Note Pyramid
Kaos Intense
Bulgarian rose at the very top of a men's cologne is the detail that makes the Poseidon Kaos Intense Eau de Toilette Gift Set more interesting than most things in its price band. Normally a rose of that quality would be saved for the heart. Here it sits in the opening alongside grapefruit, bergamot and blackcurrant, so the first spray is bitter, tart and unexpectedly full bodied all at once, with the flower giving depth to fruit that would otherwise be merely sharp. It is an unusual piece of construction and it is the first thing a practised nose will notice.
The box holds the 100ml Eau de Toilette and a 250ml shower gel. The middle is spiced and lively. Ginger brings warmth and fizz, cardamom a cool green edge with a touch of soap to it, and citron a bitter peel brightness, and the three keep the fragrance moving rather than letting it settle too early.
Amber, patchouli, vetiver and musk make the base, and they take it somewhere drier and more serious: warmth from the amber, damp earth from the patchouli, a rooty bitterness from the vetiver and a skin close hold from the musk. Eleven materials in all, and the structure is clear at every stage. The result is a fragrance that starts rich and ends dry, which is the opposite of the usual arrangement and far more interesting for it.
Boxed as a set, it is a safe present for a man who already wears fragrance and would notice something a little better made than usual. Winter and evening suit it best, though the bitterness in the opening keeps it wearable in milder weather too. The set arrives ready to give, which saves a trip for wrapping paper. Instituto Espanol is behind it, a third generation Spanish family company that dates itself to 1903 and manufactures at Hinojos, in the Donana area of Huelva.
Please note: images are a guide only. Packaging and bottle design may occasionally differ from those shown due to manufacturer updates or promotions.
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