I received this sample yesterday and I believe a little of it leaked out of the vial.  As soon as I opened the package, I was greeted by this incredible scent… so of course I had to sample it right away.

WHAT I SMELL: Out of the bottle, I got this warm, spicy and smoky patchouli scent.  But when I first applied it I was greeted with a smoky incense and a dry woodiness.  I thought, this was going to take me down the road via L’Air du Desert Marocain which I know many people love, but is not one of my favorites.  Luckily, that dry woodiness was matched with the warmth of the patchouli and pepper.  Sombre Negra starts to grow and become rounded; lightly sweet and lightly spicy.  The funny thing is when I first started wearing this is that when I sniffed my wrist, I would smell incense and wood…but as I was driving my car, and smelling the scent from a distance, what I was smelling was the patchouli sweetness.  I love schizophrenic fragrances!  As time wears on, Sombre Negra becomes a warm, close to the skin scent; one that you find entices you to keep sniffing your wrist as the day goes on.  Can this really be a vetiver fragrance??

Sombre Negra notes:  vetiver, patchouli, cedar, olibanum (Frankincense), pink pepperberry, black peppercorn, clove, juniper, citrus, nutmeg, cumin, tonka and orris root

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  What the beginning of Fall smells like, only a bit more exotic!

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE SOMBRE NEGRA:  comfortable, metamorphosic, easy

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SOMBRE NEGRA: Notable Scents, EauMG, Smellythoughts

BOTTOM LINE: This may be a keeper.  I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about this at first, but it’s really growing on me.  I just wish my tester hadn’t leaked so I could have more to play with!

• Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent: Woody Vetiver
• Classification: Unisex
• Nose: Yosh Han
• Expense: $130 for 50ml EdP (2011 reformulation)