Ella
Ella by Arquiste is a feminine-leaning eau de parfum in the niche price tier. It opens with angelica, carrot seed and rose, moves into jasmine, cardamom, honey and ambergris and dries down to patchouli, civet, vetiver, smoke and oakmoss. Expect around 8 hours of wear, and it projects at a moderate level.
Notes, explained
Opening
- Angelica Musky, herbal root. Earthy and a bit strange.
- Carrot Seed Earthy, rooty and oddly powdery. Often used to echo iris.
- Rose Can be jammy, green, peppery or soapy depending on the type. Not one smell.
Heart
- Jasmine Heady, sweet and slightly animal underneath. Rarely subtle.
- Cardamom Cool, aromatic spice with a eucalyptus lift. Smells expensive.
- Honey Sweet, waxy and slightly animalic. Can smell dirty in large doses.
- Ambergris Salty, animal, sun-warmed skin. Marine and musky at once.
Dry-down
- Patchouli Damp earth and dark chocolate. Either you love it or it's your least favourite note.
- Civet Sharp, faecal and intense on its own. In trace amounts it makes florals glow.
- Vetiver Dry, earthy, smoky grass root. Smells like soil and citrus peel.
- Smoke Charred and dry. Adds drama fast.
- Oakmoss Damp forest floor. Bitter, green and the backbone of every chypre.
Smells like this
- Le Labo Iris 39
- Lancôme Magie Noire
- Ex Nihilo French Affair
- Tauer Perfumes L'Air du Désert Marocain Noir Elixir
- Zoologist Moth
- Lattafa Ghinwa
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