FRAGRANCE | Javanese Patchouli EDT by Ermenegildo Zegna: Discontinued but is it worth pursuing?

Patchouli is one of those notes for which I have developed a liking. I'm not sure if it was an acquired taste after getting acquainted with many fragrances over time or if I've really liked it from the start. Either way, when I saw someone offering a bottle of the now-discontinued Javanese Patchouli by Ermenegildo Zegna, I immediately jumped the gun.

Predictably, patchouli is front and center in this creation right from the very beginning. It projects its dry and earthy character quite beautifully, especially in its first 2 or 3 hours. It's not as strong and dirty as Diptyque's Tempo, however. It's more along the lines of Ulrich Lang's Nightscape with a little helping of some "prettifying agents" to make the patch more appealing to most noses. It's nice but it isn't unique or groundbreaking.

The main star's woody aspects are also played up a bit here, perfectly balanced by a tinge of sweetness and probably a few other ingredients to round the scent out. The result, however linear, is masculine and elegant. It oozes confidence but is also comforting with its mild warmth. It's light enough to wear in warm weather but caution should always be exercised when it's extremely hot and humid.

Despite its overall likable scent profile, Javanese Patchouli tends to suffer from longevity issues. It begins its retreat almost immediately after projecting nicely for about 3 hours. While you can always respray, that itself becomes a concern because of the price tag. Moreover, you start questioning the scent itself, if it's worth having at all. Truth be told, I think you can skip it. With hordes of patchouli-based frags out there, you're not really missing out on anything. But if you can find a good deal somewhere, then well and good.