The newest release from Olfactive Studios represents a departure from what has come before- while all previous editions have drawn inspiration from a specific photograph, which was then featured in the advertising and packaging, Selfie, as you may have guessed, is inspired instead by a photography trend- the ubiquitous, casual, phone-based self-portraits that everyone under the age of 25 participates in fluently. And as would befit a fragrance based on a photograph that is, by definition, different for each person, Selfie is a whimsically cozy, wonderfully idiosyncratic scent- a sweet, modern comfortable chypre sprinkled with unexpected flourishes.

On the very first sniff, Selfie asserts itself as an atypical chypre, replacing the traditionally citrus-heavy opening with a unique set of top notes- a spicy-sweet, resinously herbal blend of elemi, angelica, incense and ginger. In the sweet, rich heart, a distinct maple syrup note perfectly captures the ingredients languid, mouthwateringly thick character, while rarely used cabreuva wood lends a distinctly balsamic touch. The drydown features the classic chypre elements of patchouli, oakmoss and labdanum, but suede and sandalwood ramp up the softer, smoother elements, contributing heavily to the comfortable, personal vibe- as does the reflective surface on the box where previous Olfactive scents have featured artwork. After all, this is undeniably the purpose of Selfie, and of selfies in general- to get you noticed just for being yourself.

Elemi resin, ginger, star anise, incense, angelica, maple sap, cinnamon, lily, cabreuva, suede, styrax, labdanum, oakmoss, patchouli, tonka bean, sandalwood