My Samsun and Bafra (both from New Hope Seed) had no trace of perfume at any stalk position, with the Bafra being somewhat milder than the Samsun.
Bahia was not what I expected. I had in mind the black, rough, earthy, and distinctively pungent leaf that was, once upon a time, used to manufacture Suerdiek Brazilian cigars. It's what gives any "Brazil" cigar its uniqueness. I guess I handled mine with far too much TLC. Although the tips did kiln to a black, raisin-sweet leaf, it tasted too refined. The bulk of the leaf kilned to a soft, milk-chocolate brown, smooth on the tongue and mild-to-medium in strength. The yield is a little below average, and the plant stalk is a bit floppy--well, overly flexible.
Now, I'm not saying the Bahia was bad. It was good. But it was not what I had hoped for. I suspect that it needs a more crude and aggressive method of fermentation.
As for surprises, my FL Sumatra wins for me. Just about any variety will produce some wrapper-grade leaf. With the FL Sumatra, damn near every leaf was wrapper grade--about 90% above the mud lugs. Bugs hated it. No fleabeetle pinholes, no aphids, no nothin'. (They were preoccupied with a few of the other varieties.) The taste and aroma are good, and the dark EMS color tends to be flawlessly uniform. It's not very exciting as filler, and as wrapper it gives you a stick similar to the average $4 cigar--not great, but solidly good.
Bob