BYREDO
EYES CLOSED

2022

Cinnamon
Cardamom

Orris
Ginger
Carrot

Patchouli
Papyrus

Finally, a Byredo that I was excited for. Seeing how the notes overlap with the discontinued Seven Veils, which is my favorite Byredo, I had high hopes for Eyes Closed.

And it is indeed quite similar to Seven Veils, albeit is sharper and slightly less sweet perhaps. The spices in Eyes Closed are much more pronounced with both the cinnamon and cardamom cutting through the opening (in Seven Veils they feel more mixed in with a syrupy, almost boozy core, but here they are punchy and dry).

You definitely get the carrot scent strongly next to the iris and I guess that will make or break this scent for most people. To me it doesn’t grow as sweet and comforting as I’d expected; rather it stays dry and perhaps a tad traditionally masculine leaning in the later drydown; almost like some ‘sports’ flanker from 1-2 decades ago; interesting and unexpected, but ultimately less pleasing than the cozy Seven Veils for me.