Onyx by Bejar

The great unknown of Spanish perfumery: Ramón Béjar. How can one dedicate time and money to crafting perfumes only to face such a distribution disaster? This budget line, sitting alongside the luxury Molvizar range, is almost invisible in Spain. It’s not fireworks on a par with the best, yet the fragrances stand tall alongside Bogart or Lapidus. ONYX by Béjar is aquatic, musky, and vibrational; supposedly, they extract essence from minerals like onyx to macerate the scent. The concept is poetic, almost alchemical, though I doubt the minerals smell of anything—they perhaps just convey a sense of well-being. The base is synthetic, featuring Givaudan’s Képhalis with hints of jasmine, rose, violet, and lavender, plus Gurjun resin, amber, and sandalwood. Key notes include musk, Calone (marine/ozonic notes), and Iso E Super (eternal fixative). It smells of open air and oxygen. It’s economical and lasts a treat, but to me, it feels cold and unpleasant; I wouldn’t wear it two days in a row. If you love ozonic scents, it’s pure gold. Hard to find as it has been discontinued.

Exceptional, love at first sniff. Exquisite, exotic, wild yet elegant, cheerful and jovial. It’s linear, smelling the same throughout except for the opening, which is more intense and fresh. The rest is woody, resinous, and ambered, very different from anything I’ve smelled before: exotic, creamy, and balsamic. It transports me back to my childhood, reminding me of licorice sticks to suck on or Mastia candies; it doesn’t smell of licorice, but rather offers a sweet, tempting suggestion. It’s not gourmand, but edible. It smells fantastic and is original. Be careful buying blind; try it first: you might love or hate it instantly. I recommend it 100%. It lasts a long time—I tested it for over 8 hours on my wrist. The trail is moderate, noticeable but not invasive, enveloping you in an aura. I’ve been wearing it for a week and receive daily compliments; being little-known, it stands out for being so peculiar and outside the norm.