What we think: We love the green leaves & citrus opening of Cardinal, with the dark leather undertone. There's also a slight "masculine cologne" vibe at times, likely from the clary sage. As it progresses, a slightly bitter earthy green sticks around (between the realistic green leaves and the darker oakmoss/patchouli), and works super well with the way the vanilla is done here. The citrus is done in a very sweet and fresh way, so there isn't too much bitterness from that side, which we appreciate. By the time it's reached the drydown, it feels more like a classic chypre (though not at all dated), but with more sweet freshness. A nice modernized version of a classic scent profile!
