Written by Kristina Kybartaite-Damule

Recently, Goldfield&Banks has released a new perfume called Silky Woods Elixir. How is it and can it compare to the original Silky Woods?

If you're a fan of vanilla fragrances and keep up with the latest releases, it's nearly impossible that you haven't heard of Silky Woods from the Australian brand Goldfield&Banks. A couple of years ago, this fragrance was a massive hit – it seemed like every influencer was talking about it, and it was a must-try for anyone who called themselves a vanilla lover.

Belonging to the latter group of perfume aficionados, Silky Woods quickly found its way into my collection. The rich sweetness of its darkened vanilla, crafted by Hamid Merati-Kashani, truly lived up to the hype. It intoxicates with its sweetness, allures with its deep woody undertones, and lingers on the skin for hours. The scent was undeniably pleasing.

However, truth be told, to me, the original Silky Woods was quite heavy. As much as I adored the scent, wearing it could become quite tiresome after a few hours due to the overwhelming sweetness of the vanilla. So, I found myself very curious about the Elixir. Could it be even heavier? Even sweeter? Silky Woods is already a bomb! – I thought to myself.

Nevertheless, there was no question that I had to try the Elixir. The first spray on my wrist brought an instant smile to my face. With the expertise of Olivier Cresp, collaborating with Hamid Merati-Kashani, the youthful and rebellious Silky Woods transformed into a mature and mysterious lady. It still retained its rebellious essence but now possessed a more serious and elegant aura.

The heavy sweetness was tempered with fig and enriched with smoky and woody notes. The precious dark Australian agarwood was even more pronounced than in the original, adding a unique dimension to the vanilla.

The first hour on the skin was an ode to agarwood. It exuded richness and mystery with just a hint of an animalic vibe – sensual and captivating.

"In the depths of Australia's ancient and enchanting Daintree Rainforest, where verdant canopies embrace ancient earth, an olfactory treasure is cultivated. Shrouded in secrecy and mystique, here agarwood (oud) is produced at the first and only agarwood plantation in Australia. This treasure, the dark and fragrant resin-embedded heartwood of Phialophora parasitica-infected Aquilaria trees, oud has a rich, musty, woody-nutty, and animalic odour prized for centuries in China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, where the smell of its thick perfumed oil is almost ubiquitous", the brand notes.

No wonder why the scent grabs you from the first sniff and insists on taking you on this fragrant journey. There's not much freshness here, no time to contemplate, just pure indulgence.

After the dark opening, the fragrance mellows out a bit. The vanilla combined with Peru balsam begins to assert itself more, and the sweetness, reminiscent of the original Silky Woods, makes a modest appearance. However, it's toned down, avoiding any sense of fatigue. It strikes a perfect balance between sweet vanilla and resinous, woody accords.

Additionally, the Elixir flanker incorporates Ambroxan into the composition. It feels like it elevates the scent, making it airier and easier to wear. Some may love Ambroxan, others may not – but in this fragrance, it feels perfectly placed and timed.

So, as much as I enjoyed the original Silky Woods, I feel that the Elixir elevates the fragrance to a higher level. It exceeded my expectations, for sure.

[The bottle generously gifted by the brand, opinion, as always, my own]