CHRIS COLLINS
AFRICAN ROOIBOS

2021

PERFUMER
Sidonie Lancesseur

Bergamot
Cardamom
Black Pepper

Rooibos Tea
orris

Cedarwood
Tonka Bean
Immortelle

I’ve tried this in stores several times, but never wore it until the day of writing this first impression. It seems to be by far the most popular Chris Collins and in store, it did stand out for me.

Straight from the opening it’s an interesting mix of dry citrus and spices. Quite comforting, yet a bit sharp at the same time. It has sort of a cashmeran, dry, chalky woodiness that you would expect later in the wear, but it’s there right away.

As the wear progresses the strong presence of the iris becomes clear to me, as well as the immortelle. As a matter of fact, I presume the immortelle is responsible for a lot of the dry spiciness and cumin-esque touches.

Rooibos is popular as a tea in the Netherlands, but I only know the mass-marketed tea bags, not the plant. I can’t say this fragrance reminds me of what I’m used to with the teas, which are usually sweeter, honeyed with a lot of cinnamon. African Rooibos is a lot more ‘cold’ spicy than what I expected based on that experience. It grows towards the sweeter, but it takes a while and it keeps a different feeling in my opinion.

I do really enjoy the fragrance and it feels rather unique. There’s a sparkling quality, despite also being dry (again, could be the immortelle working its magic). It does have a tea vibe, but also a lemonade vibe and at the same time it’s definitely not light or under-delivering on the spices at all. Good fragrance.