Cedar Forest by Ponsa

As I mentioned before, it resembles Encre Noir to the extreme: it evokes a dark, rainy forest with wet wood burning, very evocative. But this smells at magical levels. Right now I have Cedar Forest on my left hand and Encre Noir Extreme on the right: the differences are huge. Cedar is dense, deep, and impactful, an enveloping and homogeneous scent. After watching videos about perfumery secrets on YouTube, I brought the Discovery Set from Spain to Chile; it wasn’t easy or cheap, but they are absolutely worth it. It fades after an hour, but then magically revives, and suddenly it’s impossible to leave my nose alone without smelling it from time to time. It’s an olfactory experience for special occasions or personal enjoyment, almost something to show off as a masterpiece. It’s like having a living forest in your hand.

I tested this fragrance in miniature, and my conclusion is clear: since it’s made of natural ingredients, it’s unfair to compare it with commercial or niche perfumes; it plays in a different league because it’s a different concept. Upon application, my nose and mind immediately associated it with Encre Noire by Lalique (the classic black bottle version), though with different projection, trail, and longevity, but within the same olfactive family. I’ve tested it on my skin several times, at different temperatures and seasons, and with four sprays, it always remains a close, personal enjoyment scent. I can’t get more out of it: I notice it subtly for the first hour, then I have to go find its trail. Do I recommend it? Yes. Do you need to plan reapplications to revive it? Yes. If you like quality perfumery and see investing 155 euros for 50ml as supporting and enjoying a high-quality ‘made in Spain’ perfume, this must be on your radar; at least try it to decide later if you buy it. On the official website, they have a beautifully presented Discovery Set for 45 euros with the house’s 4 fragrances, which includes a 10% discount code for the purchase.

I bought the 5ml sample on the official website, and honestly, it’s worth it. The Cedar Forest scent is super natural; it reminds me of freshly cut wood, like when I was a child and my grandparents took me to the village to cut logs for the fireplace. It smells of wet wood, moss, and a smoky-green note that, if you close your eyes, transports you straight into the forest. The dry-down is more balsamic due to the amber and copaiba balsam (though I don’t know what that smells like 😂). Performance is top-notch: it lasts easily 8 hours on skin with moderate but very noticeable projection, especially at the start. It’s unisex, though I think it suits men better. Ideal for daily use in non-hot climates. Also, they gifted me a sample of the new Ponsa Barcelona ‘Indi Oud’, which isn’t on Fragrantica yet. I love it: it’s a very different oud, green and spicy, without that typical medicinal/fecal touch. Besides the oud, I think it has something green like vetiver and herbs that remind me of the tea my mom drank for breakfast when I was little (I can’t remember which one 😂). It also has a sweet, resinous base that lingers on the skin. Both perfumes are different and interesting, but mostly I like them because they trigger childhood memories when I smell them. I encourage everyone to try them, plus support small national businesses, which is key right now. Scent: 8, Longevity: 8, Projection: 7, Value: 7, Versatility: 8, Originality: 8, Overall: 8