DSH Perfumes Kohl Gris is a perfume inspired by “mysterious” kohl liner. However, I think of, Kohl Gris like an angry scorned lover on the verge of a complete meltdown. At that isn’t really a bad thing. It’s just a hot-tempered scent.
“Smoky eyes” are often perceived as seductive, sultry and I like the thought of kohl rimmed eyes. But when I try to do this, I’m told that I come across as looking mad. As I’ve matured, I’ve finally realized that lining my eyes completely in black/dark eyeliner does make me appear slightly insane. I accept this. My husband has sweetly called this my “mad eyes”. It doesn’t matter my mood, if I have my eyes lined, he’s always like “Are you going to kill me?” And oddly this has never bothered me because I do think this is something magical to project as some days I do just want to look like I may lose it at any minute…Anyway, Kohl Gris is like the perfume equivalent of my “mad eyes”. It’s this fiery, emotional perfume.
Kohl Gris opens with balsamic, cola evergreens. However, Kohl Gris is all about the spices. It’s a dry spicy scent with pepper, clove and a hint of cumin. Kohl Gris is a fiery fragrance. It has heat. The heart opens up as a clove-like carnation and voluptuous rose steamed in sandalwood incense. After Kohl Gris throws its “tantrum”, it dries down to this soft, sweet amber with clove cigarettes. I’ve always perceived Kohl Gris as this scorned lover that starts throwing clothes in a lit fireplace but then settles down after someone says, “I’m sorry. I love you” (but they’ve still lost a few nice button ups…but it could have been much worse). It’s so tempered in the beginning and then dries down to something so soft and sweet; it’s difficult for me to not thing of it as a rather cinematic/dramatic fragrance.
Notes listed include bergamot, black pepper, black pine, clove leaf, centifolia rose, Egyptian jasmine, esprit de lavande, ambergris, Australian sandalwood, brown oakmoss, clove tobacco, labdanum, frankincense, and orris concrete.
Give Kohl Gris a try if you like spicy fragrances. Or perfumes like O’Driu Leva, Phoenix Botanicals Love Potion, Caron Poivre and/or HEELEY Esprit du Tigre. I perceive Kohl Gris as unisex and because it’s spicy, I do see it working well in fall/winter.
Kohl Gris has below average projection. It wears very closely to my skin. It has above average longevity.
Kohl Gris comes in a few sizes with the 1 oz retailing for $90 at DSH Perfumes. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A dark, fiery floral. That wonderful blurred line of angry and passionate in perfume form. I don’t see myself wearing this hot-tempered floral very frequently but it’s worth trying if you like spicy scents or really do want a perfume that smolders like “kohl eyeliner”.
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