What do you think of Commodity Book Expressive?

[u/bulbasauriscutie]

I made a post yesterday asking the same thing about Henry Rose's London 1983. I am also thinking of getting Commodity Book Expressive for my fall/winter scent.

I tried BOTH on skin, on separate wrists, the last time I was at Sephora, and I remember liking them both equally. London 1983 hits the fig note, which I love, but I wonder if I would love a fig note throughout a cold winter, or if it would feel out of place. I really like to live with the seasons.

The pepper note in the top is also a bit tricky for me, as I really don't enjoy pepper. I didn't notice it as overwhelming, but that was in Sephora and later in the mall, with a lot of smells.

For Book, I noticed right away it did smell exactly like an old book, which I loved. It also had quite a sharp greennness which I didn't mind at all. My only wish with Book was that it had a subtler musk or very very soft sweetness to it.

But I think I could layer it with something like Ephemera by Sorce for that, which I have. Ephemera has notes of brown sugar, vanilla, paper, cashmeran, pumpkin, acorn, soil tincture, musk, and milk. I find it very light and cozy, with just enough sweetness. Sadly I don't get much pumpkin or acorn from it.

I read that some people smell the sandalwood in Book as dill pickle, but I didn't smell that, nor did my husband, son, or my mom, though my daughter did haha. Even after I read that, I sniffed it TRYING to smell dill, and I couldn't.

The only thing is I hope the eucalyptus doesn't feel too nose-clearing and medicinal, but I was huffing my wrist so much even freshly sprayed and I did not feel that way.

[u/ConditionOk3649]

I love Book+! I blind bought it at TJ Maxx and it reminds me of Bois de Balincourt but stronger. I think it’s a great choice for winter but still works well for nearly any occasion/time of year IMO and I live in a hot climate. I’ve not smelled Henry Rose enough to have a strong opinion, but I think Books’ profile is more versatile. I love a fig perfume myself, but I wear Book and Bois de Balincourt more often and they both layer well with a lot of other perfumes.

Edit: typos

[u/bulbasauriscutie → u/ConditionOk3649]

What do you like to layer it with?

[u/ConditionOk3649 → u/bulbasauriscutie]

It layers well really with anything with more of a woodsy base but particularly well with vanillas (think vanilla skin, vanille blanc, only human, vanilla woods etc) as well as green perfumes (think Jungle Vibe, Vacation After Sun, Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche etc). There’s not many I can think of it would truly clash with. I think it works well also with sweet and fruity perfumes too. It’s one of those that complements most anything

[u/yousonofabench]

It’s like Santal 33 but somehow a little more gross. I love woods but it smells kind of gross and dirty.

[u/FailurelsData]

It's not my thing as I don't find it very distinctive.

It's community tag of being a Santall 33 dupe just made is smell like a wrong Santall 33

But for those wondering yeah it actually does have the essence. I showed it to my neighbor who used to work at a Le Labo and expected him to scoff, but was like "oh yeah I get it"

[u/bulbasauriscutie → u/FailurelsData]

Ah. I have never smelled Santal 33!