Jil Sander
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Bay rum arrives with salty, almost medicinal freshness, immediately joined by white pepper that crackles across the opening like static electricity. The combination feels bracing, almost confrontational—this isn't a gentle introduction.
Cardamom and nutmeg emerge with surprising warmth, their spice taming the astringency whilst the fragrance shifts toward herbal-woody territory. The vetiver becomes prominent here, earthy and slightly green, whilst tonka bean adds a subtle vanilla undertone that prevents hardness.
Cedarwood dominates the final hours alongside a fading tonka sweetness, the composition becoming increasingly resinous and skin-like. The spice fades almost entirely, leaving a dry, woody whisper that clings intimately rather than projects outward.
Jil Sander Strictly arrives with the deliberate restraint of its name—a fragrance that refuses theatre. The bay rum opening suggests maritime sharpness, but Sonia Constant immediately tempers it with white pepper's crystalline bite, creating something that feels more architectural than aromatic. This is not the rounded spice of traditional masculines; instead, the cardamom and nutmeg in the heart layer with surgical precision, each spice maintaining distinct edges rather than blurring into warm comfort.
What emerges is a composition caught between fresh and woody territories, never quite settling into either camp. The vetiver-cedarwood backbone provides structure—dry, slightly resinous—whilst the tonka bean offers whispers of vanilla-tinged sweetness that prevents the fragrance from becoming austere. That interplay defines Strictly's character: controlled sensuality masquerading as austerity. There's something almost confrontational about wearing this; it doesn't seduce or comfort, but rather observes you with cool intelligence.
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3.6/5 (335)