War and Peace Part II
Designed for freezing November evenings and heavy winter outerwear, Areej Le Doré War and Peace Part II delivers an uncompromised dark animalic chypre profile. Perfumer Russian Adam pairs dense ambergris and smoky castoreum against a backdrop of dark Taif rose and buttery orris root. The composition skips modern sweet synthetic amber notes, relying instead on a dry, fossilized resin warmth that clings to skin for over fourteen hours. Fragrance enthusiasts who seek historical, vintage-style animalic perfumery will appreciate its somber weight, while casual wearers will find its bold indolic opening challenging for office settings.
Similar Suggestions
BETAFragrances with the nearest note and performance profile.
For more in-depth suggestions.
Performance Metrics
564 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Longevity easily stretches past fourteen hours on skin, with application on outerwear lingering for over three days. Sillage projects aggressively for the first three hours across an arm's length before softening into a persistent, heavy scent bubble.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
War and Peace Part II presents a dense, dry, and powdery texture built on dark animalic layers. Smoky fossilized amber resin opens the scent alongside sharp synthetic civet, before yielding to a waxy heart of Taif rose and buttery orris root. The base settles into a thick, somber mix of natural Siberian deer musk, castoreum, and dusty oakmoss.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe musky and animalic accords dominate early wear, pushing raw castoreum and earthy civet to the front. As skin temperature warms the fragrance, a powdery iris and woody oakmoss structure emerges, smoothing the harsh edges. The rose accord remains subdued in the background, offering a moist vegetal breath that prevents the dense resins from feeling completely dry.
Community Data
388 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 winter and spring.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Authentic Siberian deer musk creates unprecedented natural depth.
Extremely long longevity lasting past fourteen hours on skin.
Fossilized amber resin brings a unique smoky warmth.
Dark Taif rose adds a balanced vegetal touch without excess sweetness.
Cuts through cold sub-zero winter temperatures easily.
Satisfies enthusiasts seeking vintage-style animalic chypres.
Rich castoreum note delivers realistic old leather character.
Orris root absolute softens harsh animalic edges with buttery powder.
Projects strongly during evening outdoor events.
Distinctive formulation unlike mass-market designer releases.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Opening civet note can smell overly sharp and indolic.
Heavy animalic profile makes it unsuitable for warm summer heat.
Strong sillage can overwhelm quiet indoor office environments.
Limited production makes full bottles difficult to source.
High price point presents a risk for casual shoppers.
Waxy rose note may disappoint lovers of fresh floral scents.
Somber tone lacks playful or sweet gourmand qualities.
Requires multiple hours of wear to reach the smooth dry down.
Dense resinous weight can cause headaches if over-applied.
Polarizing opening repels people who dislike vintage chypres.
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Areej Le Doré War and Peace Part II Review: Dark Resinous Animalic”
War and Peace Part II opens with an immediate blast of smoldering amber resin and sharp synthetic civet. The first ten minutes hit hard. You get a dusty, almost medicinal punch that feels like opening an ancient wooden chest full of dried herbs. Indian patchouli simmers right under the top notes, adding a dark earthy friction. It does not try to charm you with sweet citrus or clean laundry musks.
As the harsh opening settles down after twenty minutes, a rich floral heart pops through the smoke. Dark Taif rose pairs with buttery orris root absolute to soften the edges. The rose here feels vegetal and waxy rather than jammy or sweet. It sits quietly in the background, giving the heavy woods a moist, fleshly contrast that keeps the composition breathing.
On warm skin, the animalic accord expands into something thick and tactile. Russian Adam constructed a custom co-absolute using natural Siberian deer musk, salty ambergris, and leathery castoreum. Castoreum projects strongest during the third hour, giving off the scent of old leather couches and aged paper backdrops. Meanwhile, vetiver and Indian oakmoss dry down into a soapy, mossy frame that holds the wild musks together.
Performance is heavy. Two sprays on your neck will easily push past fourteen hours, while a drop on a wool coat lingers for days. Sillage fills a small room during the first two hours before settling into an arm length aura. In my opinion, the rose note works far better in sub-zero winter air than indoors, where heat can make the indolic civet turn slightly sour.
This is not a fragrance for beginner nose palettes or casual office wear. It fits seasoned collectors who appreciate vintage chypres and raw artisanal extractions. Wear it with heavy dark fabrics, leather boots, or a tailored overcoat during cold November nights. If you want sweet vanilla gourmands or fresh aquatic blues, look elsewhere.
War and Peace Part II remains a bold piece of liquid history. The inclusion of genuine deer musk and thirty-five million year old amber resin creates an experience you cannot find in commercial department stores. Sample it if you love somber, dark animalics, but skip it if you dislike waxy rose or pungent castoreum.
FAQs
What does War and Peace Part II smell like?+
War and Peace Part II smells like aged leather books, smoldering incense, and vintage powders. The fragrance blends dark amber resin and sharp synthetic civet with a heart of Taif rose and orris root, grounded by natural Siberian deer musk and castoreum.
How does the opening differ from the dry down?+
The opening hits with a sharp, medicinal blast of amber resin and indolic civet. As it settles after thirty minutes, the harshness fades into a smooth dry down of buttery orris, waxy rose, and warm, smoky castoreum that hugs the skin.
How long does War and Peace Part II last on skin?+
Longevity is exceptional. A single spray on skin lasts over fourteen hours, while application on winter coat fabric or scarves can easily linger for several days. Dense base notes of deer musk and oakmoss drive this lasting power.
How strong is the sillage and projection?+
The sillage projects strongly during the first three hours, filling a small room with notes of castoreum, dark rose, and resin. Afterward, it calms down to a distinct arm length scent bubble that stays active all evening.
Which season is best for wearing War and Peace Part II?+
Late autumn and winter are ideal for this fragrance. Cold, crisp air cuts through the heavy animalic musk and resin notes, preventing the composition from feeling suffocating or overly humid on skin.
What occasions suit War and Peace Part II?+
Wear this perfume for formal evening events, cold outdoor gatherings, or private indoor reading sessions. Its somber, historic tone fits black-tie attire and heavy winter coats, but feels completely out of place at casual gyms or beach trips.
Is War and Peace Part II masculine, feminine, or unisex?+
Areej Le Doré crafts this as a unisex release. While the heavy castoreum, leather, and oakmoss notes lean slightly masculine to traditional buyers, the soft Taif rose and powdery orris heart balance the profile for anyone who loves dark chypres.
Who is the target audience for this perfume?+
This scent targets experienced niche collectors and vintage perfume enthusiasts who appreciate raw natural musks and unrefined resins. Casual buyers accustomed to fresh designer aquatics or sweet vanilla gourmands will likely find it too intense.
Can you layer War and Peace Part II with other fragrances?+
Layering is not recommended. The complex base of real Siberian deer musk, castoreum, and thirty-five million year old amber resin is dense enough on its own. Adding another scent risks creating a muddy, clashing olfactory profile.
How does War and Peace Part II compare to other leather chypres?+
Unlike modern synthetic chypres, War and Peace Part II features authentic animalic co-absolutes created by Russian Adam. It shares dark, smoky leather qualities with Roja Pierre de Velay No. 1, but carries significantly more raw musk depth.
Rankings
Full rankingsWear Diary
0 COMMUNITY WEAR LOGSKeep sprays, longevity, weather, and compliments in one practical log.
Sign in to keep private wear notes.
Compliment Signal
FROM WEAR LOGSReviews
17 TOTALNo owner review yet. You can be the first.
Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCORENo dupes submitted yet. The first useful DupeScore can come from your community.
Direct dupes do not exist due to Russian Adam's custom raw musk extractions. However, lovers of this style should look toward Roja Pierre de Velay No. 1 for a cleaner soapy leather or Amouage Memoir Man for dark, smoky green oakmoss vibes.
Live questions about War and Peace Part II
Ask one quick question and let the community weigh in while it is live.
No live pulse yet.
Trusted Sellers
Community-submitted stores that regular buyers trust, by country.
No trusted sellers added for this fragrance yet.
Where to Sample
Discovery sets, official samples, and trusted decants.
No sample or decant options shared for this fragrance yet.