Touchstone, the Jester

[doomsday_disco]

The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly: fig milk, white cedar, white pear, vanilla cream, bourbon sandalwood, clove, honey cake, and sweet musk.

Edited April 12 by doomsday_disco

[samanare]

Hopefully this is just me, the fig milk and pear and are not playing nice with each other. The fig and pear are the strongest notes on me here, with the fig being slightly stronger. The mix of the two ends up reading as more of a pear bubblegum, just sharp and artificial. Aside from that, the fig note does have a milk or thinner cream quality to it. I can pick out the honey cake in the background and the rest of notes add to the sweet, slightly dense, dessert quality of the scent. Despite not being the strongest note, I think the pear is just a little too much for me in this scent, and cuts through the other notes in a way I don't personally like. 

[alterosen]

I get quite a bit of pear & a little fig when first applied but that fades quickly & then it's all about the spiced honey cake. Other than clove, there are no spices listed but I'm picking out ginger, clove & maybe some nutmeg & pepper. This scent has low throw on me but lasts a long time (applied in early evening & could still find it this morning).

[bheansidhe]

Sniffed: this smells like an incredibly conceptual, high-end ice cream from a James Beard award-winning pastry chef, the kind that incorporates unexpected savory-leaning notes like olive oil or pepper. Touchstone is noticeably creamy, with vanilla and pear on top, but with a tempered sweetness and a nutty base of grain streusel. The pear is realistic but simmered-down, not juicy and fresh. I smell whiffs of honey and sweet musk, but no noticeable clove or wood. 

 

Skin-tested: creamy, sweet but not sugary. The fig, honey cake, and bourbon sandalwood dominate here, with a pear creme anglais poured over. Again, it smells like an elevated dessert concept. The vibe is still warm and "nutty" (with no nut notes), with a hint of toasty spices and sweet woods. Drydown continues to center the bready cake note (like a stone fruit-based bread pudding).  

 

Overall, foody but a left-of-center foody, just a touch sweetened. Very snuggly on the skin. The sandalwood blooms out beautifully at the end. I do not get white cedar in any noticeable way, but I wouldn't mind if I did, and it might be contributing a little jammy warmth to the background.

 

ETA: 30 minutes after applying Touchstone, I stuck my head out of my office and yelled, "Is someone burning something?" down the hall, only to realize the fantastic whiffs of sandalwood incense were coming from my arm. 

 

Edited September 19 by bheansidhe