Aaron Terence Hughes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The rose absolute hits like red wine spilled on dark velvet—thick, saturated, almost suffocating in its richness. Chocolate emerges almost immediately, not as sweetness but as bitter cacao that makes the rose feel even more concentrated, whilst plum adds a bruised-fruit juiciness that borders on fermented.
Vanilla absolute blooms into something custardy and enveloping, softening the initial rose-chocolate collision without ever turning truly sweet. The Thai oud begins its slow creep upward, bringing medicinal, slightly barnyard-like facets that clash beautifully with the gourmand elements, whilst ambergris adds an intimate, skin-warmed salinity that makes everything feel alive.
The florals recede, leaving a woody-ambery base that's equal parts elegant and feral. Patchouli's earthy darkness mingles with sandalwood's creamy whisper, whilst musk and ambergris create a second-skin effect that's animalic without being aggressive—Onyx settles into something that smells expensive, slightly dangerous, and entirely intentional.
Onyx announces itself with a rose that's been steeped in darkness—none of that dewy, garden-variety prettiness, but rather the velvet-textured depths of absolute, dense and almost wine-like in its concentration. Within moments, this isn't just rose anymore; it's rose colliding with bittersweet chocolate and the jammy succulence of plum, creating a gourmand darkness that feels more baroque opera than patisserie. The vanilla absolute doesn't lighten the mood—it thickens it, adding a custard-rich undertow that makes the whole composition feel edible yet profoundly unnerving.
The woody base is where Onyx earns its name. Thai oud brings that characteristic medicinal funk, slightly animalic and definitely confrontational, while ambergris adds a saline, skin-like warmth that keeps the whole affair tethered to the body rather than floating off into pure fantasy. Patchouli and sandalwood provide the architecture—the former earthy and slightly fermented, the latter creamy but restrained—whilst musk weaves through everything like smoke through velvet curtains.
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3.6/5 (77)