Here we go with some more unusual backstories from Humiecki & Graef. Usually I can just laugh at their inspirations while appreciating that they “went there”. But, it’s really difficult for me to do that with Geste. Why? Well, read this:
A fragrance about intensity, inspired by a woman’s ardent love for a much younger man.
The softness of the young man’s skin and the maturity of the woman are made tangible in fragrance through the interplay of soft amber and musk notes, wild pine resin and a modern interpretation of violet notes.
OK…so let me say that I have no issues with age differences if it involves people of a legal age. I could care less when it involves consenting adults. But, this is creepy. It just says “woman” not even “older woman” or “Mrs. Robinson”. And then it’s “younger man” which I will choose to believe is a man of legal age and not a high school student (but he has soft skin, whatever that means). And you know, I would think this but the perfume itself is confusing (even before I read the back story). The perfume has almost “child like”/innocent notes of violet and baby powder with these funky, sweaty, acrid notes…and even something a little mineral (bloody or mushroom-ish). Anyway, I liked this but once I read the back story, I was like “ewweeeeee”.
Anyway, here’s my fragrance review because up until the back story, I rather enjoyed the perfume.
Geste opens as powdery violets and sweet Smarties candies covering up a hint of sweaty, salty funk (we’ll call it ambergris). It has a realistic deer musk accord. It’s a mix of powder, champaca florals and this holier than though cleanliness. But, then it all changes. It’s still musk but there’s this heliotrope “nosebleed” thing going on that is frankly weird but intriguing (I also get this in Malle Dans Tes Bras). This sounds gross but it’s actually really good with this sweet musk. If you want to replace “nosebleed” with mushroom, go ahead, it sounds better. However, it gets a little weirder. Evergreen resins add a sweet, acrid funkiness that is like underboob sweat. It dries down to a slightly more animalic (sweet and salty) musk (instead of the angelic musk) with amber powder. This perfume has these subtleties but for the most part the people around you will smell “sweet musk” or a “sheer amber”.
Of course, the one that I see myself wearing the most from this line has some creepy back story/inspiration. While wearing this, I liked it because it’s a really pretty violet-musk with hints to funkiness. It really smells like a great “skin musk” except it has projection.
Friends/Family/Acquaintance: “What are you wearing?”
Me: “Do you really want to know? Humiecki & Graef Geste.”
Google search. Read a back story on Fragrantica. Thoughts to oneself, “Um, is Victoria a pervert?”
The answer is “no”. But, the perfume line could be. And I don’t really want to be associated with such a weird, heavily-loaded back story just by association because I like a powdery violet-musk. I mean, even if they just went out and said, “Here’s one for the cougars”, I could have went with that. Current back story is creepy, it needs some help…
Notes listed include amber, musk, wild pine resin and violet. PERFUMER – Christophe Laudamiel
Give Geste a try if you like musks. Or if you like perfumes like Malle Dans Tes Bras, Montale White Musk, Serge Lutens Clair de Musc, Phoenicia Gone But Not and/or Le Labo Musc 25. I think of it as unisex but I guess it leans more feminine.
Like all of the other Humiecki & Graef perfumes, this one has above average projection and longevity. Sillage too.
The 3.4 oz bottle retails for $220 at Babalu Miami.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – An unusual violet-musk amber. I really like it. Out of the ones that I’ve tried from the line so far, this is the one I see wearing the most.
Want more reviews? Try…
When I first read the back story my mind automatically went to “cougar” but you are right, it just says “woman”. This unfortunately resets automatic age gap to high schooler in my mind. Noooooo! They just mean he’s barely in college, right? Right?
Anyway, this perfume has two of my scent enemies so its probably not for me.
I want to pretend that it’s something lost in translation and it’s more cougar/college age.
Yeah, if you know your enemies, stay away 😉 Plus, these are so long-wearing that I wouldn’t dare sample it on skin first.
Oh Victoria, I laughed my ass off reading this! “Here’s one for the cougars…”
But you’re right! That would have been a better choice than the back story. 😀
Hey, I would back “Cougars” 🙂 At least be up front, lol.