This Easter, a visit to KaDeWe was on the agenda during our trip to Berlin. I have been creating my own perfumes for many years, and yet I still find myself in "danger" of buying a fragrance, preferably from brands that are (still) unknown to me. A good atmosphere and a really friendly and dedicated salesperson at a small stand led to the purchase of two scents, namely Onyx Pearl and The Infidels by Agonist. I will comment on Onyx Pearl another time; here, it's about "The Infidels," which made its presence known to me once again today.
To be clear, it starts with a successful fragrance pyramid and good sillage. When I tested the scent in Berlin, it seemed less sweet to me than it does today.
The first impression on (my) skin is quite creamy, almost rich at the outset, with blackcurrant pushing forward paired with ylang-ylang.
I have to get past this initial hurdle, and just a few minutes later, I sense memories of the good old days of the early seventies. It’s not the patchouli that I remember from that time, but rather a finer, subtler version supported by soft floral aspects. A wonderful and successful attempt to blend magnolias and roses with jasmine in a way that contributes to a sense of well-being. I do not experience the sharpness sometimes attributed to clove and black pepper; rather, the warmth inherent in these notes provides me with comfort, and I can almost indulge in a fragrance that can certainly be worn, especially in the late hours.
If one wants to start noticing linearity after about 20 minutes, one will be proven wrong. Amber, labdanum, and aspects of worn leather ground the scent in the base, and somehow I also think I recognize earthy notes like in a forest after a warm summer rain.
I like the tonka bean that quietly says hello here and there, as well as the subtle vanilla aspects. Overall, a really beautiful and friendly fragrance that I will probably wear this evening with my beloved. Yes, you guessed it right, she wants to wear it too. So let’s indulge together in old times. The strength to accompany us until the next morning can be assumed, and I like good scents that are striking on one hand, extraordinary on the other, but never intrusive. All of this is promised to me by The Infidels, and it has now found its place in the front row of my almost daily changing selection. Perhaps it is also made for the dreary, gray season to bring a little warmth, comfort, and light.
One last word about the bottle. It fits nicely in my hand, is made elegantly, and the labeling is exceptionally chic, seemingly part of the glass in the manufacturing process. Successful and valuable, all at a really acceptable price that I often miss with the big names.
