Chemistry Clinique 1994

At the beginning of the year, I accompanied a friend while shopping - the bitterly self-imposed resolution was to really start the Capri pants and bikini season super fit this year. So, running shoes and tops and pants were bought, a nice yoga mat with a matching water bottle - and then a second water bottle because the one that came with the yoga mat didn't quite match the other items. They also wanted to schedule a training session at the gym - very soon, for sure. The afternoon reminded me a bit of our university days, when after literature research, copying, stapling, punching holes, and filing (I studied very analog), no one could really expect to read all that stuff, right? Recently, I saw the items - still with tags on - lying in the trunk of her car.

If only I had known Clinique's Chemistry that day! It would have made everything perfect with its clean, straight fitness studio vibe, subtly infused with the rubber scent of yoga mats and running shoes - unused ones, at least. It has the straightforwardness of a Pilates session, the freshness of a morning run by the riverbank, and the toned arms of Michelle Obama. All of this is so stylized, almost artificially like all the (recent) fragrances from Clinique: unexciting, unobtrusive, unpretentious. Chemistry is the muted, unisex-made version of the 90s men's shower gel sport scent archetype: ozonically fresh, sometimes almost metallic, soft and effortless in the finish - and thus actually suitable for workouts, if one (or woman) absolutely wants to wear a perfume while doing so. If I had put that in the bag(s) that January day - where could the BMI be now?

Conclusion: a lot of what I don't want in a perfume - I, who prefers not to wear any perfume while exercising. For those who like to smell of something fresh and artificial that goes well with yoga mats and running shoes - here we go!