Lapis Lazuli
Designed by perfumer Olivier Durbano, Lapis Lazuli is a unisex woody aromatic blend that rejects traditional sweetness. It targets collectors who want to smell like damp earth, wild thyme, and smoking resins rather than clean laundry. The scent excels in cold weather, matching the gray skies of winter with its dominant notes of cypress, wormwood, and dry vetiver. It is a slow, meditative wear that clings to sweaters and jackets for hours. If you want a signature scent that stands out in a crowd of generic fresh scents, this bottle is worth sampling. It suits casual, creative environments where unique style is appreciated.
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Performance Metrics
198 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Lasts six to eight hours on skin with moderate projection. It creates an arm's length scent bubble for the first two hours before settling into a warm, woody skin scent.
Notes Pyramid
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A dry, mineral, and woody aromatic blend. It features a cold opening of bitter wormwood and cypress, an earthy heart of thyme and wheat, and a warm, resinous base of elemi, cedar, and Tolu balsam.
Main Accords
7 MAPPEDThe aromatic and fresh spicy accords dominate the first hour, feeling dry, cold, and slightly medicinal. Over time, the balsamic and amber accords warm up, smoothing the herbal sharpness into a soft woody base.
Community Data
406 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and spring.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Offers a unique, dry herbal profile that stands out from sweet trends.
Perfect for crisp, rainy autumn days and casual outdoor wear.
The wormwood and cypress opening is incredibly refreshing and sharp.
Feels highly natural, botanical, and artistic throughout the wear.
The dry-down features beautiful, warm elemi and Tolu balsam resins.
Ideal for collectors looking for a non-commercial, mineral scent.
Evokes a breezy, oceanic and minty freshness comparable to luxury niches like Amouage Memoir Man.
Showcases a rich, warm heart dominated by cloves, rosemary, and thyme.
Creates a stunning balance between cool mineral tones and warm, comforting resinous bases.
Incorporate clean, starry veins of musk and iris to soften the dry, woody base.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
The medicinal thyme note can smell too culinary or herbal for some.
Bitter wormwood in the opening may be off-putting to beginners.
Weak projection makes it unsuitable for those wanting a loud scent.
Average longevity of six hours means you might need to reapply.
Does not perform well in warm, humid summer weather.
Hard to find in standard department stores for easy testing.
Aromatic profile is so close to Olivier Durbano's 'Jade' that owning both might be redundant.
The intense warmth of elemi, cloves, and balsamic notes can feel too hot and heavy in mild settings.
Oceanic-aromatic blend can feel disjointed to those expecting a traditional woody fragrance.
Very heavy reliance on culinary herbs like rosemary and thyme dominates the mid-phase.
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Olivier Durbano Lapis Lazuli: A Chilly, Earthy Herbarium”
The opening of Lapis Lazuli hits you like a cold wind through a pine grove. Olivier Durbano uses a sharp dose of wormwood and green cypress to establish a chilly, slightly bitter mood. It is a bracing introduction that will immediately push away lovers of modern vanilla or clean musk. A quiet note of rose lurks in the background, though it serves only to soften the edges of the sharp wood rather than turning the fragrance floral.
After thirty minutes, the composition dries out significantly. The heart notes of thyme and wheat create a texture that feels like dried grass under a gray sky. There is a dusty, mineral quality here that is fascinating to watch on skin. Unlike many woody scents that rely on heavy cedar from the start, this one keeps its focus on dry herbs and grains for the first few hours, making the wear experience feel highly natural and raw.
As the dry-down approaches, the temperature of the fragrance shifts. The base notes of elemi resin and Tolu balsam introduce a subtle, warm spiciness that counters the cold opening. Vetiver and cedar provide a solid, familiar foundation, preventing the herbal notes from becoming too medicinal. It remains dry, but the resins give it a smooth, satisfying weight that sits comfortably on the skin.
On my skin, Lapis Lazuli behaves like a quiet companion. The sillage is modest, projecting just enough for you to catch drifts of it as you move throughout the day. It is an excellent choice for a rainy autumn morning when you are wearing a cozy wool sweater. The scent lasts around seven hours before fading into a soft, musky skin scent.
This is not a perfume designed to win compliments from strangers in a crowded bar. It is a personal, atmospheric scent that suits artistic people who dress for themselves. If you enjoy smelling like a damp forest floor or dried botanical specimens, this belongs on your test list.
Ultimately, Lapis Lazuli is a successful exercise in herbal realism. It avoids the easy path of adding amber wood or sugar to make it sellable, choosing instead to remain dry, mineral, and rustic. Sample it first to ensure the bitter wormwood behaves on your skin.
FAQs
What does Lapis Lazuli smell like?+
It smells like a dry, herbal forest floor after a heavy autumn rain. The scent opens with bitter wormwood and sharp cypress, then settles into an earthy blend of thyme, wheat, and warm elemi resin. It is deeply herbal, resinous, and mineral, avoiding any modern sweetness.
How does the opening differ from the dry-down?+
The opening is a cold, camphorous blast of cypress, wormwood, and spicy cloves. Over the next hour, this chilly herbal edge softens on warm skin, transitioning into a quiet, dry wheat note and a woody base dominated by cedar and balsamic elemi.
How long does Lapis Lazuli last on skin?+
On average skin, you can expect six to eight hours of noticeable wear. The dry, resinous base notes like Tolu balsam and cedar linger close to the body for several hours after the brighter herbal notes have faded.
How far does the scent project?+
It projects about an arm's length for the first two hours of wear. This is not a loud, room-filling fragrance, but it creates a steady, personal bubble that people will notice when they stand close to you.
Which season is best for wearing this fragrance?+
The dry woodiness and warm resins make it perfect for fall and winter. The cool cypress and wormwood notes also allow it to perform surprisingly well on cool, rainy spring days without feeling heavy.
For what occasions should I wear Lapis Lazuli?+
This is an artistic scent best suited for casual day wear, outdoor walks, or quiet evenings reading at home. It is too medicinal and herbal for formal black-tie events or high-pressure office environments.
Does Lapis Lazuli lean masculine or feminine?+
It is entirely unisex. The herbal thyme and dry vetiver give it a rugged, earth-bound quality that traditional masculine wearers enjoy, while the soft iris and rose notes keep it balanced for anyone.
Who is the ideal audience for this perfume?+
This fragrance is designed for enthusiasts who enjoy complex, botanical perfumes. If you appreciate indie houses that focus on resinous, forest-like smells rather than sugary department store trends, this will appeal to you.
Can I layer Lapis Lazuli with other fragrances?+
Yes, it layers beautifully with simple, warm amber or vanilla single-note oils. Adding a sweet base helps soften the sharp, bitter edges of the wormwood and thyme, making it more wearable for daily errands.
Are there any similar fragrances or dupes?+
It shares a dark, herbal, pine-like atmosphere with Amouage Memoir Man, though Lapis Lazuli feels more mineral and breezy. It also carries the herbal, resinous signature found in other Olivier Durbano creations like Jade.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREConsider Amouage Memoir Man for a smokier wood, or Olivier Durbano Jade for a greener, more intense herbal style.
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