ATELIER COLOGNE
PHILTRE CEYLAN

2016

PERFUMER
Jérôme Epinette

Bergamot
Mint
Cardamom

Black Tea
Green Tea
Iris

Cumin
Papyrus
Guaiac Wood

This was a blind-buy for me, because the deal was too good to pass on. I want to start this review by giving a fair warning to not blind-buy Philtre Ceylan.

I do like it, but there’s one thing about this fragrance that will divide wearers in two camps; cumin. As fragrance enthusiasts know, cumin is seen as a very divisive note, because it reminds some people of body odor. I do get that connection, and in Philtre Ceylan it gives the scent a hint of ‘skin at the end of a warm Summer day’. To me however, it never goes as far as smelling bad, like sweaty without showering, more like a natural, healthy body odor. That being said, the cumin note is easily the most noticeable in Philtre Ceylan to me and ultimately the reason I ended up giving the bottle away.

There’s black and green tea as well and it gives the scent an overall profile of a spiced (Moroccan) tea. In the opening there’s a bit of mint, which gives an interesting contrast.

I think it’s a beautiful, niche-orientated concoction, but the sweatiness makes it a bit challenging to wear. It needs the right situation and a good amount of confidence. After at least an hour of wearing it, I start to feel confident with it, but if I spray this on, let’s say before going to the office, I’m going to feel self-conscience around people.