LUBIN
KORRIGAN

2012

PERFUMER
Thomas Fontaine

Cognac
Saffron
juniper

Whiskey
Ambrette
Lavender

Oud
Cedarwood
Vetiver
leather
musk

The opening has a boozy vibe, with slight animalic nuances. It’s not animalic in a challenging way, but it reminds me of the grating booziness in Strangers Cigar Rum Intense. It’s subtle enough, but it’s there throughout the wear.

Shortly after it becomes clear how sweet Korrigan is. I get touches of (burned) sugar, a milky coffee or latte machiatto and maybe some chocolate. It’s not a full-on gourmand, but probably more so than it is a boozy fragrance. It’s not a heavy fragrance; it doesn’t feel thick on my skin and I think the addition of lavender and juniper add levity to the composition.

There’s also a woodiness, which combined with the sweetness reminds me of coconut (similar to van Cleef & Arpels Bois Doré or Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector Lost In The Desert). As it dries further, the saffron starts coming through. I wouldn’t say it’s a strong leather scent; by the time it’s prominent, the fragrance has become a skin scent, so it’s just a subtle touch.

Overall, the scent is beautiful. Where this fragrance falls apart a bit in my opinion is the performance. Korrigan feels like it should be a much, much stronger performing fragrance for what it is. If performance is of any priority to you, it might not cut it.