PARFUMS DE MARLY
KALAN
2019
Spicy notes
Blood Orange
Black Pepper
Lavender
Orange Blossom absolute
solar notes
Precious woods
Oakmoss
Sandalwood
‘Intense and subtle at once, Kalan is an olfactory signature that surprises with a sparkling opening, blending black pepper and spices with fresh notes of blood orange. The Parfums de Marly eau de parfum is anchored with a heart of orange blossom and lavender, and while it evolves, facets of white sandalwood unfold and drape into notes of moss and precious wood. The result is an olfactory narrative that is round with clear, seductive top notes and simultaneously an immediately discernible base. The harmony between the materials and the accords creates this olfactory music that is the signature of Kalan. Revolutionary in its aesthetic, fluctuating between shadow and light and rebelling to current fragrance trends, Kalan is a unique creation that resides on the margins of the olfactory family, a revisited Fougere. Captivating luxury in its gleaming ardent red attire, this contemporary Parfums de Marly eau de parfum is a best seller and made for the lover of rare materials and ultimate exhilaration.’ – Parfums de Marly
I don’t like this, but it was much better than I expected…how? you ask.
Baccarat Rouge 540 is a beloved fragrance in the community, but honestly, it’s one my least favorites and especially because it’s so prominent, loud and copied to death, that it gets on my nerves. I heard Kalan had a lot of similarities, so I really didn’t expect to like this, but I wanted to find out. It turns out that they are indeed similar, but by no means identical and even though I’m not a fan of Kalan and it’s one of my least favorites Parfums de Marly, I’d take it over Baccarat Rouge any day of the week.
The similarities are found in the candied, loud and in my opinion cloying sweetness. It reminds me of those edible hard candy necklaces for kids and I dislike it. Otherwise, Kalan is a completely different fragrance and I think it has a lot of great elements as well. It’s at the same time more spicy and more fruity. A tad more traditionally masculine leaning as well.
The blood orange note is really nice and almost bitter, it’s probably my favorite aspect of this fragrance. There’s also a green undertone, which I found similar to the one that I get from Layton Exclusif. I’ve read that some people compared it to Amouage Beach Hut Man, and I can see that as well; it’s a fresh, ‘out of the box’ greenish accord. Unfortunately, as much as I am glad that those notes give some contrast to the heavy sugary sweetness, it’s not enough for me.
The performance is great. All day longevity, but it’s mainly the projection that packs a punch. Which is great if you like the scent. I think if you like that type of sweetness, if you like Baccarat Rouge or some designers that have one of those sweet accords that could make your teeth hurt, you will probably love Kalan. Despite the fact that it’s not for me at all, I could appreciate parts of the composition and I can see how many people would enjoy this.