Magnetic Man Bruno Banani 2023 Eau de Toilette
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Uncommented Scents No. 175
I am seriously considering writing a blog about drugstore fragrances, if only to provide an ironic counterpoint to the many hypes surrounding niche scents. No one would want to claim they were waiting for the new Bruno Banani like they were for the latest Guerlain (me), Xerjoff (many others), Prin (Lomros community), N.O.A.M (avant-gardists), etc. Eventually, it just comes out, gets listed here on Parfumo, has been in your trusted drugstore since the day before yesterday, and you pick it up because you just needed shower gel, toothpaste, and toilet paper - or because you are a student and don’t have much money to spare and notice that the latest Ensar Oud would completely overdraw your account, but the Bruno Banani wouldn’t.
What is always quite nice, though, is the fact that among these everyday scents, you can occasionally find some very interesting specimens, for example, the old "Bruno Banani Man (Eau de Toilette) | Bruno Banani," which has become a veritable classic since 2000 and is actually a relative of the brand new "Sex | Rammstein," because both contain quite a bit of heliotrope, which I find very lovely.
Back to "Magnetic Man | Bruno Banani": Of course, it is synthetic, but did you seriously expect anything else at a price of just under 12 euros? And yet, you can quite well identify what is supposed to be in it: bergamot and mandarin at the beginning is plausible, something spicy is also right, and benzoin/resinous notes along with a tiny bit of rum (thankfully not much, I don’t like that boozy nonsense) fits in as well. All in all, it smells to me, if I stay fair, like a seven, which is still two points more than I could grant "Erba Pura | XerJoff," which, as far as I remember, is slightly more expensive: how much, I don’t even know exactly, because I haven’t bought the latter, but I have the former. That goes without saying.
P.S.: The bottle is simply great!
I am seriously considering writing a blog about drugstore fragrances, if only to provide an ironic counterpoint to the many hypes surrounding niche scents. No one would want to claim they were waiting for the new Bruno Banani like they were for the latest Guerlain (me), Xerjoff (many others), Prin (Lomros community), N.O.A.M (avant-gardists), etc. Eventually, it just comes out, gets listed here on Parfumo, has been in your trusted drugstore since the day before yesterday, and you pick it up because you just needed shower gel, toothpaste, and toilet paper - or because you are a student and don’t have much money to spare and notice that the latest Ensar Oud would completely overdraw your account, but the Bruno Banani wouldn’t.
What is always quite nice, though, is the fact that among these everyday scents, you can occasionally find some very interesting specimens, for example, the old "Bruno Banani Man (Eau de Toilette) | Bruno Banani," which has become a veritable classic since 2000 and is actually a relative of the brand new "Sex | Rammstein," because both contain quite a bit of heliotrope, which I find very lovely.
Back to "Magnetic Man | Bruno Banani": Of course, it is synthetic, but did you seriously expect anything else at a price of just under 12 euros? And yet, you can quite well identify what is supposed to be in it: bergamot and mandarin at the beginning is plausible, something spicy is also right, and benzoin/resinous notes along with a tiny bit of rum (thankfully not much, I don’t like that boozy nonsense) fits in as well. All in all, it smells to me, if I stay fair, like a seven, which is still two points more than I could grant "Erba Pura | XerJoff," which, as far as I remember, is slightly more expensive: how much, I don’t even know exactly, because I haven’t bought the latter, but I have the former. That goes without saying.
P.S.: The bottle is simply great!
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113 Comments
As always, a very enjoyable read.
I also got to test the new BB - Magnetic Man. I have to admit, I was disappointed at first (even though I didn't expect much) and thought it was pretty bad during the first hour. Now I'm sitting at home, sniffing the test strip (thinking I'm smelling the Iceberg, which I like) and find what’s coming my way quite solid and pleasant. It was a nice surprise. Spicy, smooth, sweet. Of course, it has a drugstore character. Not necessarily aimed at a younger audience. I think it even has a tiny classic component.
However, Magnetic Man isn't my scent direction, even though I like boozy stuff.
It's nice that you're advocating for drugstore fragrances-cheers! 🏆
As for the EdT, I've been thinking about getting it for a while now. We'll see, maybe during the next sale at the drugstore.
In a department store! That's right!!!
So my friend: bring on your Good & Cheap list 🏆
Some things are just good, even if they don't cost much.
And: bring on your blog ;-).
I really like your approach and I'm looking forward to your essay (tightening the screw, half a turn!).
Even though I'm not a fan of the BB scents because of the silly pseudo-ironic-sexist advertising: your description makes me expect a nice, wearable fragrance, and a 7 is a pretty handy rating.
Really? You gave Erba Pura a 5? The holiest of holy grails? An a.k.a. scent? You bloody philistine!
Unfortunately, many mainstream fragrances from high-end perfumeries hardly differ from the often-mocked "drugstore scents." The ingredients are sourced from companies like Symrise, and the bottle plus packaging cost more than the fragrances themselves (there are some documentaries online about this).
So why dismiss affordable products outright?
I've always tested everything, from super expensive to ultra-cheap. For me, perfume is not a status symbol, and the snobbery you encounter in some stores is a reflection of our society, where the gap between rich and poor keeps widening.
To smell good, you shouldn't have to spend a fortune.
But you don't have to - as your review shows!
When I was studying in Manhattan for a semester abroad in 1979, I had almost no money for food. Still, I treated myself to Jovan's "Sex Appeal" at Woolworth on Broadway and 97th Street, and I still love the scent. By the way, there was also a Chinese restaurant nearby where they had "all you can eat" for $4.99 on Saturdays, which became my weekly treat. Still, I came back from my NY stay 14 kg lighter... Sex Appeal is still in my collection and definitely worth a try...
So far, I'm more drawn to the aftershaves in the drugstore than to the fragrances - I would find a blog from you about fragrances interesting.
I'm looking forward to your blog.
There have always been good fragrances in drugstores, even for those on a budget. Plus, an expensive scent doesn’t necessarily smell great on every skin; we all have our own experiences with that. Often, it’s the preconceived expectation that an expensive fragrance or one from a "luxury brand" must smell amazing. I still remember the scent Culture by Tabac: Arena di Roma from Tabac / Mäurer & Wirtz, which I really loved wearing and always received positive feedback on.
Everything can be liked or not, regardless of the price...
What I find funny is when it says for particularly unusual niche scents:
"You've understood the fragrance..." 😂😂
This one is getting tested!
I've already caught myself falling for a few affordable ones. Scorpio Rouge and Inferno can even be found in French supermarkets. Genius scents!
I'm really looking forward to your blog!
🏆
But I would love to see a blog about drugstore fragrances, so please write one!
But I haven't found any with Banani yet :D Although I only know two.
The first women's fragrance "Woman" EdP from 2001 literally took off in Switzerland back then 😂 and yes, it has something that I find elegantly sassy.
When a fragrance is good, it's not because of its price.
🏆
But this company has released some nice fragrances. It's impressive and a sign of popularity that the "Bruno Banani Man" you mentioned has been on the shelves for 23 years. - Sometimes a mass fragrance can indeed have class. I’m not a fan of hyped scents and the fuss around niche. It often reminds me of the old slogan "To know, it's platinum." It looked like silver too ;-))
"To know, it's niche." would fit as well... ;-)
I'm looking forward to your drugstore blog!!!
I don't know Bruno. For me, it’s simple - like it or don’t like it. I find the price/performance button really helpful.
Erba Pura doesn’t do anything for me. Not my thing. Okay, it’s about Magnetic Man. Actually.
A rating of seven is already very positive for me. I don’t consider any cheapie bonus; it’s about whether I like the scent or not. Period.
You like heliotrope. That fits.
We ended up here out of love for fragrance. It’s not a competition. That’s what it’s about.
Now please put the Ottoman saber away with a smile.
So: A fragrance has to cost a ton of money, otherwise it’s worthless. Everyone has to recognize it as the super hype scent right away, or I’m nothing. It has to perform like crazy, like a "beast mode," even if it annoys everyone, otherwise it’s nothing.
That's about what you wanted to read, dear Yatagan, right? Now go ahead...
In the UK, blind tests are even reported in newspapers. "Suddenly Mademoiselle Glamour" from Lidl was rated better in a blind test than "Coco Mademoiselle."