Hi Ho ULGers, Der Duft is a German brand that seems to be asking some interesting, left of centre perfumers to come work on their fragrances. Pride is by Miguel Matos. The brand is new since 2020 and from what I see started with five scents and has added five more since.
Der Duft Pride was a BIG surprise. I grabbed my 2ml Surrender To Chance decant and spritzed it heavily without even checking the notes list. Don’t know exactly what I was expecting but this sure isn’t it.
Pride by Der Duft 2020
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Patchouli, Sandalwood, Bergamot, Cashmeran, Jasmine, Moss, Narcissus, Amber, Carrot seed
The Pride opening is earthy, grasslike, head shop patchouli and a happily dark narcissus. It’s thick and molten, but for all its density Pride is surprisingly wearable and non confrontational. Sure, if OG style patchouli is not your thing then you may be overwhelmed for the first minute but for me it is gorgeous and fun.
The heart stays patch focussed but the woods come through with a creamy flourish. They are that very dry sandalwood and vanilla rich amber woods. I’m sure there are bit players I’m missing here but that’s the gist.
Having spent the day wearing Pride, with a lunchtime respritz to relive that ridiculously fab opening, I’m smitten. Dry down is a dark, mossy patchouli amber. Very old school reminiscent but done in a 21st century niche way. I could never imagine a modern designer putting this in a bottle. Pride is just not general public enough,. Maybe one of the more interesting mass-tige brands like D S & Durga or Comme des Garcons but this may even be a bit too raw for them.
Unisex but a definite lean towards modern masculine. Longevity is excellent and projection good for the first couple of hours. It’s not big but it is persistent and very other. This is the kind of fragrance I imagine a very cool suit wearing, a slightly different cut of fragrance, interesting but not showy. People may not even know why they want to be near you.
Pride is definitely on my next Fragrances & Art order, did you know they do Tax Free for international and have FREE SHIPPING if you order over a very reasonable amount?
Are you feeling my excitement?
Portia x
Undina's Looking Glass 
Sounds really interesting, but I think it would not be my cup of tea. Big patchouli and I are not usually friends.
LikeLike
Hey RR,
Patchouli is a polariser, for sure.
I can imagine many people finding Pride a hard wear, especially if they are patchouli averse. This is what I really think about when I read or hear the word niche. Something few would gravitate to.
Portia x
LikeLike
Who’s wearing whom? Lol. I’m not a patch fan so this one might wear me…
LikeLike
Yeah Nose Prose, it could very well feel that way.
Portia x
LikeLiked by 1 person
You seem to be describing 80’s club land in a fragrance.
Maybe the Pride name threw me back to the smell of Le Beat Route, Blitz, Heaven, Pips & The Warehouse. Patch with underlying digestive biscuits, pee, leather & Elnett.
I know you didn’t mention them but your writing simply conjured up the atmosphere
LikeLike
HA! Alityke, you are singing my song. I didn’t get to London till 1994 but was doing ALL THE THINGS here in Sydney since the mid 1980s.
Pride could definitely be a fragrant anthem to those heady days.
Portia xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You would have loved the underground anti establishment culture of the UK back then.
I need to get my nose on Pride
LikeLike
Yeah, I would have
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m always up for big patchouli – sometimes, though, it smells better on others than on me. And now you’ve reminded me how I’ve been wanting to sample Miguel Matos’ work. I love his Fragrantica articles on vintage scents. Thanks for the review!
LikeLike
Hey MossyBerry,
So nice to see you.
YAY for patchouli, boo when it doesn’t agree with you.
MMs work is interesting and varied. What fun to delve deep into a single perfumer.
Welcome.
Portia xx
LikeLike
I’ve tried all of the 5 perfumes when they started some years ago. It seems that some have already been discontinued and some new ones added.
Pride feels like a dark Chanel Cristalle to me as soon as the patchouli sets. I swear I smell lily-of-the-valley but it’s probably narcissus. It could easily become a modern classic.
LikeLike
OOHHHHHH Interesting Neva. I wish I had some left to do a throw down between Cristalle and Pride.
Yes, it could easily become so if people were falling in love but there seems to be radio silence on the brand.
Portia xx
LikeLike
There will be more left for us ;) I hope they won’t discontinue them soon since there is less demand.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah
LikeLike