The Formal
The Formal by House of Sillage is a masculine-leaning parfum in the luxury price tier. It opens with citrus notes, violet leaf and elemi, moves into clove, nutmeg, sage and ginger and dries down to cedarwood, amber, coumarin and sandalwood. Expect around 9 hours of wear, and it projects at a moderate level.
Notes, explained
Opening
- Citrus Notes A mix of citrus peel with no single fruit named.
- Violet Leaf Crisp, watery green with a metallic edge. Cool rather than fresh.
- Elemi Peppery resin with a lemon-pine lift. Bright and dry.
Heart
- Clove Hot, dry and dental. Powerful — a little goes a long way.
- Nutmeg Warm, woody and slightly sweet. Cosy without being gourmand.
- Sage Dry, herbal and slightly bitter. Adds a grown-up, aromatic edge.
- Ginger Warm, zesty and slightly soapy. Bridges citrus and spice.
Dry-down
- Cedarwood Dry, pencil-shaving woodiness. Clean and structural.
- Amber Warm, golden and resinous. Not a real material — a blend that glows.
- Coumarin Hay, almond and vanilla in one molecule. The heart of every fougère.
- Sandalwood Creamy, milky wood. Soft and almost edible.
Smells like this
- Montblanc Starwalker
- Floris Santal
- Floris Santal Intense
- House of Sillage HOS N.001
- Maison Matine Esprit de Contradiction
- House of Sillage HOS N.004
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