Bortnikoff Sir Winston Extrait de Parfum Review
Bortnikoff Sir Winston Extrait de Parfum is almost entirely a tuberose scent, so for those who love the intensity of tuberose (or white florals, generally), it may be a match made in heaven. Despite having base notes of tobacco, vanilla, and oud, I could barely detect them throughout the wear of Sir Winston. I was able to get the green tea in the opening, but it was really dominated by creamy, rich tuberose with a hint of salty-sweet muskiness thinking about joining the composition, it was that faint. Nearing the drydown phase, there was a hint of vanilla and something earthy but the tuberose was so potent that any other notes felt fleeting and almost imaginary.
- top notes: green tea
- heart notes: tuberose, ambergris
- base notes: tobacco absolute, vanilla, Indonesian bouya
It had the briefest glimpse of boozy rum, like raisins soaked in it, before it revealed the earthiness of green tea and creamy, rich tuberose (without any of the boozy characteristic staying). It really did evoke a scene of an afternoon tea with fresh white florals perfuming the room. The intensity of the tuberose mellowed slightly as there was a salty-sweet characteristic paired with subtle muskiness, though make no mistake, it was mostly tuberose that projected and wafted in the air. Even a half hour in, the tuberose was the most prominent player with the ambergris whispering in the background, only detectable at close range.
As the scent developed, at best, I had a suggestion of tobacco and oud, but they were so muffled and in the background compared to the tuberose. The intensity dropped noticeably after three hours of wear and the scent projected little and wore quite close to my skin. The projection continued to drop and hovered over my skin until it became a true skin scent after five hours of wear. I was finally able to detect a whisper of vanilla and something earthy but not more distinguishable than that as the tuberose was still the strongest element, merely less intense overall as the projection diminished.
For testing, I about 1/2 of a 0.7ml sample vial dabbed onto the underside and topside of my wrist area on my left arm. I use an unscented moisturizer prior to applying the scent as this is also my swatching arm (aka, incredibly parched at any given moment) as I found scent did not hold well here otherwise. It was long-lasting (over eight hours and was still detectable as a skin-scent) with moderate sillage for the first two to three hours and then wore more closely following that.
Subjectively, the fragrance ended up being extremely different than described by various points of purchase–there was a lot of emphasis on ambergris, tobacco, and oud, and very little said about the tuberose… but this was, undoubtedly, a tuberose-centered fragrance. I only purchased a sample after coming across it when looking for boozy scents (which this most definitely was not!) and saw the name. I have not yet found a white floral that calls to me; florals are a scent that I don’t mind a waft of here and there but haven’t been something I want to smell at length.
Available Sizes
- 50 ml for $350
- 9ml for $90
Is it OK that I just want this because my cats name is Winston? ♥️
I mean, I bought it because my dog’s name is Winston, LOL.
That sounds like a really complex scent and I haven’t ever come across this brand. It does seem to be one I would like to explore.
I was thinking on the new Santa Sangre from this brand but got a sample and wasn’t too impressed. Those lids don’t fit well on the tiny samples and half spilt out. Interesting brand tho but pricey.
Bummer to hear that you weren’t impressed by Santa Sangre!
Way, way back in the 90’s when my BFF and I would hit the mall, we would always stop by The Body Shop where she would buy her patchouli and unscented body wash to mix together. I, on the other hand, always without fail, took a dab of patchouli, another of tuberose and one of a certain kind of musk and would mix them together on my inner wrists, then smush it on both sides of my neck. This may come somewhat close to that concoction. Sometimes, I would add something else, but it’s been awhile, so I’m not sure what it was. My now ex-husband thought I smelled particularly delightful when I got home, so it must’ve been good!
I thought the name might have pulled you in lol. Tuberose really turns me off now. There was a guy in my office that wore some scent and it smelled like tuberose and it was so strong that it ruined the fragrance for me. I haven’t worked for over five years now maybe I could try it again and see if it still affects me the same way.
It really did! I mean, why not? I’d be curious if you had a different reaction to it now, Brenda.
White florals are pleasant enough, but they tire me quickly – it’s like I don’t mind smelling a bouquet of white florals for a minute but wearing it is not my cup of tea. Not offensive or truly difficult to wear, but it is definitely one of the set of notes that I am consistently not in love with. I have no idea why!
Tuberose is SO STRONG it overpowers almost everything else in a perfume – to *me*. I adored the olsen twin’s bourbon perfume, but it was very strongly tuberose + “cool water” vibes and exclusively tuberose in the dry shampoo format.
Replica Jazz Club has a too strong tuberose note as well.
I don’t like tuberose. I don’t mind it, and my skin will amp it without distortion, but it’s still not something I really want to smell like, you know?
So this….this is disappointing. I gravitate towards these warm, spicy, dry “grandpa” scents and Sir Winston?? How perfect of a name is that to grab me?? But…yeah….grandpas don’t smell like tuberose. Disappointing Pass.
I’m like you, Z! I don’t mind it in the sense that it isn’t like… a bad smell? I could smell it in a literal bouquet and enjoy it, but on me, for hours, not my choice!
Okay, so I know the real reason you bought this…. If it was a guy scent, I would pick it up for my bestie whose dog is also named Winston.
It seemed certainly worth getting a sample of at least… I mean… c’mon!