Launched in 2005 by Italian niche line Bois 1920, 1920 Extreme is a rare fragrance in that it is potent yet light at the same time.

It opens with a note of nose-tingling bergamot and bracing clary sage. The clary sage is aromatic and herbaceous, and has facets of leather and amber that give the opening a deep, sexy richness. Fragrant lavender is here too, its anisic aspect boosting the herbaceous note, while staying in the background. As the top notes settle, the fragrance softens and becomes quite boozy (insert smile here). Middle notes of animalic jasmine and rose-nuanced geranium combine with the lingering clary sage to make a gorgeous floral/herbaceous heart that makes me pause to enjoy it every time I catch a whiff of it coming off my arm. It loiters a long time before relaxing onto a woody base of sandalwood and cedarwood, accented with almond faceted Tonka bean and lifted with a note of  sweet, sensuous vanilla.

The drydown is balanced, smooth and potent, with a brightness that lasts through to the drydown, so while I enjoy wearing it most in cooler weather, it really can stand up to summer heat.

And while labeled ‘unisex’, I would say, it falls more the masculine side of unisex.

Sniffing 1920 Extreme brings to mind a line from ‘Aurora Leigh’ Elizabeth Barrett Browning: "Earth's crammed with heaven." My heaven smells like 1920 Extreme.

Notes: bergamot, clary sage, lavender, jasmine, geranium, sandalwood, cedarwood, Tonka bean, vanilla.