Mesmerize for Men Avon 1992 Cologne

It may have been 50 years ago. My mother had a friend who was an Avon consultant. And every now and then she came to visit us and showed us news from the Avon universe. The numerous jars, bottles and tubes fascinated me even back then. I particularly remember a poisonous green, grassy-scented toner that my mother bought. So that's what I'm reminded of when I hold an Avon perfume in my hands today. But unlike back then, when the products presented were probably not quite cheap, today Avon presents Mesmerize, a perfume from the lower price segment that is probably no longer produced but is still offered online for plus/minus €20.00 per 100 ml.
With countless products and services in general and with such emotionally charged things as perfume in particular, expectations play a decisive role in the evaluation. And the latter is already positioned by manufacturer names, packaging, labels and prices, for example, before any personal contact or sensory perception of the product has even taken place. Influenced by beautiful bottles, elaborate labels and sonorous names of vineyards and wineries, wine drinkers spend a lot of money on their favorite drink who can hardly distinguish a white wine from a red wine in a blind tasting. And die-hard cola nerds rub their eyes when a discounter's own brand wins a comparison test of cola drinks. The same applies to all fetishes in this world, be it cars, shoes, handbags, wristwatches ... and, of course, perfumes. No one can and must be free from such influences. But we should be aware of them when we talk about olfactory impressions. - And of course, these suggestive forces are also reflected on a platform such as Parfumo, not least in the number of reviews and statements in addition to the number of ratings: the new releases of certain brands generate countless opinions in the short term, while other current perfumes receive much less or hardly any attention. This may often, but by no means always, reflect the true qualities.
End of the digression: Mesmerize is neither a freshy, nor a gourmand, nor a heavy oriental, but oscillates charmingly between these extremes. While the mandarin and mint are barely noticeable, the apple is immediately present. It is embedded in a spicy, aromatic amber shell, which increasingly comes to the fore as the fragrance develops and remains throughout the entire fragrance. Mesmerize always conveys a powdery, flattering fragrance experience, warm, soft, balancing, unisex. A perfume for all occasions.
If Mesmerize came into this world today in the form of a new release from Byredo or BDK Parfums, for example (I hold both brands in high esteem and am only mentioning them here as examples!), I am sure that quite a few fragrance enthusiasts would celebrate a new highlight and easily pay ten times its current market price. But Mesmerize blossoms in secret and shows us that good things don't have to be expensive. My mother already had the right nose for it!