Il Mondo di Odore

Le Labo Patchouli 24 vs. Comme des Garcons Luxe: Patchouli Patchouli 24 goes on smelling less of patchouli and more of smoke. This particular version of the surprisingly numerous birch-tar bonfire genre smells strongly to my nose of the charcoal people use to the BBQ with, but thankfully, Le Labo saves us the roasting meat ( yes, that's a nod to you, Lonestar Memories ). There's a petrochemical edge, here, too, as though you can still smell the gasoline used to set it on fire. The drydown, however, leads to something much more pleasant. The patchouli finally comes out from hiding, and it's a soft, cushion-like thing given a pleasant, lightly smoky edge. The longevity is less than I expect from a patchouli, but decent, and the same goes for the sillage. Luxe: Patchouli is another beast entirely. The top notes are very pleasantly peppery and smoky, but very brief, as almost immediately the immortelle leaps forward and dominates the blend through the heart notes.