As we learned in yesterday’s article, BORNTOSTANDOUT is opening another chapter in its rebellious fragrance story with the new Extrait Extrême Collection. Four powerful extraits de parfum, all with a distinctive signature and maximum presence, show what the South Korean niche fragrance label can and wants to do: explore boundaries, break conventions, arouse emotions. Intensity is not a coincidence here, but the concept. While I have already given you a little taste of the unconventional style of the line in my first review Extrait Extrême Collection by BORNTOSTANDOUT – Beyond Imagination, today we are focusing on two more character heads: Oud Candy and Purple Stain.
The Extrait Extrême Collection thinks perfume as a statement, as we learned yesterday. Each of the fragrances is deliberately loud, idiosyncratic and expressive. And they remain surprisingly wearable if you are prepared to embark on an olfactory adventure. It’s not about pleasing, but about expression, about performance, about playing with contrasts, about combining sweetness, depth and tension.
Oud Candy – The dark side of indulgence
Oud Candy does the collection credit with its name alone. A fragrance that dresses oud in a sweet, candy-colored robe and breaks with convention. Hardly any other raw material polarizes as much as oud or eagle wood. For some it is pure magic, for others an olfactory challenge. Natural oud is obtained from the resin of the eaglewood tree, which only forms when the tree is attacked by a certain fungus and subsequently injured. This complex and rare process explains why natural oud is one of the most precious raw materials in the world.
The amount of oud that is now required in perfumery can no longer be obtained naturally. Many brands therefore resort to synthetically produced oud. Oud smells different depending on its origin and processing: sometimes leathery and smoky, sometimes balsamic, dark, almost medicinal. However, it always possesses a profound sensuality with a certain animalistic warmth. In Oud Candy is intended to steer the expressive ingredient in a sweet, modern direction. Perfumer Margaux Le Paih-Guérin combines oud with sugar, gourmand notes, nuts, milk, white flowers, saffron, woods, oakmoss, vanilla, caramel, ambroxan, sandalwood, cedarwood and leather.
At the first spray, Oud Candy reveals its cool, woody and airy side – quite different from what the name suggests. The oud is light, almost clean, with a powdery undertone and that subtle, medicinal note that is also familiar from saffron. This is joined by nutty, milky accents, soft woods and a hint of earthy, creamy warmth. And then, very slowly and with relish, a caramelly sweetness creeps into the picture – wonderfully gourmand, but too much. Everything remains harmonious and balanced. The finish is really cozy: ambroxan and sandalwood provide fluffy, soft comfort.
Oud Candy is not a massive oud statement, but rather a skillful balancing act between woody-clean depth and sweet, almost fluffy lightness. It is precisely this contrast that makes the fragrance so exciting. And so wearable! For oud newcomers as well as true aficionados. For me, it seems comparatively transparent, not quite as opulent as other representatives of the new Extrait Extrême Collection. But it is absolutely suitable for everyday wear, even in the office. A fragrance that rethinks the theme of oud, interprets it in a modern way and is pleasantly restrained. Smart extravagance instead of a loud bang. Brilliantly done!
Purple Stain – Red wine stains on paper
We’ve all been there. A glass of red wine, a moment of carelessness and a dark stain spreads across the paper. Not perfect, not planned, but full of character. Purple Stain is reminiscent of just such marks: violet-red, vivid, irregular. Like wine stains that have been immortalized on an old leather diary. Not a stain, but a memory of nights full of laughter, stories and conversations. The fragrance should tell of precisely this mixture of wildness and warmth, of pleasure and depth. It should be sensual, a little rebellious and absolutely unforgettable … like a drop of red wine on white paper that never quite fades. Perfumer Jordi Fernández combined the ingredients saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, mandarin, bergamot, orange blossom, caramel, pear, vanilla, woods, eaglewood (oud), patchouli, nagarmotha, ambergris and labdanum (cistus) for the extrait de parfum.
Is the name a small homage to the legendary Prince song? Possibly. One thing is certain: ever since I tested Purple Stain, I’ve had a rather stubborn catchy tune stuck in my head – in the “Stain” version, of course. But back to the fragrance, because it has it all. From the very first second, the extrait de parfum is opulent, powerful and intense. A sweet and fruity explosion meets lush blossoms – orange blossom and caramel cream set the tone here. There is also a pinch of spice from saffron and cinnamon, hesperide freshness and a creamy, clean, almost bubblegum-like note that gives the whole thing a playful twist. There is also a lot going on in the background. Smoky cistus is accompanied by medicinal oud and earthy patchouli. The combination is reminiscent of fine barrique nuances – and elegantly picks up on the theme of red wine.
Purple Stain is definitely not an off-the-peg fragrance. It bears the extravagant signature of BORNTOSTANDOUT and creates an atmosphere that is difficult to describe but can be felt immediately: sensual, seductive, special. Not a fragrance for everyday wear, but for evenings with people you love, for conversations that linger. For moments that leave their mark like red wine stains on white paper. Beautiful!
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