Purgatorio

Purgatorio is a heavy, resinous, and woody fragrance. It lead with cold incense, olibanum, and sharp aldehydes that quickly transition into a heart of guaiac wood and leather. The dry-down settles into a dense, balsamic base of myrrh and cade oil, creating an overall dark, smoky aesthetic perfect for winter.

The opening is immediate and aggressive, characterized by piercing incense and aldehydes that feel like a cold stone cathedral. Over several hours, the sharp top notes recede to reveal a more grounded, leathery heart. Finally, it dries down into a warm, smoky, and slightly bitter base of cade oil and sandalwood.

This is a potent composition that easily achieves eternal longevity on skin. You can expect it to persist for over 12 hours, with the base notes of amber and myrrh remaining detectable on clothing well into the next day. It is definitely a long-wearing fragrance that does not require frequent respraying.

The projection is quite strong, especially in the first few hours. Given its intense incense and leather profile, it can easily fill a room and may be overwhelming in tight, indoor settings like an office. It is better suited for outdoor events, concerts, or large, well-ventilated spaces where its character can fully develop.

This fragrance shines in the cold. Winter is the ideal season, as the freezing air helps cut through the heavy, balsamic density of the cade oil and guaiac wood. In high summer heat, the resinous notes can become suffocating and cloying, which is why it is best reserved for autumn and winter months.

Purgatorio is designed for experienced fragrance enthusiasts who enjoy polarizing, avant-garde, or liturgical-leaning scents. It suits someone who prefers a bold, unisex profile and is comfortable wearing something that leans heavily into woody, smoky, and incense-rich notes, avoiding anything traditionally fresh or fruity.

While marketed as unisex, the composition leans masculine due to the heavy reliance on leather, cedar, and cade oil. Its lack of floral or sweet accords gives it a rugged, austere quality. Anyone who enjoys dark, wood-focused niche perfumery can wear it, but it sits most naturally within a traditional masculine-coded scent wardrobe.

Because of its intense incense-heavy personality, it is a challenging candidate for a signature scent. It demands a specific mood and environment. While an enthusiast might wear it daily, its aggressive sillage and dark character mean it will likely define your presence in any room, which can be limiting for daily, varied activities.

I strongly advise against a blind buy. The fragrance is polarizing, and the heavy incense and cade oil accord can be interpreted as clinical or overly smoky by some, as evidenced by the mixed sentiment in user reviews. Definitely secure a sample first to see how the leather and resins interact with your specific skin chemistry.

Purgatorio performs best in dry, cold conditions. In humid, tropical weather, the balsamic and leather notes can feel weighed down and may sour on the skin. The lack of fresh or citrus elements means there is no relief from the density, making it uncomfortable for most wearers in high-humidity climates.