Kaffir

The unusual part is the contrast held so neatly in the pyramid. Lime and green galbanum bring air and snap, while tarragon adds anise-like heat rather than simple freshness. Jasmine gives the composition a polished floral center, and oakmoss adds an earthy, leafy depth. Leather changes the register completely, turning a green botanical scent into something more tactile and suggestive. Ambrette keeps the finish soft against the darker woods, so the drydown feels rounded rather than severe.

The evolution

Kaffir begins with the visual clarity of a lime leaf torn open: bright, wet, green, and almost audible in its zest. Petitgrain and tarragon sharpen that first impression, while galbanum gives it a resinous, leafy edge. The heart is less obvious. Grasse jasmine moves in like polished light, and oakmoss anchors it with a cool, earthy shadow. Then leather arrives, changing the fragrance from spring garden to second skin. The base settles into agarwood and ambrette, leaving a soft, woody finish that keeps the composition's green beginning close without letting it disappear. By the final hours, Kaffir reads less like citrus and more like a memorable botanical leather, with the opening's brightness still tucked inside the darker finish.