PARFUMS DE MARLY
CARLISLE
2015
PERFUMER
Quentin Bisch
green apple
nutmeg
saffron
tonka bean
rose
osmanthus
davana
vanilla
patchouli
opoponax
‘A wave of freshness bathes the skin – Carlisle is the embodiment of light. Sunny and radiant, this sensual fragrance is built around a sandalwood theme that is warm, with a hint of vanilla, whilst both soothing and rich. The clear, seductive top notes of crisp green apple, warming nutmeg and golden saffron unearth the scent to an elegant heart of rose, tonka bean, osmanthus and davana. The perfume narrative is concluded by a base of vanilla, patchouli and opoponax resinoid – an olfactory for fragrance connoisseurs and lovers of niche fragrances. Housed in a jet black bottle with a silver stopper, the Carlisle blend distils its aura of oriental mystery through a delicate play on its accents of nutmeg, saffron and Tonka bean, which is a delectable signature able to distil a great variety of notes. Furthermore, the unexpected combination of sharp green apple with soft vanilla, reveals itself as irrepressibly joyful on the skin. The result is a surprising and explosive alliance.’ – Parfums de Marly
Take this review with a grain of salt as it’s one of the first fragrances I’ve ever reviewed. I have smelled Carlisle since, but not on skin.
Parfums de Marly was one of my first houses that I really got into (as many who enter the fragrance community). My favorites being Herod and Layton Exclusif, the latter being one of the fragrances that brought me onto my fragrance journey. Carlisle is a popular offering from them that sort of exists in the same realm and I can see why it’s popular as well.
It starts off spicy, but not as fruity and sweet as I anticipated. I do get some apple. Towards the drydown the spices take a backseat and a sweet, chocolate and tobacco mixture takes over, turning Carlisle into more of a gourmand fragrance. Some of the seemingly shared DNA with Herod becomes noticeable at this point to me. Moreover, I find similarities to Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme.
It’s a warm fragrance, perfect for the Holidays. The quality is good, despite that, Carlisle probably won’t make it into my collection anytime soon.