Intoxicated by Kilian

I haven't had the best impression of Kilian perfumes. I once received some samples and I might have chosen the wrong ones to introduce myself to this perfume house, however, I have left some pretty interesting ones that I cannot wait to try.

Intoxicated has notes of cardamom, caramel and vanilla. In fact, I usually only mention the most interesting notes, but from the archive of Parfumo, I see only interesting notes. Besides those three, Intoxicated also has mocha, cinnamon and nutmeg. Notes that I absolutely adore!

From first spray, Intoxicated is quite masculine and I am really surprised. I expected something sweet, spicy and gourmand, but I got aromatic, soapy and dry, like a stirred martini.

Closer to skin, Intoxicated has a creeping note of mocha, vanilla and cinnamon. As the perfume dries down, it reveals a new side of itself. The green cardamom note is in fact green, which is why the scent isn't as I initially thought it would be. However, the notes, though they are there, aren't as I expected them at all. At all.

I hoped to be soaked in a warm, spicy and delicious fragrance, but I feel refreshened and androgenous, the scent being an aromatic, elegant and tart experience.

Fully dried down, and Intoxicated is still not what I expected. I wouldn't classify it as sweet. Spicy? Sure. Gourmand, yes, per definition, but I only classify fragrances as gourmand when they have just the hint of sweetness. Intoxicated is just spicy, slightly woody and oriental to me. It is nice, but though I almost exclusively wear unisex fragrances, Intoxicated is just too masculine on me. 

Later that day...
As per usual, I like to add a few words after my initial experience. A couple of hours in, Intoxicated has softened, sweetened a little. It leans more unisex, but the initial time being very masculine, it will never be a fragrance that I would reach for. Though it is nice, a fragrance that should be right up my alley, I found that it was headache inducing and I had to wash it off. An awarded fragrance down the drain...