Graphite is a woody aromatic launched in the 2010s. The clash of fragrances and colors creates a nondescript, unexpected perfume that brings to mind the crude aroma of a chalk pencil fanned by the crop of the sharpener. It features notes of monochrome graphite, chalk palette and cropped wood. Graphite is an eau de parfum, edp.
MAD ET LEN GRAPHITE REVIEWS
Fragrantica: This smells like what I imagine a logging factory in the Pacific Northwest smells like. The opening features the scent of crushed pine needles and metallic saw blades. The main base notes take you to a storage facility full of dry wood planks, with a hint of muskiness. Graphite is best suited for cold and rainy days, but I occasionally wear it in the summer since it is relatively light for a winter perfume. The perfume's longevity leaves much to be desired, but when paired with something heavier its top notes can truly shine. My favorite pairing is with Death by Blackbird. The two come together to form a cold and truly dark perfume.
Smell: 10
Longevity: 7
Versatility: 9
Uniqueness: 8
Value: 6
Layering compatibility: 9
Overall: 8.2
Fragrantica: Cold, wet forest. Specifically wet stone, not so much grass. This to me brings back memories of being at summer camp as a kid, in the early mornings when we'd run around in our pajamas, to the big rocks.
Fragrantica: He is an industrialist lumberjack who only wears black flannels and has a large beard. He takes scraps of wood from the forest and brings them back to his dimly-lit workshop where he fashions them into artisan pencils. He doesn’t clean up the shavings because they add to the aesthetic he is trying to convey. He uses the pencils to draw pictures of shadowy cityscapes. Best worn with a pair of Doc Martens. This s**t will put hair on your chest so be confident. The fragrance is good, too, but proceed with caution. If I could associate a color to this it would be jet black. Not a sexy, mysterious jet black… more like a can of jet black paint… and the guy you’d envision painting something jet black.
Fragrantica: Unlike some of Mad Et Len's other fragrances (looking at you, Terre Noir), Graphite has no issues with longevity or projection. Graphite reaches out with a sophisticated mix of pine, cedar, incense, and of course, pencil shavings. It's masculine, but not in an overbearing way. Fantastic for Fall and Winter, or cool evenings/nights out.
Fragrantica: Has the vibe of Encre Noire but niche. I mean to say not that they smell similar, but they occupy a similar territory. Graphite feels much more smooth and classy. A cedar/pine note takes on the woody role that vetiver plays in Encre Noire. Graphite is less zingy, more overtly earthy, more dense. The opening might be a bit challenging but the drydown is comparatively relaxed, even clean-feeling thanks to the camphor. I suspect there is Cashmeran involved in this, which is also present in Encre Noire. This has a subtle spiciness that feels elegant and very modern. I wouldn't be able to pick up "paper" without prompting from the note breakdown, but I get it. I'm associating the note with an ambient impression, like a memory-laden room in a house or shop. A pleasant dustiness.
LuckyScent: It takes a minute to assemble itself, but this odd thing -- slate, chalk dust, cedar, linseed oil (!), waxed leather -- is utterly not perfume-like, in the best possible way. It skirts mustiness but is far too dry to fall into that trap; instead, there’s a cool gravity, like pressing one’s cheek against a stone wall. Even in my small collection of mutants, this one stands out.
