Volcano by CARNER BARCELONA EAU de Parfum

Yes it has rose and oud and we might feel a bit tired of that duo but then there are a lot of combinations that we could say the same about. The thing is the materials has been here for a long time and and is here to stay so instead I tried to focus on the bigger picture. And what I found was an exceptionally well blended creation. Hat of to Mr Fernandez. Yes it might not come of as something unique if that's what you're looking for but if you pay attention to the weaving of the materials you smell something that has been crafted with precision and love. Does it smell like a volcano? I wouldn't know but what I do smell is an opening that is bursting with energy - simultaneously juicy and glowing of spicy roses and green tinted resins. As the eruption subsides all the notes mellows and softens in perfect harmony. Much like the flowing and pulsating golden lava. So in that sense the concept and the scent has aligned quite marvelously. The end result is one of the sexiest scents I have smelled and currently hold in my rather large collection. It's however not a raunchy sexyness it's more of an assertive natural sexiness without any obvious bedside associations. So maybe sensual is a more accurate description... Fantastic!

I thought it would rock my world, but in the end, only felt the faintest tremors.

Sorry I couldn't resist. This promises much, and is very clearly an attempt to tread into the same outrageously mineralic-hot-floral territory of Zoologist's T Rex; and it's partially successful in that daring mission, but just doesn't have the chops or the muscle to make it happen over a day's wear. This opens with a bracingly weird, boldly medicinal tang of almost-harsh cypriol/nagarmotha, which billows out like some bizarre medicinal fumigation, nearly mothball-like, which I love but some might find alienating and needlessly challenging. There are some really kooky geology-class notes in there - ash? rust? dust?, also straight from the T Rex concept; and yet (again) like T Rex, there's a strong dose of spicy-dry florals which bloom out beautifully once the cypriol ebbs a bit. It's all singeing hot and warm and dry and I really really like it (maybe I even lava it?) for the first hour or two, when it's simmering away nicely.

Rumbles of discontent set in after an unhappily short while, though, as the interesting stuff begins to die back and what's left is a still-very-pleasant, but not nearly as adventurous, generalised sweet-resins-rose aura with much less character. And worst of all - like many Carners on me, it's a weak wet thing on performance rather than the raging furnace I could truly love. Firm sillage (arm's length) for only an hour or two, and overall longevity no more than four or five. What a letdown.

So in short - if you like T Rex but find it just too much, and want something almost as odd and molten-hot, but more manageable and weaker (not much cheaper though), then this might be your ideal mountain to climb. For me, a very near miss - I'd happily wear it any time - but just not worth the money.

Black and Red is what comes to mind when I smell this.

So, I disagree with the nay sayers. Volcano works as a description for me all be it a sweet one.

Beautiful deep powdery (nutmeg), smoothed out by Oud and broadened out with laudanum and benzoin creating an almost oily leather like playing field. On top a bright ginger (not too much) and equal sweet rose providing just enough to flavour what might otherwise be a high quality but somewhat generic feeling oud scent. Strange that very few people have voted for Oud when for me it is the main player.

It has awesome longevity (lasted all night) and decent Sillage. It comes across as a lower volume version of Oud Essentiel by Guerlain - a bit sweeter too with no leather and less oud.

I converted my free Twisted Lily sample into an FB order - it can sit happily next to my Oud Essentiel for when I want to impress the ladies rather than when I want to show up the boys in the smelly gym locker room...

This smells dark and quite satisfying to me. The labdanum is thick and hefty but does not stomp out the delicate sanguine petals of the rose. The bright spices seem to pop, sparkle and dance around without actually settling in on top of any other notes. Rather simple but beautiful to my nose. Did the company not send out free bottles or something? I am quite suspicious of these dismal reviews, though I am also open to the possibility that I have poor taste. This was a blind buy for me and other than the unexpectedly short-lived performance on my skin, I have no complaints. For what I paid for it I'd be rather upset if I didn't love it, doubly so if I couldn't sell it due to it being so roundly shat upon.

I was fascinated by this scent after I smelled it on a colleague. I loved it enough to buy it straight away.

Nutmeg in the opening is mixed with rose & resins. In a weird way it's smokey, spicy and sweet at the same time. I understand why it was called Volcano - it has a "dirty", dusty quality to it. It smells like an inside of an old wooden wardrobe in an old orthodox church. Or an old wooden confessional in an old cathedral.

It changes depending on the season & temperature. I like it most in November, when it's wet and foggy.

I get complimented quite a lot when I wear it. Great projection.