[¹⁶S] Sulphur One of those / nu_be 2013

Sulphur opens opens with a fresh slightly tart grapefruit and mild peppery angelica tandem before transitioning to its early heart. During the early heart the grapefruit and angelica remain briefly before giving way to a growing leathery castoreum and latex rubber-like costus starring tandem with cinnamon spice acting as key support. During the late dry-down a very natural smelling cedar takes over the focal role, mixing with remnants of the cinnamon, castoreum and costus that all remain, now in support. Projection is very good and longevity excellent to outstanding at over 12 hours on skin.

Sulphur is one of those scents that first impressions can prove quite deceptive. When first sprayed on paper for an early read all that stood out was "burnt tire rubber" and that was not a good sign. Indeed, even early when sprayed on skin as one sniffs their wrist up close to evaluate the composition it still comes off in similar fashion. It would be easy to see many dismissing the composition if that is the way the fragrance is solely evaluated. Where Sulphur begins to win the wearer over is in its sillage. When smelled from the scent trail perspective the nuances of the composition are revealed. What comes off as tire rubber up close, shows as smoky latex-like costus in the sillage flanked by dry hardcore leathery castoreum. That is surely a step in the right direction, but what really won *this* reviewer over was the cinnamon that completely makes the composition even though it never is the focus. The cinnamon balances the "bite" of the rubbery facets with additional support from some well-concealed ingredient in the heart adding just the slightest amount of sweetness to the mix. The dry-down is also quite pleasant smelling; as cedar is utilized quite well, melding perfectly with the sulfur-like asphalt remnants from the early heart. The bottom line is Sulphur is not the kind of composition that is super-easily likable, but if one gives this 3.5 star out of 5 "very good" rated composition a chance it may very well win you over. Recommended.