Virtuous

Virtuous from the British house Contradictions in ILK, released in 2020, is a green, herbal leather with a mossy, slightly smoky character. People describe it as green, floral and aromatic in equal measure, and about half also find it woody, ambery or leathery.

Thyme, basil and sage give the opening a dry, savoury, Mediterranean herbal freshness, and wormwood adds a bitter, slightly medicinal green edge. Lily and violet bring a soft, cool, slightly powdery floral touch to the middle. Leather is the centre of the base, smooth and warm, and incense adds a dry, church-like smoke beside it. Oakmoss and moss give a damp, green, bitter depth, oak a dry woodiness, and cobblestone an unusual cold, mineral, stony note that makes the whole thing feel like a wet street.

Virtuous is worn by anyone. Its dry, green, slightly austere character suits autumn and spring and daytime wear, and it should appeal to someone who likes herbal chypres and leather and is not looking for sweetness.

Virtuous — unisex fragrance by Contradictions in ILK (released 2020). Notes: Basil, Cobblestone, Incense, Leather, Lily, Moss, Oak, Oakmoss, Sage, Thyme, Violet, Wormwood. — Parfica open fragrance database