Absinth

The Verdict

Nasomatto Absinth, created by Alessandro Gualtieri in 2008, embodies the house's reputation for uncompromising artistic fragrance. Conceived as a quest to provoke uninhibited behavior and evoke varying degrees of ecstatic intensity, it delivers a scent experience that is genuinely unlike conventional perfumery. The fragrance community is sharply divided on its merits, with devotees calling it one of the purest, most realistic woody green fragrances ever created, while detractors find it nauseating and overpriced.

What is not in dispute is its singularity. Absinth occupies a space in the fragrance landscape that few others even attempt, and whether you love it or find it challenging, it commands a reaction. Among the Nasomatto lineup, it is widely considered the easiest to wear, being a little less thick and more familiar than the house's more extreme offerings.

What It Smells Like

The experience can be summarized in two words: bitter and green. The opening delivers a powerful blast of wormwood that is herbaceous, sharp, and unmistakably referencing the absinthe spirit that gives this fragrance its name. Green notes accompany the wormwood with a foliage-like earthiness, while vetiver provides a warm, peppery, and slightly dusty anchor from the very first moments.

As the fragrance develops, it reveals itself as relatively linear, maintaining its core character of aromatic bitterness and woody warmth throughout its lifespan. There is a candied quality that some detect, a sweetness reminiscent of angelica that twirls alongside the darker, mossy forest undertones. The drydown becomes drier and more settled, with the vetiver taking on a mellow, tamed quality that one reviewer described as dry but warm, peppery, and slightly dusty. The overall impression is of standing in a dark, mossy forest where the air carries both the sharpness of bitter herbs and the warmth of sun-touched wood.

When to Wear It

Absinth is a fragrance for moments of deliberate self-expression rather than casual daily wear. Its unconventional character makes it suited for artistic gatherings, intimate dinners, and settings where individuality is valued over conformity. The green, herbal profile works well in transitional seasons when the crispness of the air complements the fragrance's sharp edges.

This is emphatically not an office scent or a crowd-pleasing social fragrance. Its unusual penetrating quality means it seems to be everywhere once applied, and its intensity can overwhelm in close quarters or warm environments.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is one of the most inconsistent aspects of Absinth across reviews. Some wearers report a generous eight to ten hours of wear with strong initial sillage that gradually softens to a discreet trail. Others are disappointed by what they describe as only two to three hours of noticeable presence, a frustrating result for an extrait de parfum at this price point. The consensus places longevity at a moderate five to six hours for most wearers, with sillage that starts strong and retreats to an intimate zone during the drydown. Skin chemistry appears to play a significant role in how this fragrance performs.

The Community Says

The fragrance community treats Absinth with the wary respect reserved for genuinely challenging art. Admirers describe it as enchantingly addictive and praise its uncompromising natural quality. Critics find it linear, nauseating, or simply too far outside conventional perfumery to justify the investment. Nearly every review includes the same warning: do not blind buy this fragrance. With a mass appeal rating of roughly five out of ten, it is clearly reserved for a specific audience. The strong consensus is that sampling is essential before purchase.

Who Should Buy This

Absinth is for the fragrance collector who has exhausted mainstream options and craves something genuinely different. If you are drawn to herbal, green, and bitter scent profiles and appreciate perfumery as an art form rather than a tool for social approval, this fragrance will speak to you. Those who enjoy classic fougeres, vetiver-heavy compositions, or botanical fragrances will find familiar elements presented in an unfamiliar and compelling way.

The Bottom Line

Nasomatto Absinth is an uncompromising green-woody extrait that delivers exactly what it promises: a bitter, herbal, intensely aromatic experience that divides every room it enters. Its quality is evident, its character is singular, and its appeal is deliberately narrow. For those who fall under its spell, it becomes a deeply personal signature; for everyone else, it remains an interesting curiosity best experienced through a sample.