The name Gold evokes luxury, glamour, and a special radiance. The American niche fragrance brand Commodity has transformed this inspiration into a perfume. It is not an opulent or heavy fragrance, but a clear, elegant scent infused with a subtle gourmand note. Gold combines nuances of vanilla, sandalwood, and ambergris to create a creamy, almost shimmering aura that appears noble and precious.
Instead of overwhelming opulence, Gold offers a balanced, modern interpretation of the gourmand theme – soft, transparent, and with a stylish elegance. It’s very different from the marshmallow tonka bean gourmand Milk, which I introduced to you in my post yesterday. And like all of the brand’s creations, Commodity Gold perfume is available in three scent space variations: from the gentle, understated Personal version to the confident, intense Bold edition.
Donna Ramanauskas – the nose behind gold
The three versions of Gold were created by Donna Ramanauskas, who is part of the Commodity creative team. Although little is known publicly about her career, her fragrances bear a clear signature. After many years with the French fragrance company Robertet, she now shapes the world of perfume creation as a senior perfumer at Agilex Fragrances in the USA.
Ramanauskas not only created the three Gold fragrances for Commodity, but was also responsible for the Moss and Paper trios, which I will introduce to you in my upcoming posts. As already mentioned, the three creations in the Gold series are based on the ingredients vanilla, sandalwood, and ambergris, which for Ramanauskas symbolically reflect the precious metal with its unique shimmer and precious elegance.
Scent Space 1 – Gold- | Personal
Perfumer Donna Ramanauskas wanted to create a kind of ethereal gold. She therefore added the molecule Iso E Super to the base structure of vanilla, sandalwood, and ambergris, which is used in many compositions for its airy, woody facets reminiscent of warm skin. The creation was rounded off with juniper berries and benzoin resin, which emphasize the woody and spicy-creamy accents. And how does it smell?
Gold- starts with the wonderfully tingling woody nuances of juniper berries, accompanied by gentle vanilla, warm ambergris, and creamy, sweet benzoin resin. Above it all hovers a shimmering, elusive cloud of Iso E Super, which lends the creation a wonderfully molecular transparency and airiness. And indeed, I find the fragrance shimmering, as if a delicate golden veil had been laid over the composition.
The Commodity Gold perfume from the Personal Collection is powdery-creamy and woody-warm, like an enveloping cashmere blanket or the gentle embrace of a loved one, comforting and familiar. Personally, I perceive Gold less as a gourmand and more as a woody-creamy fragrance with a powdery-spicy finish. Nevertheless, the fragrance is simply beautiful, suitable for the office and everyday wear, and unisex. An absolutely pleasant, calm, and meditative fragrance that belongs at the top of my must-have list.
Scent Space 2 – Gold | Expressive
Following the restrained Gold comes Gold from the Expressive Collection. The bar has been set high, and so have my expectations. Perfumer Donna Ramanauskas once again uses the trio of vanilla, sandalwood, and ambergris, combining it in this variation with juniper berries and benzoin resin. Instead of Iso E Super, musk is added, which could possibly give the creation a touch more grounding and powderiness.
Creamy, warm, and subtly woody, the opening notes of Commodity Gold perfume from the Expressive Collection reveal themselves. The similarity to Gold cannot be denied, but Gold is slightly more powerful, less molecularly airy, and overall denser. However, the Expressive version is also transparent in nature, rather restrained, but just more tangible. Juniper berries bring those gently tingling woody notes back into the composition, while benzoin resin underscores the creamy, vanilla aspects of the creation.
Musk provides crystalline, finely powdery, and light accents that round off the perfume in a wonderful way. Gold is also absolutely suitable for everyday wear and the office, a pleasant, finely balanced, and contemplative fragrance that, in my opinion, can be worn all year round. Wonderfully unexcited, a creation you want to lose yourself in.
Scent Space 3 – Gold+ | Bold
Gold+ from the Bold Collection is the perfume that has undergone the most significant changes within the trio. Perfumer Donna Ramanauskas adds saffron, nutmeg, and patchouli to the tried-and-tested blend of vanilla, sandalwood, and ambergris. My guess is that it will be darker, spicier, and woodier-earthy.
And indeed, Gold+ opens with lush, leathery, spicy, and dark saffron notes that lend the creation an extraordinary depth from the very first moment. Does the Commodity Gold perfume make a statement right from the start? Definitely! Gradually, powdery, creamy nuances push their way into the composition, even though saffron still dominates the olfactory stage. Nutmeg brings an aromatic sharpness to the fragrance, accompanied by earthy, woody patchouli. Velvety sandalwood provides warmth as the fragrance develops, while vanilla conjures up a deliciously spicy sweetness. The perfume gradually fades away with leathery, amber nuances.
Gold+ from the Bold Collection is perfect for anyone who loves lush, gourmand-spicy saffron fragrances with a velvety-sweet finish. Profound, dark, a beautiful candidate for the cooler season, once again beautifully composed and finely balanced. I would rate its presence as medium, and its longevity is good. As the creation becomes quieter after a while, I also find the fragrance suitable for the office and everyday wear. A crowning finale to this trio centered around precious gold.
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