Experimentum Crucis Etat Libre d’ Orange Full Review: Experience the dark power of the rose

Etat Libre d’Orange, the Orange Free State, is a relatively new Niche house. I often think that when you indulge in the world of perfumes, you start forming your own overall take on fashion or Niche houses. For instance, when you smell a perfume from Parfums de Nicolai, you can expect purity of composition and originality of creation. The same goes for Byredo and Diptyque. On the other hand, when you are smelling something from Zoologist, you cannot be surprised by the animalic vibes, nor dirty notes.

I personally believe that Etat Libre d’Orange has two main characteristic signatures. For starters, you are hooked by a really catchy name. The second thing is their “out-of-the-box” ideas and creations. I have smelled quite the collection from their many releases, yet none of the fragrances I smelled felt like anything I have come across before.

All, and I mean all, their creations are so original that they are in a league of their own. These particular gimmicks, in my opinion, are frag heads and Niche lovers seek nowadays. If you want to get into the world of Etat Libre d’Orange, I recommend you start by Experimentum Crucis. This perfume was released in back in 2019. The mastermind behind its composition is the renowned Quentin Bisch, an artist that never ceases to amaze us with his creations.

The fragrance is mainly centered on rose and cumin. It opens up with Fruity Lychee and the not so sweet apple that can be vaguely detected in the opening, but their presence gives balance and edge to an already outstanding opening. The heart still is comprised of the Rose Neoabsolute. The rose here is not your average feminine or playful rose, but rather dark and mysterious.

Some sweet honey and floral  notes of Jasmin can be traced in the heart as well, but they do not overshadow the rose’s dark vibes. The base is somewhat woody, with nuances of akigalawood and Patchouli. Musk is officially listed in the base notes. That being said, I honestly cannot detect it, or maybe I just got it mixed-up among the rose, Jasmin and honey combination.

The fragrance has explosive performance in terms of longevity, sillage and projection, so you would better not use it in close encounters or office space. In terms of versatility, the perfume is very wearable in many situations and can also be used by men or women, a perfect unisex fragrance if you ask me.

Have you tried any perfumes by Etat Libre d’Orange? What are your thoughts on their releases? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.