Maison Alhambra - Salvo Elixir - 30 ml

The start is full of contrast. Black pepper tingles, pineapple brings a surprisingly juicy fruit, and the tobacco note grounds both. It feels grown-up right away.

In the heart it gets darker. Coffee gives a roasted, almost bitter tone, iris a powdery elegance, patchouli earthiness. For me this blend is the centrepiece of the fragrance.

The base is opulent: woods, amber, vanilla, benzoin and labdanum. Benzoin and labdanum bring balsamic resins, and the vanilla rounds things off. Salvo Elixir ends warm, dense and a little mysterious.

Salvo Elixir is intense, so I advise restraint. At the office a single spray is enough, ideally on the chest under your shirt. That way it stays close without being intrusive.

In the evening and in the cool season you can add a second one to the wrist. In the heat I would leave it in the cupboard; the base is too opulent for that.

If you like the aromatic side of Salvo Elixir, try Fusion Intense. Lavender and sage, iris and vanilla, plus leather and tonka. A little softer, unisex, and yet with the same iris at its heart.

For even more resin and warmth, Mysterious Amber is the right choice. Frankincense, amber and labdanum are at its centre, with vanilla rounding it off. A fragrance for the darkest weeks of the year.

Salvo Elixir is for you if you like spicy, warm men's fragrances and want to make your presence felt in the evening. Coffee, pepper and the tobacco note give it character, the resins depth.

If you are looking for a light everyday scent for summer, this isn't it. For the cool season, for evenings and for moments when you want to stand out, it is a strong choice.

With Salvo Elixir it is the transition from top to heart. When the pineapple fades and the coffee appears, a spicy fragrance suddenly becomes something cosy, almost like an espresso bar on a winter evening. Anyone who has consciously experienced this moment once understands why I so like recommending it to men with a taste for spice.