac to me is a very different fragrance and I’m sure that I am smelling the gaiac wood, but I’m not familiar with what that smells like so I can’t say for sure, although as it starts to dry down a bit of sourness comes forth, almost oud like in its composition. Gaiac is a vetiver fragrance in its best form in that it’s not green, but more woody in its dryness.  After a good 45 minutes Gaiac completes its transformation and what you’re left with a sweet honeyed vanilla that is incredibly pleasant.

Gaiac Notes:  bergamot, jasmine, cloves, gaiac, vetiver, vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A medieval forest tinged with sunlight.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE GAIAC:  ancient, otherworldly, sweetened

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT GAIAC:  I Smell Therefore I Am, Confessions of a Perfume Nerd, Nathan Branch

BOTTOM LINE:  This was a very pleasant surprise.  I could see this as a future full bottle purchase.  And if you’re not a big fan of vetivers like myself, this restores my faith in the vetiver note.

• Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent: Woody
• Nose: Martine Micallef
• Classification: Unisex
• Expense: $90 for 30ml EdP