nasomatto | The Scented Hound

WHAT I SMELL: At first application, I get some sweet wood, a few aldehydes and then in fast succession an incredibly light rose and some incense which starts to dry out the scent rather quickly. Funny, the fragrance almost retreats after putting it on and you’re left wondering if it’s going to just quickly fade away. After 10 minutes, all I get from China White is lightly sweet and sharp woody incense. After 20 minutes, thankfully, the floral aspects start to come back making this more palatable in my book by giving it more dimension. Oh wait, they just went away again…or are they back again?? China White can’t seem to make up its mind. After about 30 minutes, add something that smells a bit like hair spray. I’m not quite sure if that’s really necessary!

China White Notes – The Nasamatto website doesn’t list the fragrance’s notes. Fragrantica doesn’t list the notes as well, but provided the following: Nasomatto China White was presented in 2008 as a floral-woody fragrance for women, composed of powdery notes of fresh flowers and woody accords.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Comme des Garcon Avignon’s little cousin who is a bit more shy and just a tad sweeter.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE CHINA WHITE: quiet, restrained, light

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT CHINA WHITE: Eiderdown Press , Worse Than Weeds, Nathan Branch

BOTTOM LINE: I like it and I don’t like it. China White makes me feel a bit schizophrenic. Every time I sniff my wrist it’s either all incense (I don’t just like incense) or its a combination of floral and incense (I like it like this)… but enough already, make up your mind so I can love it or leave it.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Floral Woody Musk
Nose: Alessandro Gualtieri
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $165 for 30ml Parfum Extrait

My oh my…this will be a short review. Yesterday I tested Pardon by Nasomatto and things went terribly wrong. I am trying to find the words to describe this and am having a hard time doing so. As a parfum extrait this went on incredibly strong. I’m not sure what I was smelling because something came to light very quickly and then became the dominant note…metallics. I have experienced this metallic smell before, but I couldn’t define when and where. After about an hour it hit me. When I was in my twenties, prior to my tonsils being pulled, I had many bouts with sinus infections. Whenever I knew that I was getting a sinus infection, I would experience this really unpleasant metallic smell. That’s what I experience with this scent (and no, I don’t currently have a sinus infection). What was making this reaction? The oud? The tonka bean? Whatever the case, I washed it off, and then washed it off again. Before going out last night I put on my favorite Pour le Soir, knowing that it be strong enough to mask this mistake. It didn’t. And the effect it had on me made me slightly nauseous. Incredibly bizarre. Please note that I only put a dab on my hand, and yet this morning I can still detect this on my skin. Funny thing is, my husband says he likes it, but he too detects the bite in the scent. He’ll be happy to know that I’m giving him the rest of the sample. I’m usually forgiving of a scent and am typically willing to give it another try. This is one of those times that I won’t be doing so.

Pardon Notes:

magnolia, oud, tonka bean, unsweetened chocolate, cinnamon, sandlewood