Desert Sermons

Toskovat' has been one of, if not the most popular new niche fragrance brands taking the internet by storm. Many Instagram fragrance pages have a Toskovat' fragrance featured in nearly every post, or every suggestion to a person asking for recommendations. While I think some of their fragrances are masterpieces with nearly unanimous agreement (ex. Ichigo Ichie, Age of Innocence), others fall into a strange category where reviewers write overly verbose descriptions of otherwise much more simplistic and straightforward fragrances - Desert Sermons, to me, falls into the latter category.
It's sweet - very sweet - to the point where the dryness of a desert completely leaves the mind. Incense notes are present, but I was hoping for maybe some more complexity on this front in terms of maybe some dry herbaciousness, or otherworldly Spice notes other than the currently present frankincense, labdanum, vanillin, and benzoin, that could shift one's mind towards Arrakis, instead of Dubai. I'd like to see this fragrance evolve into a different reformulated direction, since many of David's other creations show his ability to conjure up his inspiration's imagery with an uncanny accuracy. Unfortunately, for me, this doesn't quite do the same.
It's a good, competent, sweet, slightly spicy fragrance - but falls short of anything else, at least to me.

I am very happy with this purchase, and my personal introduction to the fragrance house. It starts off with a strong burst of hospital bandages which comes off as both off-putting, yet intriguing. It then dries down to become a rubbery sweet cinnamon pastry-like smell mixed with a clean incense. I can best describe this fragrance dry down as smelling like the boozy dried fruits of Amouage’s Jubilation XXV mixed with a slightly dirtier Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. Incredible perfumery.

My only complaint is that the other few times I have purchased fragrances from Scent Split, I’ve always received a handful of complimentary samples, but this time I just received a half empty women’s fragrance sample.

The best clean incense in a hot cedar sauna. Thoroughly intoxicating.

A spacious "sun" note makes this scent tolerable, but it is strange. The elemi is noticeable and my nose was not a fan. The sun is a hollow candy airy note. The honey cake and sumac are resinous and earthy. It is very deep and herbal smelling; it also evokes a campfire. For fans of these ingredients, go for it. It is by no means mall-friendly or palatable to the general public. Professions that will allow you to wear this: fire shaman, homeless desert dweller, herbal witch sorceress, roman times plant mistress. Herbal, resinous, unisex.

If I could give this a 100/5 stars I would. Toskovat never fails to amaze.

An excellent scent