Strip

The composition takes an unusual route through its floral heart. Bourbon geranium brings a sharp, almost masculine spice that cuts against the ylang-ylang's tropical sweetness, and orris root adds the powdery, root-beer warmth that gives the heart its distinctly lived-in quality. That combination of notes gives the fragrance an older sensibility, as if it belongs to a different era of perfumery entirely. The oakmoss and patchouli base reinforces that impression, lending an earthy gravity that anchors the brighter florals above it.

The evolution

The opening belongs to bergamot, and it's not the polite, sparkling kind. It's been softened by what comes behind it, so the entrance reads as a suggestion rather than a statement. As the first phase settles, the ylang-ylang surfaces in full, and the orris does its quiet work underneath, pulling the sweetness toward something more root-like and earthy. Bourbon geranium arrives later in the heart phase, shifting the temperature, adding a cool, almost metallic edge that keeps the whole composition from tipping into pure warmth. The drydown is where Strip becomes itself. Amber, patchouli, and oakmoss settle into a dense, skin-close blend that clings to the wearer and keeps releasing its warmth long after the initial application has faded. The vetiver holds the composition to the ground, preventing the amber from drifting into syrup.