I have owned "Eternity Now" since 2016, and I haven't worn it very often. But not because I think it's bad!
On the contrary...
This fragrance is, I believe, the only one so far with coconut as a noticeable note that doesn't annoy me! However, I think that the coconut combined with the star anise in the top notes is the reason why many associate it with a sweet "cheap scent".
I find it amusing that the fragrance smells very unique precisely because of the prominent star anise; I have never smelled anything that reminds me of it. It does come across as a bit "obvious", as it smells exactly the same from the first second until the end of its perceivability, which is already there after a few hours, - but it is also not unnecessarily intrusive. (Unless you bathe in it..)
Somehow, the mixture of notes, I guess through "star anise-star fruit-ginger-vanilla", creates a pseudo-orange impression for me; and I think that also triggers the "fruit candy fear reflex" in many. ;P
(By the way, it's funny that there are two "star" fragrance notes in it, right? ^_^)
EN didn't scare me off right away, which is why I have come to appreciate it very much, and I rise above its slightly cliché appearance.
Due to its sweet-spicy-fruity nature, it fits for me almost only in the cold season, meaning when it is snowing outside like it is right now. I also find it more of a feel-good fragrance for cozy hours, not really a "party banger".
If I had to look for parallels, I would first think of "Uomo Casual Life" by Salvatore Ferragamo, somehow also sweet, slightly spicy with an orange touch. (In this case, I believe it is the tiramisu-lemon-geranium mixture that creates the olfactory image of orange for me)
I wouldn't say they smell super similar, but they strongly remind me of each other and somehow do a similar job for me. However, I find the underground rating for EN here a bit unfair, especially in comparison to Casual Life, which I find less exciting to smell.
I also find the product advertising images very fitting for the fragrance; they convey the easy-living feeling very well that the fragrance radiates. It is more designed for young, lighthearted people rather than for super-serious tie-wearers. And when I say "young," I mean people who feel young; there is no age for me where one cannot wear something like this with dignity if they feel like it. (:
I have also reflected again whether I am exaggerating.. and no. There are fragrances like Armani Code, which achieve a rating of 7.5 here, and I still put it back on the shelf after testing it for the 100th time in the store because it just smells so generic and bland. So in my opinion, an underrated fragrance that you can definitely give a chance, especially at this price, particularly if you are looking for something light-footed for winter and want a change from the really good heavy hitters like DHI, Herod, LNDL, Pure Havanne, etc. :)
