KI starts with gourmand notes that remind me of chocolate.
Although gourmand is often (too often, sometimes) related to sweet caramel notes, KI’s gourmand facet belongs in a different territory. The chocolate notes got some aldehydic aspects, giving a soft and powdery feeling to the top notes. The chocolate has burnt nutty notes underneath that imparts an appealing crisp texture. I found out later that the brand put sesame notes in the top notes, which may be responsible for this effect. I never worked with sesame, yet I found two perfumes with sesame notes that I love very much. This perfume, KI, and the other is Kedu from Memo Paris. I have written a post about it here if you want to check it out.
There’s a brightness in the opening of KI. The citruses are reminiscent of bergamot and lemon, a little bit tangy and green. They give breath to the gourmand notes and balance them, giving a nice breeze on the top.
KI progresses to become creamier on my skin, a light cream. The aldehydic subsides, replaced by milky coconut notes wrapped in silky rose petals: an exquisite combination. The coconut has some dryness in it that balances the creaminess; imagine the coconut’s skin. The harmony between the coconut’s lactonic facet and roses’ floral, honeyed aspect is just impressive. It brings a feeling of comfort and tranquility that I found very charming. Furthermore, there’s a silhouette of opulent white florals in the heart of KI, making it even brighter and attractive.
Towards the dry down, the ambery notes slowly become more visible.
It smells balsamic, with a hint of burnt notes, like a brûlée, caramelized sugar on top. Besides ambers, vanilla makes the foundation of this gourmand perfume even more addictive. The vanilla smell quite realistic, with some bitterness and a little bit boozy. I catch a glimpse of creamy sandalwood the base notes, which amplifies the ambers and balsamic notes and makes them more persistent.
When I wear KI to roam around Paris, I found the sillage and longevity to be moderate. However, the sillage is super comfortable and lovely. I made a YouTube video about KI and Paris; I will update the link here when it is up on YouTube. I wore it to bike and walked around Paris when it was sunny, and the temperature is about 19 degrees Celcius. I adore how it is a gourmand perfume but far from being sickly sweet, very much suitable for spring and summer.
KI’s dry down is very musky on my skin. It leaves a velvety musk with some fruity hints, almost skin-scent after 8 hours. I left my smelling strips for three days, and I still can smell the musk on it.
Mirko Buffini is an Italian perfume house founded in Florence.
KI was one of their earliest creation back in 2014. When I first found this brand, I remember I was so impressed with their collection because of the simplicity and the originality of the scents. Their fragrances smell genuine and effortless; not very complex yet wearable and enjoyable. Their bottle and packaging are simple yet chic. They look good on the shelves. Overall, I think it is a brand worth discovering.
Are you familiar with this house? They have 23 fragrances in their collection. And besides perfumes, they also have body care products. I just checked that their website is under construction, so maybe you can go to their Instagram if you have any inquiries or want to shop.
To my Indonesian fragrance enthusiast, you can get Mirko Buffini at Waroeng Francais. Yes, they are partners now.
See you in my next Mirko Buffini post!
Cheers,
Lygia
