Dryad

OUR VERDICT

Green | Stemmy | Floral

Now that mossy chypres lack their dominant force behind the stirring wheel, i.e. the forceful presence of a good dollop of oakmoss extract in their formula, perfume lovers search high and low to satisfy their mossy cravings.

Poised between a green chypre and a dry leather fragrance, Dryad runs a whisper through the leaves with a rather menacing echo of its mossy heart, almost like a magical spell in a fairy tale by the brothers Grimm. Evernia prunastri is the Latin name for oakmoss, that curly parasitic growth on oak trees’ bark, which creates that sense of depth and gravitas in old school chypre fragrances. There is real Evernia prunastri in Dryad’s formula, contrary to many modern creations which consequently lack that sense of enchanted forest sorcery. In its heart, the green and heady narcissus blooms amidst dry cedarwood pencil shavings, undercut with sharp bitter galbanum.

The fragrance is composed of two distinct phases: the floral green heart, and the mossy powdery drying out, peeking from underneath at all times. It’s as if a forest nymph is beckoning you in as you’re approaching the woods. You squint to look and there’s nothing there. You turn your head to go and the murmur is still there…You’ve been charmed!

Top Notes: Cedrat, Bergamot
Heart Notes: Narcissus, Jonquil, Galbanum
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Benzoin, Vetiver

EAU DE PARFUM 50ML

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