Skin Ghost Goes Rogue: Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Cistus

I’ll admit it. Every time Escentric Molecules announces a new spin on Molecule 01, I roll my eyes, then lean in. The original’s trickster energy never gets old to me - that silky, woody hum of Iso E Super that some people can’t smell at all, yet others describe as a magnetic force field. Now comes Molecule 01 + Cistus, and the plus sign matters.

Cistus - think labdanum resin warmed by Mediterranean sun - brings leathery, balsamic depth with a faint honeyed shadow. It’s the opposite of loud. Instead, it drapes Iso E’s cool, velveteen woodiness in a darker shawl. Expect smoked suede over glowing cedar, a skin scent that trades brightness for smolder. If Molecule 01 is clean linen on warm skin, Molecule 01 + Cistus is that linen after sunset, when someone left incense smoldering in the next room.

Founder-perfumer Geza Schoen built an empire by proving that radiance can be a concept. In the M+ series, Molecule 01 + Iris tilted into cool suede, Molecule 01 + Mandarin added a quick citrus spark, and Molecule 01 + Patchouli went forest-floor plush. Cistus is moodier - less zesty flash, more resinous afterglow. On skin, I expect moderate projection with a long, ambery trail that feels low-volume but persistent. Some noses will read a gentle leather effect, others a sweet-balsamic haze. Anosmia roulette still applies with Iso E, so don’t panic if you go nose-blind while everyone else catches your wake.

Who will love it: fans of incensey ambers who can’t stand syrup, minimalists who want grit without noise, anyone who finds clean-woody musks too sterile. It’s office-safe, date-night sneaky, and perfect for sweater weather. Try layering to steer its mood - a crisp bergamot to brighten, a sheer rose to polish the suede, or a whisper of frankincense to amplify smoke. Leather fragrances sit beautifully over it if you want more bite.

No flashy pyramid, no fireworks. Molecule 01 + Cistus is a shadow with a pulse - taking the cult skin ghost and giving it a late-night heartbeat. If that sounds like your kind of mischief, you’ll know within two wears.