Costes 2 by Costes

Orange Blossom, Geranium, Rose, Cinnamon, Gaiac wood, Benzoin.

This 2009 release is a rather smooth floral woody. My first impression is that Costes 2 is dense with nary a ripple in the accords. The opening is not loud nor does it show any aggression. It's very full bodied while maintaining a controlled volume.

The Orange Blossom, Rose and Cinnamon flow on my skin like they were meant to be merged together. The blossom is tuned very well and never strays into the extra sweet territory. I can detect all three players before the slow onset of subtle leaf and herb contribute just enough to accent the opening accord.

The Gaiac and Benzoin incrementally raise their volumes after 5 minutes or so. The wood, being the quieter of the two, anchors Costes 2 and leaves plenty of room for a creamy vanilla to insert itself. This stage of the fragrance is different than the opening, but it is the spirit of the scent and manages to retain fragments of the topnotes.

After enough time has lapsed, the wood contributes a bit more while the vanilla settles into a slightly spicy rendition that is very comfortable. Everything about Costes 2 is shared and while nothing about it is truly original or incendiary, the bottom line is that this scent is very pleasant and an easy wear for either gender. I can see this working well all year round, but probably excelling in cooler temperatures. I admire the blending here and everything chosen works splendidly together. Just don't expect to be wowed because Costes 2 is all about smoothness and comfort.

If I were to desire a fragrance that would allow me to wear it without fear of offending or for the sake of versatility, Costes 2 would certainly meet the criteria. It's full bodied, heavy without imposition and pleasant enough for basically anyone and any occasion.

Sillage is very acceptable and longevity is approximately 6 hours. Even in extended drydown, I get whiffs of blossom woven into the fabric of woody vanilla. Thumbs up from Aromi for Costes 2 and a sample wear is recommended.