Arizona Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes for women and men

My first foray into the world of Olympic Orchids, thanks to the lovely K who sent me several vials to test.
Arizona is quite a strange animal and I'm sitting on the fence.
Not something I would wish to wear, but could be suitable on the right man. It is certainly unusual and a statement fragrance.

Its opening is very medicinal and quite disturbing.
This phase lasts a few minutes, and then a rather strong aniseed presence makes an appearance.
There is a sense of minty freshness about it which lifts this perfume, and gives it an odd savoury-sweet vibe.
Almost like a sugar-free breath freshener.

This too fades rather rapidly and I am left with something akin to a linear soapy vetiver which stays close to the skin until it all but vanishes an hour or so later.
Interesting, but not for me.

I've been vaguely aware of Olympic Orchid perfumes for some time, but never checked out their frags because I was under the mistaken impression that they only produced orchid soliflores...Doh! As a result, I've been missing out on their scents of place, which are vividly evocative of various bucolic environments.

Arizona aims for southwestern high country thick with mountain evergreens, shrubs and flowers, all dappled by the sun. I can't put it on without recalling trail rides on horseback with pine needles under foot and waves of heat rising in the dry air.

I'm finding this line of frags to be a great source of scent memories with a healthy dose of aromatic stress relief, and am looking forward to exploring more of it, especially Carolina and Rainforest. Thanks to Fragrantica for another cool sample.

It opens with a sharp crushed pine needles and juniper berries smell. I actually love this part because it takes me back to hiking through the pine woods with my uncle as a kid. However, as it dries the real and natural outdoorsy quality fades away and it becomes something that just smells like a man's cologne. It never gets bad smelling, but the uplifting, happy aspect is gone then.

OOPS - I filled out a review for "Carolina" and put it under "Arizona" - is there a way to move it?

I wish I had the words to do this perfume justice.

On application, I thought of warming cherry mentholated sweets - with the comforting and refreshing honeyed qualities they provide. There is a flowery scent there too, one I can't pin down, and subtle spiciness.

If this scrumptious scent is representative of Carolina, then I understand why James Taylor sang that he was going to Carolina in his mind!

Arizona starts with a bracing hit of pine, pepper and lavender (only the pine is listed as an ingredient here but my nose seems to detect otherwise). Within 5 minutes or so the lavender note has disappeared, leaving behind a scratchy sort of peppery pine. It's not unpleasant though but I feel it would smell better with a man's chemistry than mine. There is no sweetness to it, that's probably why.