trailing in her wake - Escentric's Molecule 01

Warning to the unwary: this is not truly a perfume review. This, dear hearts, is a revelation.

About two years ago, I tried Escentric Molecules' Molecule 01. I thought the idea was interesting and the packaging, intriguing. I sniffed it once, said "meh?" and moved on.

Little did I know.

Fast forward to a couple of months ago. I was going about my business when this lovely but otherwise nondescript woman came into the place in which I work. As she passed me I smelled the most incredible, musk-woody, sensual fragrance I'd ever experienced. I couldn't believe my nose. After a few deep breaths, I approached the woman and said "You smell extraordinary; what fragrance are you wearing?"

"Oh! Gosh, I forgot I was wearing anything," she replied. "It's something molecule..."

Shocked, I suggested "Molecule 01?"

She smiled assent. "Yes, that's the one. Thank you for noticing," she giggled. "I can't even smell it anymore!"

Two weeks later, I smell another amazing sensual musk smell, this time with hints of vetiver and oakmoss instead of wood. Cue a repeat of the above exchange, but with a slender model and no sense of self-consciousness on her part. Yet again a third time a week later, with a glorious and friendly redhead, who told me she'd gotten it at Aedes. That was where I had sniffed it, so we exchanged laughter about the pups and then she went on her way... and I was hooked.

They say that third time is the charm, but I truly believe that when I first smelled this concoction of Iso E Super I never got any musk out of it - merely that initial balsamy wood note, which is definitely nice enough but not something I would pursue. I never paid attention to what it smelled like later, to others. The sheer sensuality of the scent on these women told a wholly different tale than the one I had discerned: these were three totally different women, different genetics all told, and I was nearly swooning from the smell. Each of them contained a distinct musk note, with which I was enchanted. It might just be possible that what the (slightly obnoxious) site says is true: "Molecule 01 lends an indefinable radiance to the wearer. In fact, its effect is almost pheromonic."

Part of the joy of art is being able to change your mind about it. This scent is truly on to something - a smell you don't necessarily benefit from, but which you leave scattered around you like largess. It will be with that in mind that I review Molecule 02, in a few posts from now.