WHAT I SMELL:  A blast of menthol with a full bodied orange blossom and jasmine layered on top.  It’s medicinal, warm and rounded.  I am worried that this will be too much at this point, but as it starts to drydown it softens and becomes more bearable.  The tuberose is not moist and not dry.  To me it just feels substantial and beefy.  This is floral that begs not to be in that it’s not too sweet and it’s wants to be grounded rather than ethereal.  The menthol opening continues but grows softer and there is just a hint of the nutmeg and clove to give this a slight spice.  After a while, the musk helps to even out the tuberose which finally settles down and starts behaving itself.

Tubereuse Criminelle Notes:  jasmine, orange blossom, hyacinth, tuberose, nutmeg, clove, styrax (what in the world is styrax????), musk and vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Semi-tough and slightly old-fashioned in a way that it reminds me of my grandmother (my grandmother was not a shrinking violet but was a stern and serious German woman)!

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE TUBEREUSE CRIMINELLE:  hearty, fearless, serious

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT TUBEREUSE CRIMINELLE:  Memory of Scent, Muse in Wooden Shoes, Scentsate

BOTTOM LINE: I have yet to find a tuberose fragrance that I really like, but I can see how others who love the note could find this appealing.  It’s not too loud, but its not a girly-girl fragrance by any means.

• Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent: Floral
• Nose: Christopher Sheldrake
• Classification: Unisex
• Expense: $140 for 50ml EdP