Kogen - Apoteker Tepe

Bought here: https://lulua.pl/en/product/kogen/

Described by brand as:
Inspired by Shiga highland forests in Japan. Apoteker Tepe’s Kogen combines Japanese-sourced materials and accompanying selections to convey a crisp forest atmosphere.

Notes given by brand:
Yuzu, pear, ginger root, sweet birch, hinoki, peat, vetiver, incense, smoke, hiba cedar, pine needle, green oakmoss, kuromoji (spicebush).

Thoughts:
Overall, it's very pleasant and it comes off as mainly clean and it's entirely inoffensive, however it doesn't last very long, and it's very close to skin

For first 30 minutes or so, it's very reminiscent of soap, and i also catch something citrusy, mostly lemony, which i think contributes to it smelling very strongly of a household cleaner like mr. clean

Sprayed on paper, it stayed this way and didn't impress me, although it wasn't bad, smelling like soap is hardly a horrible thing

However when worn on skin the industrial soap scent relaxed and then smelled much more like the listed notes, of the notes i know i can manage to notice them all if i take some time, but overall it's interesting and hard to determine, i keep sniffing my wrist and enjoying it
It's good for someone that likes complex fragrance and close to skin scents, i would recommend it and maybe even consider buying a larger bottle

I definitely smell the yuzu, and although i wouldn't say it smells like cola, it does very vaguely remind me of cola/soda, but not sugary or foodlike at all
I also notice the ginger, and vetiver most next
And i would agree that it is very vaguely foresty, but thats far below the yuzu/vetiver/ginger

Murkwood - Pineward

Bought here: https://lulua.pl/en/product/murkwood-extrait/

Described by brand as:
Liturgical incense and tangles of gnarled fir boughs, a dark and forboding forest.

Notes given by brand:
Notes: fir balsam, black hemlock, lapsang suchong, moss, incense, bitter myrhh.

Thoughts:
this one is really a favorite, and the performance is amazing, i was initially disappointed when i tested on a paper towel as it just smelled like faintly pine buried by smell of pepper, which was ok as it was still interesting, but seemed unwearable, however, after trying it on skin, it smells like a well thought blend of notes given and more ambery than peppery

i read it compared to fanghorn ii also from pineward, but they seem very different to me personally, murkwood is very ambery/balsamic/medicinal and complex and fanghorn is very piney and straightforward, to me, but both are personal favorites of mine

i think the fir, takes a backseat to everything else but it's a very solid base

4 hours later outside and it can still be clearly appreciated on my skin when i place my wrist near my nose to check

good performance and a moderate sillage (noticeability of the scent to others around you), if someone sat closely next to you, they could notice it especially after a fresh application, but not overpowering

my experience was same as this reviewer from fragrantica, noting it changes a lot after application: https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Pineward-Perfumes/Murkwood-64600.html?ccid=2215299#focus-zone

[ initially, very heavy conifer and herbal notes; smells quite medicinal at first, and reminds me of Vicks. it warms up as it dries, and evolves into a smell that makes me think of a fresh cut christmas tree. soon after, in addition to the conifer notes (which do mellow out over time while staying present), the amber starts to shine in a lovely combination that's quite new to me and very enjoyable to my surprise. ]

Encre Noire - Lalique

Gift, not bought

Described by brand as:
An iconic black bottle, showcasing dark, woody vetyver, the most sophisticated masculine note. Encre Noire. A modern classic by Lalique.

Notes given by brand:
Notes: Cypress, vetiver, cashmere wood

Thoughts:
Really simple scent, it's mainly vetiver, and does somewhat smell like printer ink in a pleasant way

It's a nicely gothic, masculine scent and you could imagine it being worn on someone in the adams family

However, performance is really bad, it lasts a very short time, when I spray it on while leaving for work in the morning, and get to the office, actually I can hardly notice it on my skin anymore even placing my wrist to my nose

but, basically it's universally really loved by every guy i know, i don't think you can go wrong with this, it's even safe as a blind buy if you are familiar with vetiver and are a fan

Terror & Magnificence - Beaufort London

Described by brand as:
Like Hawkesmoor's architechtural creations, Terror & Magnificence tips its cap to Ancient Egypt, combining church incense, candle wax, papyrus and kyphi with a wet stone accord reminiscent of that first downpour in London after a hot summer.

Notes given by brand:
Top notes are Birch Tar, Black Pepper and Saffron; middle notes are Incense, Tobacco and Papyrus; base notes are Haitian Vetiver, Myrrh, Labdanum, Benzoin and Pebbles.

Thoughts:
I'm not a huge fan of this on myself, but it's a good scent, although it personally doesn't match me, it's thoughtful and pleasant

It starts off very leathery, almost like a wall of rubber/tire, gradually this fades to the background to an amber

I feel like this may be polarizing to other people, I like it, though could see others not liking it

Some describe it almost like bbq, thought i can't sense anything foody or gourmand about it, it may just be the smoky quality being referred to