Maasaï Mara Berdoues 2017

Ah, I always enjoy trying a new Berdoues fragrance. I like the brand because it offers some beautiful scents, even if they sometimes seem a bit simple. However, this simplicity is something that many people really appreciate.

And of course, I got to know the brand again because… I was searching for tea fragrances and came across Assam of India among others. With that tea scent, it was hard to resist for two reasons: First, of course, because of the beautiful, but also somewhat bitter tea scent, and second, because of the bottle. Yes, yes, one should never buy a fragrance just because of the bottle, but just take a look at it! A bottle where you can see lots of small, cute, and above all colorful elephants on the inner wall! Who wouldn't start smiling at that? :)

Anyway, now I come to Maasai Mara, a fragrance named after the national reserve in Kenya, and whose name is derived from the East African Maasai people and the term for spotted or speckled in their language (in this case "mara") (this is meant to refer to the landscape in the savanna, as from above, the solitary trees in the landscape look like dots!).
Speaking of the Maasai, we are back to a people who also wear wonderfully colorful garments… hmm,… :)

**The Fragrance:**
The fragrance initially starts with a rum/whiskey note, which quickly becomes sweetly woody, so I would guess a combination of buchu and labdanum here. The impression of the alcoholic note disappears quickly and is replaced by a note that is not mentioned here, namely tobacco or tobacco leaf, which I find very noticeable. The sweetness also seems to come largely from a note that is not mentioned here: honey.
Chamomile is also present, which makes the fragrance creamier. Yes, one could say that the chamomile smells almost like chamomile creams. However, it is a bit weak, but as I said, still noticeable.
Over time, the fragrance becomes softer, creamier, and is simply very pleasant. Later, you also smell a mix of tobacco, honey, and woods, which remains unchanged for several hours and only gradually fades. As I said, it is a simple fragrance in itself, but it smells good.

**The Sillage and Longevity:**
The sillage is above average. You do leave a decent scent cloud at the beginning, but due to the gentle fragrance, it feels somewhat smaller.
The longevity is quite good. I could smell the fragrance on me for more than ten hours.

**The Bottle:**
The bottle is rectangular with rounded corners. A special feature is the inner wall of this bottle, as it is painted or shows a motif that can be seen from the front. Here, you see colorful, round patterns that match the vibrant appearances of the Maasai people, even though the people should prefer more red colors. A beautiful bottle that also feels good in the hand!

Hmm, the fragrance has turned out fantastic. It has a wonderful, slightly spicy woody, and above all creamy scent with additional notes like tobacco and honey. The tobacco is clearly noticeable here, but it is neither too harsh nor smoky, rather soft and creamy, and thus resembles something like the Jo Malone fragrance "Tobacco & Mandarin."

I would actually classify it as an all-rounder. Perhaps not entirely suitable for summer, but also not a pure winter scent, as it is a bit lighter despite the spicy notes. This means it would probably fit best in spring and autumn. In my opinion, it can be used both for everyday wear and when going out, and it definitely feels unisex to me.

As I said, Maasai Mara is a beautiful fragrance that one could try. Of course, not just because the background of the bottle has turned out so beautifully with its colorful patterns, although I still find the elephant bottle from Assam of India to be the best among the Berdoues bottles :D