No Longer Human

This composition is dominated by a resinous amber and woody profile. You will notice strong notes of opoponax and myrrh that ground the fragrance in a deep, balsamic foundation. It leans heavily into herbal chamomile in the opening before settling into a warm, meditative woodiness that persists throughout the day.

The opening is surprisingly bright with a quick pop of lemon and an herbal chamomile edge that feels sharp. As it reaches the dry-down, those initial citrus notes vanish, leaving behind the rich, dense warmth of Vietnamese oud and creamy Mysore sandalwood. It shifts from an herbal citrus encounter to a dark, resinous woody skin scent.

It is a long-lasting fragrance. On my skin, it consistently provides eight to ten hours of presence. Even at the end of a long winter workday, you can still catch the scent of labdanum and ambergris on your sweater or collar, making it quite reliable for day-to-night transitions.

It can work for the office if applied sparingly. Because it has moderate sillage, one or two sprays keep the woody, resinous profile within your personal bubble. It does not project loudly enough to fill a room, but the dense, balsamic nature of the myrrh might be too much for cramped spaces.

The resinous amber and heavy wood notes truly thrive in cold weather. It shines during autumn and deep winter when the air is dry and crisp. In high summer heat, the dense sweetness of the vanilla absolute and balsamic notes can feel oppressive rather than comforting on the skin.

It is a true unisex creation. The interplay between the smoky myrrh, dry oakmoss, and sweet vanilla absolute allows it to sit comfortably on anyone. It does not lean into typical floral or fruity tropes, opting instead for a grounded, earthy aesthetic that ignores traditional gender boundaries in perfumery.

It is a strong candidate for a signature scent if you love resinous woods. It has a unique character that is not common in designer aisles, which helps you stand out. However, its intensity requires someone who enjoys a moody, serious profile every day rather than something light or playful.

I would advise against blind buying. The heavy use of opoponax and Vietnamese oud makes it a polarizing experience that demands a trial run. You need to see how the oakmoss and ambergris behave with your skin chemistry before committing to a full bottle, as it changes significantly over time.

The projection is moderate. It creates a noticeable aura for the first two or three hours, keeping an arm's length radius. After that, it pulls closer to the skin, hugging you with the scent of cedarwood and amber. It is not designed to be a beast-mode, room-filling fragrance for loud environments.

Given its complex, balsamic depth, it is challenging to layer. If you must, a simple, non-sweet sandalwood or cedarwood fragrance might enhance the woody base. Avoid layering it with anything spicy, as the incense notes in this composition are already quite prominent and can easily clash with other aggressive scents.