A subtle powder note appeared that, to me, made to violet less distinguishable from the rose note, but also more personal. Based on the reviews and note pyramid, I expected this to be very leather-forward, but on me it's really not.

Perfume has the power to take me on a journey; sometimes to a faraway place, sometimes down memory lane. But it's the base notes, in my opinion, that really are the main stars of this show, and that really make this perfume the work of a master: how could a perfume have leathery notes in such a beautiful, seductive, feminine way, without smelling brute or masculine? I have three spritz on different parts of my body so I can be more thorough and accurate with my thoughts. For example, some top note citrus scents smell stronger immediately upon application, while a lavender middle note may be sensed after some time from application as the top note evaporates. The items arrived has described however I just wished they we packed better since the parfum bottles had a small issue with the atomizers.

No flowers, although it is clear there are some, or musk and leather on their own would be very dry and masculine. The opening is quite sharp with a bitter undertone it does get better in the dry down rose, musk and violet. Very peculiar and unmistakable scent — impossible to mistake it for another perfume, except for Aqua Fahrenheit, maybe.

I swear, this stuff is so weird, beginning more mature and interesting yet ending so youthful and fresh. The dry down on the skin is particularly beautiful – a harmony of soft musks that gently billow into the warm breeze of a Summer’s evening. The first seconds embrace you with lightness, something ethereal, that you can't quite describe or understand - I suppose this is the "airy" note of the fragrance. Interesting combination of freesia along with the leather, musk and pepper notes makes the whole composition a lot lighter and brighter than an aromatic Fougere. Even the outer packaging has been delicately framed with black and carries the Alaïa nude – an intense pinky beige that evokes the skin – one of the creator’s ‘fetish colours’.There are some aromatic and balsamic tones here as well as Oriental spiciness and also even a slight Chypre-ishness.

Longevity: is very depending on body chemistry, I sprayed it on a friend and it was not noticeable on her anymore after about 2 hours, yet on me it stuck to my wrists for 4+ hours and became a very pretty skin scent.I think that this perfume is an attempt to make a fusion of feminity, modernity and eastern inspiration. This has the same musk drydown as Narciso in the square white bottle, and I'm sure the same musk of many others, the names of which I do not know. The Alaia adds a leathery/suede note and replaces the sharp, sweet gardenia of the Narciso with softer violet/freesia/peony. As luck would have it, I came across the travel size bottle that came with the larger bottle as a set while looking through my cool weather fumes. Unfortunately I also think that Azzedine Alaia or any other designer has tied hands concerning raws materials, costs and production.

Even later still, there's a creamier quality to the leather, I get a quality like amber in there, too. I have to be careful as some scents (unfortunately I never know which ones) can trigger a headache and sometimes, a migraine. This feels like a more fall version of Bottega Veneta with the musc and the jammy rose but without being too heavy / strong. This a journey to a woman's inner self - floral yet bitter, sweet yet leathery, feminine yet masculine, tender yet harsh. It’s subtle, quiet and refined and put against all the flankers, flower bombs and in your face perfumes out in today’s market, this is a welcome change of pace.What annoys me the most that people try to implement their stupid clichés on Alaia, wanting this fragrance to be a typical oriental bomb.