Rituals
Rituals
121 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Sicilian lime and pink pepper ignite immediately, creating a zesty, almost peppercorn-like sting that momentarily overshadows the woody base. Grapefruit joins the fray, amplifying the citrus accordion and lending a slightly bitter, resinous quality that feels closer to neroli territory than typical candy-shop grapefruit.
By the first hour, bourbon geranium softens the sharp edges considerably, introducing a cool, slightly minty floral that harmonises beautifully with the emerging ginseng—earthy without turning soup-like. Rhubarb threads through this phase like a tart reminder, preventing the composition from settling into predictable florality, whilst violet adds a subtle powdery-green dimension that feels more mineral than sweet.
The woody trinity of Atlas cedar, vetiver, and oak takes centre stage, with patchouli providing earthy depth rather than cosy sweetness. What lingers is a dry, pencil-shaving quality—clean, slightly green, faintly spiced—that bears little resemblance to the opening's brightness, yet feels like a logical conclusion rather than a departure.
Rituals Oriental Essence - Oasis Verte presents itself as a contradiction resolved: a woody fragrance that refuses to lumber, instead moving with the clarity of someone walking through water. The composition pivots on a rather clever juxtaposition—pink pepper and Sicilian lime charge forth with almost Eau de Cologne directness, creating a tart, peppery opening that feels nothing like the "Oriental" label might suggest. This citrus-spice interplay soon acquaints itself with bourbon geranium and ginseng, which introduce a subtly earthy sweetness without veering into syrup. The rhubarb, a note that so often disappears into the ether, here acts as a bright, almost tart counterweight, keeping the geranium from becoming too rose-heavy.
What makes this fragrance genuinely interesting is its commitment to greenness without relying on calone or synthetic aquatics. Violet adds a whisper of powder and stone, whilst the base—Atlas cedar, Haitian vetiver, oak, and patchouli—emerges not as an overwhelming blanket but as a gradually deepening foundation. The vetiver-cedar pairing creates a dry, almost dusty-pencil character that prevents the patchouli from becoming indulgent. This is a scent for the person who wears green, drinks herbal tea, and views fragrance as something subtle enough to re-discover at their own wrist. It suits those who find conventional fresh fragrances too thin, yet recoil from the treacly depth of true orientals. It's unabashedly unisex, demanding nothing of gender, only of curiosity.
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3.7/5 (232)