Byredo Eleventh Hour Sample

What we think:

Eleventh Hour Eau de Parfum is based on the end of the world, with the name eleventh hour, and with one of the central ingredients being ban timmur pepper from Nepal. According to Byredo, featuring an ingredient from the imposing Nepalese highlands is a statement on the kind of inhospitable places humanity may eventually be forced to survive as ocean levels rise. The scent itself, though, isn't harsh at all! We think it's really nice, well-blended, and smells great.

The timur pepper has a kind of fresh citrus meets warm clove scent. It smells appealing yet also makes for unique combination with the way it works with other notes here. The timur really comes through, and with the rum and carrot seed it has a warm and classy vibe, paired perfectly with a freshness from the fig and bergamot. There's also a woodsiness.

Although it's pretty versatile, we think it wears best in fall and winter. Not only for weather reasons but, if you live in an area where fall and winter coincide with holiday seasons, for that aspect as well - with the warm yet invigorating mood of this, and the slight christmas spice vibe. There's a plum-like accord here too, and a cinnamon side to it as well. But despite all that, as mentioned, there's also a freshness to it, in a way that keeps it modern. We like it!