LIQUIDES IMAGINAIRES
FORTIS – Eau dela

2011

PERFUMER
Sonia Constant

Oud
Cumin
Saffron
Cypriol

Guaiac Wood
Vetiver
Cedarwood
Amyris

Sandalwood
Ambergris
Vanilla
Patchouli
Musk

‘Fortis is the black ink of the Literati painting. A fragrant shadow which fortifies the body. Its magic conjures dark thoughts.’ – Liquides Imaginaires

Fortis grabbed my attention, because Sonia Constant is one of my favorite perfumers. I’ve only had limited, but great experiences with Liquides Imaginaires before this, but while Fortis is interesting, it won’t make my wishlist.

Fortis is quite a pungent, dry and linear scent to me. From the opening, I get a lot of the cumin and a dry, sand-like texture. The cumin isn’t overly sweaty or daring, so the fragrance stays wearable, but it will be an acquired taste.

After a while it settles into something a bit more comforting; still dry overal, but there’s a resinous warmth. Fortis smelled exactly like a fragrance that I’ve tried not long before it, but I can’t think of what it is, which probably didn’t make the wear more pleasant.

In a way this reminds me of the savory-iris, cooking spices that I get in some Stephane Lucas Humbert; like Khol de Bahrein. It’s hard to pinpoint, but while Fortis kept me intrigued, something in it kept me from enjoying it.