EX NIHILO
Gold Immortals Extrait
2023
PERFUMER
Jordi Fernandez
bergamot
pear
lys ylang
peony
tonka bean
amber
vanilla
‘Master Perfumer Jordi Fernández, reinvents his iconic creation GOLD IMMORTALS through a quintessential essence. The extrait de parfum highlights all the sensuality of GOLD IMMORTALS through a brand-new combination of scents.This creation expresses the most sophisticated and intense facets of the original and adorned it with an addictive boost of Vanilla and Amber volutes, leaving on the skin a feeling of infinite bliss.’ – Ex Nihilo
I’ve never smelled the EDP before, so I went in blindly for this Extrait and was pleasantly surprised, although it’s less ‘for me’ than I had maybe hoped for.
What surprised me about the opening is how sparkling it is. Pear can have this effect, almost sharp fruity. A rose-like floral is prominent as well. Leans quite feminine on the surface with vibrant, citrussy florals being up front for a while. However, there is something spicy that pulls it more unisex underneath.
The only thing I knew about Gold Immortals is that it’s sometimes compared to Baccarat Rouge 540. And there’s some truth to that (a tiny bit). This extrait is very different from Baccarat Rouge in many ways. More fruity, more floral, more musky. Less saffron, less sweet (albeit it very sweet still), different texture. Yet in the same broad direction. I do not like Baccarat Rouge and I thought Gold Immortals Extrait was lovely, but there were some moments in the drydown where I felt it went a bit too far in the sweet Baccarat direction to be something I’d consider wearing frequently.
About that texture; there is something sharp up top, but there is also a really pasty, creamy core. When I took notes before reading the notes, I thought I was smelling a pasty orris. It’s classy and really brings this fragrance together. At least for a while, before going full musky.
Musky and ambery. The opening may be very floral to me, but as mentioned, it gets very sweet and while keeping this relatively light, the drydown is more ambery.
I guess that’s what my biggest takeaway from this fragrance is. It’s playful, but classy. Feminine and soft, but with a counterpart. Definitely a pretty scent, that I would probably enjoy more if it was a tad less sweet and musky.