New York
Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector created New York for wearers who want an approachable earthy wood scent for daily rotation. Perfumer Jean Claude Delville pairs sharp bergamot and black pepper with soft lichen absolute and sandalwood. This combination offers a lighter, smoother alternative to sharp mineral chypres. Indian oud and patchouli add grounding depth in the heart, while amber and white musk keep the formula light. It fits quiet office settings, spring commutes, and casual weekend wear. Anyone seeking a soft cedarwood signature that stays polite around colleagues will find this formula comfortable.
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Performance Metrics
45 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Longevity averages 4 to 6 hours on skin. Projection stays moderate for 30 minutes before settling into an intimate skin scent within an arm's length. Mild spring and fall temperatures yield the best balance for this quiet formula.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
New York opens with bright bergamot and dry blue sage before settling into a soft texture of sequoia bark, lichen, and pale incense. Clean musk and smooth cedarwood ground the base, keeping the wood profile light and translucent rather than heavy or resinous.
Main Accords
9 MAPPEDThe dominant woody and aromatic accords open briskly with citrus and pepper before yielding to a smooth, musky cedarwood phase on skin. Earthy lichen and quiet incense add dry texture, while amber keeps the dry-down warm without adding sticky sweetness.
Community Data
98 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 spring and fall. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Fresh bergamot and blue sage opening feels bright and clean
Smooth white musk softens the cedarwood and sequoia wood base
Polite skin-level projection makes it ideal for quiet office settings
Unisex appeal that avoids heavy, aggressive woody clichés
Easy to wear during spring and autumn transitions
Indian oud note stays quiet without any harsh barnyard smell
Soft lichen and incense add subtle earthy depth
Smoother alternative for fans of citrus and wood profiles
Inoffensive scent profile for close-contact environments
Clean vetiver dry-down stays fresh throughout the workday
Well-rounded composition crafted by perfumer Jean Claude Delville
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Soft projection fades to a skin scent within 30 to 40 minutes
Moderate longevity of only 4 to 6 hours on skin
High retail price point relative to its quiet performance
Lacks the mineral flint sharpness that Terre d'Hermès lovers might want
Indian oud note is barely detectable in the heart
May feel overly subtle for cold winter evening wear
Requires reapplication if you expect all-day projection
Not suitable for buyers seeking heavy beast-mode projection
Linear dry-down phase after the top citrus notes fade
Limited distribution makes trying before buying difficult
Community reviews note a lack of distinct bold character
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector New York Review: Soft Woods and Quiet Musk”
New York by Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector opens with a crisp flash of bergamot, elemi resin, and black pepper. Blue sage gives the top notes an herbal, slightly dry green edge, while a dash of cumin adds a faint warm spice underneath. The opening feels clean and bright rather than biting or heavy. Anyone expecting a dark niche opening will find a surprisingly airy citrus start that feels welcoming right from the first spray.
Within twenty minutes, the initial citrus snap eases into a quiet heart of sequoia tree bark, lichen absolute, and sheer incense. Indian oud is listed in the note pyramid, but on skin it stays firmly in the background, offering minor grounding without any barnyard or medicinal weight. A fluffy white musk wraps around the tree bark notes, rounding off sharp edges and keeping the middle phase translucent and fresh.
As the dry-down takes hold, cedarwood and vetiver emerge alongside labdanum and sandalwood. The dominant woody and aromatic accords move together smoothly on skin over several hours. Instead of building a dense forest floor, the fragrance behaves like filtered sunlight through dry lumber. Amber provides just enough resinous warmth to keep the earthy vetiver from feeling cold, dusty, or scratchy during long wear.
Performance stays distinctly quiet throughout its lifecycle on skin. Expect between four and six hours of total longevity, with projection collapsing into an intimate personal bubble after the first thirty minutes. That soft footprint makes it a practical choice for climate-controlled office spaces, small meetings, or warm spring afternoons when heavy amber fragrances feel overwhelming.
This unisex composition pulls away from aggressive masculine woods thanks to its generous white musk component. Wearers who enjoy the citrus-and-earth structure of Terre d'Hermès but dislike its sharp mineral flint will appreciate this gentler direction. It fits minimalists, daily commuters, and fragrance enthusiasts who prefer close-contact skin scents over room-filling sillage.
Perfumer Jean Claude Delville has crafted an easy-wearing wood composition that trades dramatic projection for daily utility. While the price point may make performance-focused buyers hesitate, the liquid itself delivers a clean, balanced wearing experience from top to base. Order a small decant or sample vial first if you want a polite cedarwood and bergamot option for casual spring wear.
FAQs
What does Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector New York smell like?+
New York opens with bright bergamot, black pepper, and blue sage before settling into sequoia bark, lichen, and soft incense. The base relies on clean musk and cedarwood. It smells like a smoothed, musky wood fragrance with subtle citrus accents for spring daytime wear.
How does New York evolve from opening to dry-down?+
The opening delivers a crisp flash of bergamot and sage spice. Within thirty minutes, the citrus fades as sequoia bark, lichen, and pale incense take over the heart. The dry-down settles into a soft cedarwood, vetiver, and white musk scent on skin.
How long does New York by Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector last?+
Longevity averages between 4 and 6 hours on skin. The citrus and sage top notes fade within the first hour, leaving the cedarwood and musk base to sit quietly close to the body for the remainder of the wearing.
What is the projection and sillage of New York?+
Projection is moderate for the initial 30 minutes before pulling within an arm's length. It quickly becomes an intimate skin scent, making it suitable for quiet office settings, healthcare environments, and small indoor gatherings where loud fragrances are unwelcome.
Which season is best for wearing New York?+
Spring and autumn are the ideal seasons for this fragrance. Mild temperatures between 55°F and 72°F allow the bergamot top notes and cedarwood base to unfold comfortably without evaporating too fast or becoming cloying in heavy heat.
What occasions suit New York by Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector?+
This scent fits casual daytime wear, professional office environments, and quiet weekend outings. Its polite musk and wood structure ensures you stay subtly scented without overpowering colleagues in office meetings or dining partners during casual daytime lunches.
Is New York by Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector unisex?+
Yes, New York is fully unisex. While woody notes like cedarwood and vetiver often lean masculine, the prominent white musk and bright bergamot top give the composition a balanced feel that appeals equally to men and women.
Who is the target audience for this fragrance?+
This fragrance targets enthusiasts and professionals who prefer clean, subtle skin scents over heavy projection. It suits buyers looking for an easy woody signature scent featuring bergamot and cedarwood that stays polite and understated throughout the workday.
Can you layer New York with other fragrances?+
Yes, New York layers well with standalone citrus or molecule scents like ISO E Super or Ambroxan. Layering a bright grapefruit or orange cologne over its cedarwood and musk base can boost initial projection for warm spring mornings.
How does New York compare to Terre d'Hermès?+
New York shares a similar bergamot, pepper, and wood framework with Terre d'Hermès. However, New York strips away the sharp mineral flint and dirty orange, replacing them with a softer white musk and sequoia tree bark profile for easier daily wear.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCORETerre d'Hermès offers a similar citrus-wood-earth backbone but brings much sharper mineral flint. Hermès Terre d'Hermès Eau Givrée provides a cooler icy citrus blast, while Olfactive Studio Autoportrait matches its quiet cedarwood and musk skin footprint for daily wear.
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