Skip to main content

Costes by Costes

Image
By
Coriander, White Pepper, Laurel, Incense, Musk, Cardamom, Rose, Wood.

Never having smelled either Costes or Costes 2, I ordered both and it sounded reasonable to me that I begin with the first release. What I noticed immediately was the medicinal camphor. I originally thought I was smelling a combination of clove and cinnamon. Even after multiple wearings, Costes gives me references of those two notes. It's after the first few minutes that my olfactory illusion gives way to the slightly spicy and aromatic compilation of notes. It's here when I can identify a leafy quality as well. The opening accord of Costes is bracing and a bit eye opening.

It takes about 10 minutes for Costes to relax and permit a very soft incense note to bleed through. Spice and aromatics are still front and center, but no where near as rowdy as it was during the initial application. A smooth, balsamic aspect emerges and carries with it an overall spiciness from not only pepper, but from other notes as well. The volume has turned down noticeably by this stage and the heart transition is more comfortable than the topnotes. A little camphor, balsam, spice and a dash of incense is what remains of a tumultuous beginning.

Even before the base and drydown, it's evident that Costes can be worn by either gender with little or no effort. The listed rose, musk and wood however are on the anemic side ( at least on my skin ) and has left me wanting. It places the base in an underwhelming light and it's not until the extended drydown that musk and what appears to be sandalwood contribute. By this time, the musky wood is only a skin scent and it makes me wish they were tuned with a higher volume.

As much as I wished for the rose note to emerge, it never seems to materialize on my skin. Costes starts out very energetic, then morphs into a very relaxed state, only to finish by what amounts to be sleepwalking. It's like it got tired too quickly and the ride is over before you were ready for it to be.

Sillage is good at the start, then calms down. Longevity is mediocre ( about 3-4 hours ) with a lackluster base and drydown. Costes is one of those wearings that has left me indifferent since it brings nothing unique to the table and suffers from longevity issues. A neutral rating from Aromi and the recommendation of a sample wear for those still interested. Perhaps Costes will move you more than it did me.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Black Suede by Avon

By
Nutmeg, Clove, Amber, Musk, Moss, Wood Notes. Yes.........I am reviewing one of the Rodney Dangerfield's of fragrance. Black Suede has been gracing medicine cabinets, for better or worse, since 1980 my friends. If you're expecting me to inform you ( like others may have already ) that Black Suede is a nasty scrubber, you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're expecting a glowing review claiming it's a diamond in the rough, you won't hear that from me either. I will say though that Black Suede doesn't deserve the hate it's received and most of that is due to snobbery aimed at Avon products in general. I kid you not when I state that a close relative to this fragrance is Cacharel Pour L'Homme. The array of spice in both ensure comparison, but the "smoother" of the two is Black Suede due to its implementation of Amber. While wearing Black Suede, one can detect a hint of "drugstore". That quality doesn't manife...
1 comment
Read more

Chanel copying Guerlain. Why?

By
                      Last month, I had the pleasure of trying Comète by Chanel, the latest addition to their prestigious Les Exclusifs line. This fragrance follows the release of Le Lion in 2020, another standout in the same collection. Like Le Lion , Comète is a beautiful perfume that captures the essence of Chanel’s refined elegance. However, both fragrances bear a striking resemblance to classic creations by Guerlain, leading me to ponder the direction Chanel is taking. Chanel has a great fragrance history. Not as hallowed and old as Guerlain but for past three decades it has far outshone Guerlain. In my view, no other perfume house has come close to Chanel’s excellence in this century. This makes their recent approach of echoing Guerlain classics somewhat perplexing. Have they run out of fresh ideas? Is Roger Dove at the helm of their fragrance division, or have they perhaps...
Post a Comment
Read more

Teatro Alla Scala - Krizia

By
I tried Comete by Chanel today and wanted to write about how Chanel is going by the way of Roger Dove - copying old masterpieces. I did not know where to post that and then I realized I have been neglecting this blog. When I logged in I saw an unfinished post I wrote a year ago about Teatro Alla Scala by Krizia. Teatro is the best full bodied floral - better than any Chanel or Patou. Even better than Gucci L'Arte.  A brief background: Teatro Alla Scala is an Opera theatre in Milan. The bottle's design is an homage to the theatre and the perfume an homage to its sophisticated patrons. I wanted to write a symphony for it. Maybe some day. For now here are few notes I wrote comparing EDT vs EDP.  And if you don't have Teatro, your wardrobe is incomplete Rose, Jasmine, Tuberose. Jammy berries (more in EDP) . Honey note listed is probably the jammy part Vetiver & moss - more in EDT Rose and carnation is more than jasmine and that is what separates it from other florals like J...
Post a Comment
Read more