ARQUISTE Almond Suede Review (Calice Becker) 2024 + The Golden Age of Cordoba Giveaway

Arquiste Almond Suede

ARQUISTE Almond Suede courtesy of ARQUISTE

810, Cordoba, Al-Andalus.

ARQUISTE Almond Suede transported me to another continent, time, and place- Cordoba, Al-Andalus. During 810 A.D, Cordoba was the hub of intellectual and artistic activity. It was a time of multicultural prosperity for this small city that became a leader of learning and tolerance.

Spain image from Carlos Huber’s Instagram

In the golden age of Al-Andalus, confectioners crafted almond marzipan of unparalleled delicacy”. -a note from the brand

Calice Becker perfumer and Carlos Huber of Arquiste

Photo of Calice Becker and Carlos Huber courtesy of ARQUISTE

ARQUISTE Almond Suede developed with  V.P. Perfumer Calice Becker of Givaudan is an olfactive homage to Spain’s past, at a time when cultural diversity, ideas, and traditions flourished. This perfume has many facets and textures, evoking the delicious chewiness of marzipan and finely tanned suede; the ‘suede’ references the exquisite leather art created during that era.

Almond Suede by Arquiste

 ARQUISTE Almond Suede Courtesy of ARQUISTE

Almond Suede opens with a bright burst of bergamot. The honey note is distinctive, and is followed by a surprising maple/ musky mix. Marzipan tempts me as it swirls around in a cloud that surrounds me and draws me and those nearby into the sweet temptation of freshly baked almond pastries.

As it settles into my skin, ARQUISTE Almond Suede reveals aromatic, rich, and resinous aromas—an intricate combination of spices and earthiness. A shimmer of neroli adds a soft floral and airy spin. As ARQUISTE Almond Suede reaches its dry down, I can almost taste the sugary indulgence that lingers, reminiscent of a delightful treat. The creamy warmth of vanilla envelops the fragrance, as the leather is woven throughout like threads of a scented tapestry. It captures the essence of opulence and charm with its alluring intricate notes and casual adaptability. It remains on my skin for over 8 hours but is never overwhelming. It seems these days almost every brand is introducing a gourmand, but Almond Suede stands apart.

Top Notes: Pink Peppercorn, Italian Bergamot, Honeycomb, Bitter almond; Middle Notes: Cistus, Neroli, Saffron accord, Orange flower accord; Base Notes: Candied sugar, Vanilla, Pine tar, Suede accord

Sandi Lundberg, Contributor

Disclosure: I received my sample of ARQUISTE Almond Suede from Indigo Perfumery. My opinions are my own.

Best Arquiste perfumes

Photo Arquiste Discovery Kit via the brand

Thanks to the generosity of ARQUISTE, we have an ARQUISTE Discovery sample set that includes spray vials of the three new scents: Almond Suede (September 2024), Venice Rococo (August 2024), and A Grove by The Sea (July 2024), plus two other best-sellers for one registered reader in the USA. You must register, or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please comment on what interests you based on Sandi’s review and where you live. Have you been transported by one of ARQUISTE’S perfumes? Draw closes 11/14/2024

Read Lauryn’s review of Venice Rococo here. Enjoy Olya’s essay of A Grove by The Sea here. Carlos Huber’s Profile in Perfumery here.

Follow us on Instagram: @cafleurebonofficial @injoyinutah @ARQUISTE @calicebecker @arquistecarlos

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17 comments

  • For Almond Suede: the idea of being transported to a certain time and place thru scent. Cordoba, Al-Andalus, with its heritage of knowledge as well as its sweets. The review notes the standout honey accord, emphasizes the many facets this scent possesses: a tanned suede, a chew marzipan-like quality.

    Venice is one of my favorite Italian cities; the art, fashion, history and mystery it conjures up. The scent Venice Rococo, for me, evokes the renaissance era in all its glory. The standout in the review is heart of the fragrance, which is described as a lovely, fluffy rose slowly blooming. A scent that is inspired by the customs of the period but with a modern twist. Something Marie Antoinette might have worn.
    USA

  • Brad Woolslayer says:

    I grew up in maple country, so the idea of the maple musky accord in Almond Suede sounds really nice. I live in Maryland USA.

  • A sweet leather sounds so interesting! And I adore marzipan, so this really sounds delicious! An intriguing combination, and casual adaptability is never bad! I live in the US and already adore Arquiste’s Indigo Smoke and The Architect’s Club.

  • Oh my this has quite a combination! The marzipan, neroli, vistas / suede sounds incredible and the added pepper and pine tar and bergamot and honeycomb has me completely intrigued! I do love pink pepper and honeycomb notes and almost always am won over by neroli. Marzipan is one of my favorite desserts and it all sounds divine.
    U.S.

  • Marzipan is one of my favorite treats that I don’t eat enough of. I love the texture of it and mixing it with suede is a genius idea! I smelled this recently at Stéle in Brooklyn and, as I’m not normally a gourmand lover, was surprised how much I enjoyed it! Would love to try more from the brand. Thank you for the giveaway. From Brooklyn, NY

  • I am VERY excited about this giveaway, because I have not yet tried an Arquiste fragrance, but have read a lot about them lately and have an Arquiste discovery set on my mental “to try” list. Almond Suede sounds like a gourmand I can get behind: sweet, but also resinous and complex. Thank you so much for the review and giveaway!
    I’m in WV, USA

  • Love the Arquiste brand.
    My wife is wearing indigo smoke today and I can’t get enough of it.
    Have never smelled a bad scent from this house.
    Would love to win this set.
    Oklahoma USA

  • I am a big fan of both Calice Becker and Carlos Huber. I have enjoyed many of Arquiste’s fragrances, “Infanta en Flor” being my go-to scent from this line.

    You had me at Marzipan, but Sandi details, “Marzipan tempts me as it swirls around in a cloud that surrounds me and draws me and those nearby into the sweet temptation of freshly baked almond pastries,” has me wanting to get my nose and skin on a bottle of this scent.

  • Almond suede sounds like a gourmand delicacy!! Marzipan will always have a special place in my heart as a childhood favorite. Arquiste is such an underrated house with beautiful fragrances. Looking forward to get my nose on a bit of Spanish history with this one. I live in Chicago and fall has full settled in and winter is on the way, this fragrance sounds like it would be great for this time of year.

  • AromaDulce73 says:

    This fragrance sounds great. I love maple but not a fan of suede but this mix sounds interesting. Sandi’s description “freshly baked almond pastries” sounds like something I would like to smell especially around this holiday season.

    This would be my first time smelling anything by ARQUISTE.

    Los Angeles Ca. USA

  • Almond pastries are my weakness. With gourmands, you sort of expect a dense, thick, goopy treat, but this has enough lighter notes in it (pink pepper, bergamot, neroli, orange flower) to diffuse the marzipan notes and add nuance, and enough deeper notes (cistus, pine tar, suede) to add a bit of seriousness to the sweet. It sounds like the perfect year-round fragrance. I have not had success finding places to sample Arquiste, and would LOVE to try this set. I’m in California. Thank you for the review.

  • My perfume journey went from classic floral heliotrope to almond to gourmand marzipan, and Almond Suede seems to go through that whole process in one perfume. I’m in the USA and I adore a good sample set, thanks for the drawing.

  • My last vacation was to Spain, pre-Covid, those simpler times. What a gorgeous country; a fragrance that is an ode to such beauty is a remarkable idea. Almond Suede sounds sweet, chewy and delicious and I’d love to try the discovery set. I’ve never had the pleasure of trying Arquiste. I live in NY.

  • I love Arquiste fragrances. I did a spray of Almond Suede when I was vacationing, but didn’t get to fully understand it. I’d love to win this tester set to try more in depth. This new release sounds perfect for the season, I love marzipan. I own Anima Dulcis and Architect Club is on my wish list. Thanks for the chance. USA.

  • I’m fond of another almond and leather scented fragrance, so this ARQUISTE fragrance review immediately caught my attention. The tuning of Almond Suede sounds like it’s weighted more towards the decedent marzipan accord, with that “maple/musky mix”, but the leather and vanilla seem to support the complex mix of sweet and floral notes in the heart. This sounds lovely to wear in cool weather and well balanced. I haven’t tried any of ARQUISTE’s perfumes yet, but hope to try this one.

    I’m in the USA.

  • Arquiste Almond Suede opens with a rich, creamy almond note balanced by a soft, powdery suede accord. The almond has a subtly roasted, nutty quality, not overly sweet. The suede note becomes more pronounced, adding a velvety, luxurious texture. Underlying are warm, balsamic notes that lend depth, with a hint of spice adding autumnal comfort. The overall impression is sophisticated and sensual – cozy yet alluring. Excellent longevity and sillage make it suitable for cooler weather, pairing well with cashmere and leather. This refined fragrance captures the opulence of Córdoba’s “Golden Age” inspiration.