Patchouli M. Micallef for women and men

This is a fine, quality juice that, if it strikes you right, you will enjoy. IMHO it's not particularly distinctive. My gut says that if M. Micallef wasn't trying to build a unisex scent, this might have been more interesting. The patchouli is pleasant at the outset, but it feels 'restrained' - like it's trying to be very polite. The drydown seems to be primarily the ambergris, with a tiny hint (maybe) of vanilla. Again - nice, but nothing particularly distinctive. IME, sillage was okay at the start but quickly waned (2:5). Longevity has been pretty good (3:5).

I have to believe that if a perfumer is going to put another patchouli fragrance on the market, they better have a novel take on it.

Consider Organza Indecence, which pairs it with cinnamon and plum (sensuous and warm); Il Profvmuo's Patchouli Noir, which adds a mint top note (unexpected and refreshing); and my beloved Isvaraya which pairs it with jasmine and plum (simply glorious).

This starts off with violet leaf, which doesn't really pop here. Violet is best left as a basenote, and i would have liked to see that citrus in the opening instead.

This isn't a bad fragrance, it's just not a novel fragrance. It also has short longevity and the patchouli tends to fade faster than I would like.

If this scent were an American Idol contestant, it would be voted off early and forgotten about, i'm sorry to say.