PUREDISTANCE
Rubikona (No. 11)

2020

PERFUMER
Cecile Zarokian

mandarin
bergamot
grapefruit

ylang-ylang
rose
clove
creamy notes
iris
orange blossom

cedarwood
patchouli
musk
vanilla
solar notes

‘Puredistance RUBIKONA was made by Cecile Zarokian in Paris. The creation of this perfume started with the word RUBIKONA that combines the deep and warm colour red of a RUBY with the timeless beauty of an ICON. RU BI KO NA … Four distinct sounds that together form their own small symphony. Much like a perfectly cut RUBY that fascinates by the various shades of red and intensities of light. Puredistance Rubikona is a deep, warming perfume with a gracious, warm heart – safely embedded in deep blue satin. Elegance in every vein, in line with the sophisticated character of Puredistance. Rubikona is ‘Chic Inside Out’. – PureDistance

Despite the heavier and leathery notes from M and M V2Q or the animalic underbelly from Gold, I have to say that Rubikona is probably the more challenging PureDistance to wear for me personally so far.

That’s not because it’s daring in a general way, but I found the earthy tones a bit out of my comfort zone.

To me, this has a similar sort of dry, musky patchouli that you’ll find in some women’s Chanel releases like Coco Mademoiselle. It’s earthy, but rather bright at the same time.

I get a lot of rose as well, but it’s a greener and fresher combination than what I usually think of when I think rose-patch. There’s a distinct tropical tinge here, creating an almost sun-tan lotion mixed with earth. And clove, which are also quite prominent once I noticed them.

When I smell my skin up close, I do get iris and some of the beautiful qualities that I also found in some other floral-iris hearts (Papilio, White), however the patchouli dominates it

The drydown is more vanillic and safe. For me, the Coco-patchouli like opening isn’t a big love (patchouli in general rarely is for me). Enjoyable enough to sample, but less to my taste and feeling like lacking some of the magic from the other PureDistance that I’m familiar with thus far.