Triton is the latest perfume release from Seattle-based brand Blackbird. It’s an icy perfume inspired by the landscapes of Neptune’s moon, Triton. It’s a perfume with a heavy dose of bright aldehydes and incense resins. Because of this, I’m more reminded of temple surrounded by snow.
Triton opens with glistening aldehydes that remind me of “carbonated” elemi and myrrh. It becomes a rooty, vegetal iris with violets and a dry cedar. At this stage it reminds me of a hybrid between Serge Lutens La Myrrhe and Bas de Soie (two of my favorite perfumes) – aldehydes, bright resins and rooty florals. The aldehydes and resins must of completed their series of incantations successfully because Triton’s dry-down is some sort of sorcery. Up close, it’s like the cool, dry incense and iris. However, a nebula floats over these close-wearing notes. From a distance of about 1 to 2 feet, Triton projects a creamy, salty ambergris that reminds me of the gorgeous dry-down of Hermes Eau des Merveilles.
Overall, Triton is a tranquil, cool fragrance with flickers of light from aldehydes and temple-like incense.
Notes listed include violet leaf, iris root, cedar, aldehydes, incense, mimosa, carrot seed, dry amber, vetiver and styrax. Launched in 2014. PERFUMER – Aaron Way
Give Triton a try if you like cool, aldehydic scents or incense fragrances. Or if you like perfumes like Serge Lutens La Myrrhe, Andrea Maack Craft, Serge Lutens L’eau Froide, HEELEY Cardinal and/or Ulrich Lang Lightscape. Triton is unisex.
Projection and longevity are average.
The 1/3 oz roll-on retails for $38 at Blackbird. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Cool, aldehydic incense over ambergris. I love cool fragrances and aldehydes so this fragrance really speaks to me.
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I was really excited about this fragrance since all of the reviews I’ve read have been very positive. I was looking for something different from my normal sweet/heavy/spicy perfumes and this seemed cool and unique. I love incense, I love everything violet, and all of the notes sounded promising.
I ordered a number of samples from Blackbird, and while I otherwise had a hard time narrowing down my selection, this was the one I knew I had to try. Most of the ones I ended up ordering were a little too aggressive (or perhaps the musks were too sharp or masculine) for me. However, I did make a point to step out of my comfort zone, so it’s my own fault that I ended up a little overwhelmed. The fragrances were all interesting, though, so I’m going to keep sampling them and see if my feelings evolve.
Triton, however, was a full-on assault. I’m wholly baffled by this fragrance and can’t talk about it intelligently because I don’t really know what I’m experiencing. I feel like I might be the only person who can’t decipher any trace of anything appealing or intentional. To me, this reads as a heavy-duty cleaning product plus whatever it’s cleaning up (maybe with some rogue myrrh floating around). And I’m not talking about the kinds of cleaning products you’d use in your bathroom, but the corrosive stuff you don’t use without rubber gloves and goggles. The burning sensation in my nose is like inhaling ocean water; it actually makes my eyes tear.
I keep testing out Triton to see if I can figure it out, but I can’t. I let my cat smell it and she leapt into the air and backed away from me with her tail lowered. Maybe there’s something wrong with my sample. Maybe there’s something wrong with my nose. I just wish I could experience what everyone else seems to be experiencing. Theoretically, it sounds like a great perfume and I wanted to like it. I’m still really hoping to be won over.
Don’t doubt your nose. I don’t think it’s broken 🙂 We all have different experiences with scent and online reviews are just a small sampling of experiences. Your experiences are just as valid.
There are a lot of aldehydes in this, which many people associate with cleaning products. Also, myrrh itself is rather “aggressive” as a note (I’m still frightened by LUSH Breath of God). There are plenty of perfumes out there that smell “industrial” to me but not to others. What I’m saying is that, you know what you like and don’t like. Don’t keep torturing yourself or kitty.
I do have a question. Is your sample in a dabber vial or a spray? The perfume is in a roll-on which usually makes a perfume more subdued and I sampled a spray.
Also, if you didn’t like this one, stay far away from Serge Lutens La Myrrhe 🙂
I got this sample in the spray, which I could definitely imagine had an impact. There’s something to be said for spray bottles, though. Among the samples I got was a vial of Oud Taiga, which was so full and with a lid that was so tight I’ve been afraid to open it for fear of either spilling it or breaking the vial. 🙂
And your warning is noted. I’ll stay away from La Myrrhe. 🙂
I actually like No. 5 dabbed (like the parfum) but really don’t like it sprayed. This is when I put together that aldehydes can be “too much”.
And maybe stay away from LUSH Breath of God too. Or maybe don’t. You maybe could use it like protection, like pepper spray, lol.
Man, I really miss Blackbird. I was so sad when it went out of business. Happy that they’ve still got their online presence, but I really enjoyed that store. On topic–I love the sound of this scent. I will have to grab a sample!
Oh also, wanted to let you know, I got an email from BPAL the other day, that lilac perfume is finally back in stock!
Me too. But, I can see why they went etail/wholesale route. Brick and mortar shops are so expensive.
Oh, thank you for letting me know!
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