If you haven’t seen any news or watched any videos on these three fragrances, then you should take some time after reading this to go check some out. This release is the most polarizing release because it comes with a lot of hype but also a lot of controversy amongst the majority of the community. Never have I ever seen a triple release from a fragrance house that has gotten so much talk over the last few months since they came out and there’s a lot of two-sided conversations. Let’s dive in, shall we? I’m going to go in absolutely no particular order so here we go.
Eragon - 8.2
The first of three and we’re already starting off with a banger for me (hey that rhymed). Eragon is a very warm and spicy fragrance with a lot of notes that are right up my alley and are perfect for these cold seasons that are upon us. This fragrance opens with cardamom, mandarin and bergamot. In the mid is cinnamon, cypriol and davana. In the base it’s vanilla bean, tonka bean, leather and patchouli.
The opening to me is a strong cinnamon scent with cardamom but I’m not really getting the citruses at all. I would say they are complementing notes and not really notes that are dominating in any way – warm and spicy are the keys here. As it dries down, I’m not really getting the vanilla or patchouli either, it mainly stays cardamom, cinnamon, leather and tonka bean for me. Not saying that’s a bad thing, but just something to point out. Cypriol is a mossy wood and davana are greens, herbs and fougeres – which I can now point out are definitely notes I smell here.
Now, where this fragrance gets me is the longevity. I didn’t think that it would have a lot of sillage or projection for me nor did I think it would last very long, but I was quite surprised to still get hints of the scent as the day progressed. I have thoughts on that as well and will save for my final thoughts below. For now, it’s a solid scent and I’m a fan.
Carios – 7.3
Carios is also a woody spicy fragrance, but this fragrance has more aromatics and more freshness than its triplet. This fragrance opens with saffron, mandarin orange, pink pepper and bergamot. In the middle it’s black pepper, geranium and red thyme. In the base we have Ambroxan, tonka bean, vetiver and cedarwood.
This fragrance smells somewhat familiar to me but I can’t quite put my finger on it . It’s ambery, musky, sweet but also has hints of those spices and woody notes. For me, I’ve never seen red thyme in any fragrance before, and I get small hints of it and see why they put it in there. It’s not overpowering but if you smell deep enough it’s there.
Carios doesn’t get me through the day as much as Eragon does but for the time I’ve tested this one I’ve enjoyed it. I would say it’s a bit forgettable and while it’s supposed to be mass appealing, I’m not sure this one hit that mark. Overall, I like it, but it may not be one for everyone.
Valero – 5
Valero is the final of the triple threat and honestly, it’s my most disliked amongst the bunch. My reasons are different than others though so don’t take my rating as the “above all else” level of ratings here. For me, I’m not a huge fan of overly sweet-smelling fragrances and this one somehow has a lot of Invictus qualities that I can personally do without.
Opening notes are citron, bergamot and juniper. In the middle there’s lavender, nutmeg, geranium and cypress. In the dry down we have Ambrox Super, patchouli and sandalwood. These notes mixed together for me leave a tinge in my nose I just can’t shake. I will say, for the younger crowd in their teens, they LOVE this fragrance. It’s a youthful, more sweet-smelling fragrance that is mass appealing for that age demographic. For us mature adults, you have a lower chance of liking this one but still worth a try.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I kind of see why the community is all in a tizzy about these fragrances. As a tester, my bias is on the fragrance alone and not any other factor. When you purchase from Decant House, you get a nice presentation with a smaller bottle that has a few ml’s of fragrance in it and what you judge is what you smell – nothing more. However, after you’ve gone and smelled it, it’s my due diligence to tell you that after you try and want to buy – get ready to drain your savings.
Each one of these bad boys are $550 retail, which isn’t really out of the question for niche fragrances with the presentation these three bottles carry, but I think the problem is in the fragrances themselves.
When I smell something brand new it lives in my nose for hours throughout the day and I’ll just keep getting nose hit after nose hit and I love it, especially if it’s a good smelling fragrance. If I smell something I’m familiar with, I notice that my mind just kind of tosses it away and doesn’t notice it as much. I think having fragrances that may smell similar to something else with a hefty price tag is what the problem is here. The vast majority of people would say that they can get something cheaper that may smell close but it’s an exact replica.
For me, I’m split down the middle: I like the fragrances for what they are, but I can see where the internet is coming from. Could these be a solid buy at maybe $400 retail? Absolutely. Are they worth $550? Probably not. Should you test these out for yourselves? You know it! Comment below which one is your favorite. I’ll catch you guys in the next one. Happy holidays!
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