CP Raspberry

Many people are wondering about a one-off semi-B we offered some time ago, called “VD Raspberry”, which was a playful, raspberrified edition of Crime & Punishment. 

Crime & Punishment itself is an extremely elaborate composition, so the idea to flesh it out a bit more in VD Raspberry was exciting but also challenging. People love C&P for so many reasons, so it’s difficult to decide which facet to explore. 

With this edition, though – it was easy. 

VD Rasberry was built on an edition of C&P that had a lush sandalwood veneer; an edition many loved the most. 

You may be familiar with rose-oud perfumes, but what about rose-sandalwood? (And how this combo makes the bed for a lush fusion of… berry.)

Imagine the complex, ever-unfolding scent of Crime & Punishment where the sandalwood facet is tuned up just high enough for it to stand out. And to then beautify that facet with the only rose duo of its kind that I know of…

CP Raspberry features my in-house blend of Japanese rose absolute and otto, which were extracted specifically for us. It’s not only what the addition of the rose does to the overall profile, but also to the overall diffusiveness of each spritz. 

I could have stopped here and called it a day. But that’s the fine line between making something to sell, and making something in order to… make history. That’s why you’re getting this rosified santalum C&P turned into a regal, decked-out oud-rose symphony.

(I’ll let the fact that by doing so this perfume qualifies as a bonafide ghalia sink in for a minute.)

Oud-musk symphony how? 

First, I didn’t mention that my in-house Japanese rose duet is added on top of an increased concentration of the previous editions of C&P. And so is this oud…

This is the first time I’m using or talking about this extremely precious oud. You may remember the insane musk-infused Vietnamese oud that gave Notes From Underground its distinct (and polarizing!) profile…

Aroha Mysaku is that oud, reincarnated in Cambodi form. That it was distilled in our custom distillery in Cambodia exclusively from a specific strand of oud chips collected from jungles in Pursat, Pailin, and Koh Kong over many months should tell you about the quality we’re talking about. But then we took things even further.

Along with its brother distillation, this brew has been steeping in super old Tonkin musk grains for… I’m not exactly sure anymore – it’s been a few years.

I chose this oud specifically for its red old-school Cambodi profile, and it oozes into every other aromatic in the perfume.

Now that you’ve erected this succulent core of rose, musk, sandalwood, and oud – effectively a classic ghalia at heart – let’s get avant garde!

Raspberry.

Japanese rugosa fused with frankincense and ylang-ylang that boasts the added umami of orange blossom’s thick zest rubbed into a paste of blue lotus’ buttery warmth, all riding a chariot of Cambodian oud, Tonkin musk, and ambergris – the perfect base for an olfactory raspberry cocktail.

Most raspberry (also strawberry) perfumes I’ve tried give off an unbearable cloying smell to me (could be the synthetic kind they all share). The challange here was to use natural raspberry in a way to fuse – not fight – with its fellow aromatics… not dominate and stiffen the scent – and, most importantly, not produce that cloying effect. 

Raspberry is a very tricky ingredient to work with. It’s actually one of the ingredients I’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error with over the years.

Like civet or certain citruses – specially a combination of those! – can totally kill a fragrance, raspberry is at once extremely tenacious and also interacts uniquely with different aromatics, so the more complex the composition (and CP Raspberry is super complex) the greater the risk.

You don’t want a cheap raspberry lipstick perfume, but rather an elegant natural raspberry-themed aroma. You want to enjoy the scent of raspberry in the profile, while at the same time smelling the effect, not unlike the use of musk, it has on other aromatics, and vice versa. 

CP Raspberry gives you exactly this cocktail of rose red, lily blue, yuzu orange, Mysaku red, ylang ylang mingled with mimosa, as jasmine and cassie all vape through a prism of the strong shot of oud and musk to form a steady tone that lasts for hours – reflecting that delectable raspberry accord. 

And all of it comes decked out onto a bed dripping wet with creamy sandalwood. 

CP Raspberry gives you a rose-santalum amber-musk-raspberry brew with a fat lacquering of OUD oozing into its creamy core to make the sandalwood facets of the perfume even more delectable.

Featured Testimonials…

After falling in love with VD Raspberry I obviously couldn’t resist on this one

CP Raspberry is a fragrance that masterfully blends the deep, complex allure of the legendary Crime & Punishment with the bright, juicy sweetness of ripe raspberries.

The first whiff immediately immerses you in a vivid olfactory experience where the rich, resinous oud serves as the perfect canvas for the playful and fresh top notes of raspberry.

What makes CP Raspberry truly unique is its balance.

The oud is not overpowering; instead, it complements the fruity raspberry, creating a harmonious scent that is both vibrant and sophisticated.

This is not your typical sweet fragrance—it’s a nuanced composition where the oud adds depth and warmth, grounding the tartness of the berries with its earthy, woody undertones.

As the scent develops on the skin, the raspberry begins to mellow, blending seamlessly into the base of oud, which gradually becomes more prominent.

This fragrance is ideal for those who appreciate the fusion of the traditional with the modern, and who enjoy scents that are both luxurious and distinctive.

It’s perfect for cooler weather when you want something rich but not too heavy, with just the right amount of sweetness to keep it lively. Also I think at hot days this one will perform like a beast — but we will see

Overall, if you the type of person that already enjoyed the Crime & Punishment but wanted to add a little bit more playful – there you go.

PS.. the new boxes are great

—Thomas W / Germany

The CP raspberry has arrived just applied a tiny little spray of it because I couldn’t wait to try and I can say with confidence that I like this version a lot. In my opinion it’s way better than the OG…

The raspberry note is great and I really like how it blends into the CP base structure.

UPDATE:

CP raspberry for the evening and oh boy this is some goooood stuff! The last few weeks have turned this perfume into a beast and it’s projecting super strong.

The rose and the raspberry are very dominant, the musk and oud have been blended perfectly into this perfume and the sandalwood adds a nice creamy touch to it.

I still have a little decant of the very first C&P which was a powerhouse, this new Raspberry version is the ultimate version.

It’s a great scent for daily use and crowd pleaser for sure. This one’s also a scent which makes me think why I haven’t got a 50ml bottle of it.

The only negative thing about this perfume is the plaque since the choice of color makes it extremely hard to get a proper photo of it

—Chris A / Germany

Creamy – Fruity Raspberry opening – Smooth – Slightly Spicey – The raspberry here is wonderful… definitely something that will excite those who like Crime and Punishment…

—Travis H / USA