Artisanal fans what’s your top 5 releases of 2021? There’s been a lot in this corner!

[Castingshadows]

With the rise of artisanal houses and the ever growing fanbase that obsess over these releases, we sure saw a heck of a lot of gems come out this year. I think Ensar put out at LEAST 20 fragrances. Maybe more? I saw someone say 32 but I’m curious if that’s everything he’s ever released or if that was just 2021 haha. We saw Al Shareef Oud release his long awaited perfume line as well as quite a few from Dixit and Zak. Russian Adam released his classics collection and Bortnikoff has been steady releasing new fragrances all year long. I think the joy of this side of the perfume community is that you just don’t know what to expect or what you’re going to like.

For me my top is as follows:

Rumi by Ensar Oud
Treacle by Pineward Perfumes
Oud Zhen by Areej Le Dore
Santal Sultan by Ensar Oud
Mond by Slumberhouse

 

[otterlake]

The indie-artisanal scene is booming, so I'm not sure about a top five altogether.

Top of the line (and my favorite discovery of 2021 altogether) is Clandestine Laboratories Silver, which stunningly mingles mint, fossilized pine resin, and ambergris.

 

[hednic]

Hors-Piste by Bastille would be one I enjoy.

 

[Paddington]

so hard to do a top 5
but il try in no order

1. .notes from under gorund ensar oud
2. emperors court dixit and zak
3. Green kyara agar aura
4. iris chypre elixir attar
5. tie between thai tabac 2021 and the nightingale dixit and zak

 

[Tilt]

Sultan Pasha - Basmati Rose (spices, rose, sandalwood)
Mellifluence - Tudor Rose Imperial, Hildevolk (evening swipes)
Hiram Green - Vetiver (for going back to meeting clients in person)

 

[Castingshadows]

This sounds incredible! It’s been exciting watching this community boom. I’ll have to sample this because ambergris and pine sounds brilliant!

The indie-artisanal scene is booming, so I'm not sure about a top five altogether.

Top of the line (and my favorite discovery of 2021 altogether) is Clandestine Laboratories Silver, which stunningly mingles mint, fossilized pine resin, and ambergris.

 

[cpatrick44]

What a great idea for a thread.

The best thing I smelled this year was called Aixa by Mellifluence, and it was something he started creating but was unable to make a full batch of because (if I recall correctly) there was a certain material he couldn't get any more of. So of the tiny amount he had, he sent a small sample to his subscribers. He gave no info on the ingredients but it smelled like an osmanthus and ambergris fragrance to me. Whatever it was, it was unreal. The other four:

2. Vintage 84
3. EO Green
4. Last of D'Agar
5. Rising Mysore 3

 

[avrora]

Fun thread! This year has been insane, to the point where I haven't been able to wear certain fragrances enough to get to know them, even after months of owning them. Not ideal, being such a victim of FOMO... The following five I've worn quite a lot, though, and they're all keepers:

Jinkoh Store - Japanese Garden
Dixit & Zak - Emperor's Court
Pineward - Treacle
Slumberhouse - Norne (oil)
Katana Parfums - Santal Segar

 

[Paddington]

Jinkoh Store - Japanese Garden

marius came in swinging glad to see he's getting lots of love been releasing bangers

 

[otterlake]

This sounds incredible! It’s been exciting watching this community boom. I’ll have to sample this because ambergris and pine sounds brilliant!

The fossilized pine resin in Clandestine Laboratories Silver doesn't smell exactly like pine; it's dry and flinty but somehow green. Fascinating stuff.

The ambergris in the heart ties it all together.

 

[avrora]

marius came in swinging glad to see he's getting lots of love been releasing bangers

He really did! Could put the first version of Vanilla Paradise in there too, it is so wonderfully weird with that larger-than-life banana top note. Kopi Garahu is a great spicy coffee oud, too. Most fun new house discovery in 2021, for sure.

 

[Castingshadows]

I can’t believe I forgot about Marius!

Sunset in Ceylon is absolutely one of my favorite Attars period. For some reason I thought it was released in 2020? Man time is going so damn fast.

Sunset in Ceylon and Vanilla Paradise are two of the best Attars I own.

 

[thrilledchilled]

Mond
Oud Zhen
Norne oil
Attaupe by January Scent Project

 

[Castingshadows]

Mond
Oud Zhen
Norne oil
Attaupe by January Scent Project

Ayyyyyeeee! Another Mond fan! Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person who likes this fragrance. It’s becoming so medicinal and just “old world apothecary” to my nose that it’s starting to match the description that Josh wrote about it.

 

[naylor]

I don't generally rank things, so these are my favorite five that come to mind from 2021 in no particular order.

Ensar Oud - Qi Nan
Ensar Oud - Tibetan Musk
Agar Aura - Green Kyara
Agar Aura - Kelantan
Al Shareef Oudh - Ishraaq

 

[Varanis Ridari]

The indie-artisanal scene is booming, so I'm not sure about a top five altogether.

Top of the line (and my favorite discovery of 2021 altogether) is Clandestine Laboratories Silver, which stunningly mingles mint, fossilized pine resin, and ambergris.

This sounds incredible! It’s been exciting watching this community boom. I’ll have to sample this because ambergris and pine sounds brilliant!

The fossilized pine resin in Clandestine Laboratories Silver doesn't smell exactly like pine; it's dry and flinty but somehow green. Fascinating stuff.

The ambergris in the heart ties it all together.

Same house (Clandestine Laboratories) but my favorite is Film Noir, a loving recreation of pre-war fougère. Animalic, powdery, complex, and mixing both clean and dirty together in equal measure.

 

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

I only have one to name for this year - Guerlain Shalimar Millésime Vanilla Planifolia

 

[avrora]

I don't generally rank things, so these are my favorite five that come to mind from 2021 in no particular order.

Ensar Oud - Qi Nan
Ensar Oud - Tibetan Musk
Agar Aura - Green Kyara
Agar Aura - Kelantan
Al Shareef Oudh - Ishraaq

Forgot about Kelantan, it is soo good!

 

[Castingshadows]

Fun thread! This year has been insane, to the point where I haven't been able to wear certain fragrances enough to get to know them, even after months of owning them. Not ideal, being such a victim of FOMO... The following five I've worn quite a lot, though, and they're all keepers:

Jinkoh Store - Japanese Garden
Dixit & Zak - Emperor's Court
Pineward - Treacle
Slumberhouse - Norne (oil)
Katana Parfums - Santal Segar

I don’t think Treacle gets the attention it deserves. I keep coming back to this one and every time it’s shifted into something more beautiful yet rugged. It’s truly a tobacco lovers dream.

 

[naylor]

Forgot about Kelantan, it is soo good!

Yes! It's probably my favorite Agar Aura across all the collections.