Él
Él by Arquiste is a masculine-leaning eau de parfum in the niche price tier. It opens with bay leaf, clary sage, rosemary and geranium, moves into cardamom, cinnamon, orange blossom and honey and dries down to patchouli, oakmoss, vetiver, castoreum and fern. Expect around 8 hours of wear, and it projects at a moderate level.
Notes, explained
Opening
- Bay Leaf Warm, aromatic and slightly sweet. The backbone of classic barbershop scents.
- Clary Sage Softer, sweeter sage with an ambery undertone. Warm and herbal.
- Rosemary Sharp, camphorous herb. Bracing and clean, borders on medicinal.
- Geranium Rosy and minty at once. Reads masculine more often than not.
Heart
- Cardamom Cool, aromatic spice with a eucalyptus lift. Smells expensive.
- Cinnamon Sweet heat. Reads festive, sometimes to a fault.
- Orange Blossom Sweet, soapy and sunny. Neroli's warmer sibling.
- Honey Sweet, waxy and slightly animalic. Can smell dirty in large doses.
Dry-down
- Patchouli Damp earth and dark chocolate. Either you love it or it's your least favourite note.
- Oakmoss Damp forest floor. Bitter, green and the backbone of every chypre.
- Vetiver Dry, earthy, smoky grass root. Smells like soil and citrus peel.
- Castoreum Leathery, smoky and warm. Adds depth and a bit of danger.
- Fern Not a real smell — the mossy, coumarin idea of a fern that named the fougère.
Smells like this
- Lancôme Magie Noire
- Houbigant Fougere Royale
- Aramis Aramis
- Paco Rabanne 1 Million Lucky
- Nishane Unutamam
- Chanel Platinum Egoiste
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