Pure Breeze of Himalaya 4711 2019

I wanted to say that this messy chemical broth smells like an air freshener, but truth be told, Japanese air fresheners are way better than this. Ambroxan strikes again! What mountain air smells like this? In whose toilet cubby? It's just so obvious, like something you'd buy at one of those giant American stores, Walmart or Target or wherever they roll those big shopping carts these days.

The perfumer Fanny Bal was not known to me until now, but IFF certainly is.
The abbreviation stands for "International Flavors & Fragrances," one of the leading perfume producers in the world based in New York.
Worldwide, the company has about 6000 employees, but Symrise (formerly Haarmann & Reimer in Holzminden) is probably even larger. I am surprised that the Cologne team approached IFF to create this new EdC "Intense," but wasn't the great Sophia Grosjman (Yvresse, Paris, Spellbound, Trésor...) also active at IFF for years, or Nathalie Lorson (Wish, Folie Douce...) or Jean-Claude Deville (Cabotine, Wings...)?
They clearly want to aim high and sell a lot. That is absolutely legitimate.

However, I would be very interested to know what "briefing" IFF received from Cologne.
Probably the perfumer was told to create the ultimate fresh scent that evokes the clarity of the air in the Himalayas. Purity, expansiveness, ice. Not bad associations.

When you consider that Jacques Cavallier received the instruction to develop a product that smells like fresh water when creating the first Issey Miyake fragrance, you can imagine how difficult it can sometimes be to fulfill customer wishes.
I mention the famous "L'Eau d'Issey" scent for a reason, as it has become the prototype. "Pure Breeze" does not surpass it, as "Pure Breeze of Himalaya" moves between the poles of an aquatic and the citrus-woody aspects of a typical Eau de Cologne. The scent's longevity is very good, you can still perceive it even after hours. "Intense" is indeed fitting here.

The name was probably established before the scent itself (keyword "briefing"). What could be more fitting than to choose a chemical fragrance compound that is now referred to as "air accord" in the modern aroma kitchens of perfume manufacturers?
Unfortunately, I am not a chemist and by no means a trained perfumer. However, the so-called "air accord" has come across my path more frequently lately. Parfumo lists 266 fragrances with an "air accord," such as "Glacier" or "Bleu de Lacoste" or "Swiss Army Mountain Water."

Fragrance substances are, of course, mass products and are also widely used in household items, from dishwashing liquid to toilet cleaner. The same substances are often used to create flavors for food, but I cannot imagine a yogurt that tastes like "air accord," although there are already shower gels or floor cleaners that smell very aquatic-fresh. Therefore, the new "Pure Breeze of Himalaya" immediately reminds some users here of a cleaning product.
What struck me about the EdC was primarily its shower gel freshness, which immediately appealed to me in the store on Friday.
This was probably due to the special fact that we got a new bathroom last week and I couldn't shower daily. My last shower was already 48 hours prior when I tested "Pure Breeze of Himalaya," and I was longing for cleanliness!
Here it was offered to me quite straightforwardly in the form of an EdC, and besides, my regular perfumery in our small town was once again having "20% off everything" - so I seized the opportunity.

However, I have modified my initially positive-sounding statement (written on the evening of the purchase) today. After a visit to the swimming pool with the opportunity for a comprehensive full-body refreshment, I continued to test "Pure Breeze of Himalaya" over the weekend to place the scent this morning in our guest toilet. Because that is where it belongs, perfectly suited to refresh tired individuals and "totally unisex."

I cannot recognize an individual, special "Cologne style." Nor a personal signature from Fanny Bal.
Thus, the new scent "from Cologne" is merely the product of a huge company with global branches. It is no coincidence that the English name was chosen. "Fresh Breeze from the Himalayas" would indeed strongly remind one of a well-known "air freshener." Or is that even the intention?

I was on a long search for a fragrance that would allow me to maintain that pleasant feeling of freshness right after a shower for a longer time.
I tested quite a few, but there was never "the scent."
Then I tried this one directly on my skin at the perfume shop and immediately knew that this long journey had come to an end.
I was also lucky enough to get the fragrance in a set with the matching scented candle. The candle has long burned down, but I am still thrilled by the scent!
Of course, it doesn't last forever. But it easily lasts two to three hours! My surroundings also find this scent very pleasant!

Well, the "Acqua Colonia Intense - Pure Breeze of Himalaya | 4711" and I will not become friends. For me, this freshie ultimately feels very insignificant and boring. Additionally, the longevity on my skin is quite weak at about 3 hours, and the sillage is similarly negligible...

The top note starts off quite fresh and aquatic. Mandarin, bergamot, grape sugar, and a bit of pepper come through here. The heart note offers lily of the valley, rose water, and a touch of olive wood. I'm struggling with the base, as not much happens here anymore. Ambroxan brings a slightly maritime, creamy aspect with a hint of musk to the fragrance. Cashmeran emphasizes the woodiness and the floral nuances.

In the end, I am quite disappointed and bored by this scent. Sorry :-(

Exactly what I expressed in the title were my first associations after applying the fragrance.

This 4711 scent is rated very positively by me, as it does things well that I usually don't like.
This fragrance radiates with a very dominant floral note. Normally, I am not fond of such things, but Pure Breeze of Himalaya combines it all with an extremely pleasant freshness.

I envision the image of myself on a sunny day under a bright blue sky, smelling a fresh bouquet of flowers on a mountain. The fresh and pure mountain air, paired with the intense scent of the flowers, brings nothing but good mood.

In the first three hours, the fragrance is well present, but its performance decreases rapidly after this period. Nevertheless, it lingers close to the skin for up to 6 hours.

One could also call this fragrance the signature of spring.
I have hardly been able to mentally associate any other scent so strongly with spring.
It is versatile, certainly does not disturb anyone, and gives the wearer positive vibes.

Additionally, it comes at a quite affordable price, which truly makes it a daily all-rounder, as long as you like this fragrance DNA.
So, give it a try and let spring in!