Nota Bene

Nota Bene opens with a sharp bite of grapefruit and pink pepper that cuts straight through the air. Licorice arrives immediately alongside them, dark and slightly medicinal, pulling the citrus down from bright into something moody. This is not a clean, soapy start. It feels textured and a bit rough around the edges, like walking past a market stall where dried herbs hang next to fresh fruit.

The heart settles into a thick, golden sweetness from the white honey and benzoin. Papyrus pushes through that stickiness with a dry, papery woodiness that keeps the composition from becoming a gourmand. You can smell the resinous quality of the benzoin here, warm and slightly vanilla-like, but the papyrus ensures it stays grounded in the earth. It is a rich, heavy middle that demands attention.

Bulgarian light tobacco and amber form a deep, animalic base that feels intimate and slightly leathery. Vetiver adds a clean, rooty earthiness to the bottom, stopping the tobacco from smelling too much like a cigar box. The amber wraps around the vetiver, creating a warm spicy aura that sits close to the skin. It smells like wearing a wool coat outdoors while the air turns crisp and the light flattens across the pavement.

There is a distinct contrast between the bitter opening and the sweet, resinous dry down that makes the wearing experience feel like a transition from sharp cold to enclosed warmth. The blend of tobacco and papyrus gives it a sophisticated, slightly rugged character that feels entirely appropriate for someone who enjoys scents with a bit of grit and a lot of

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