Relax Davidoff 1990 Eau de Toilette

Actually, Relax would be a candidate for a smooth review, perhaps for the 1000th comment... I hold it in such high regard and it is rightly mourned. I am extremely glad to have it now as a 75 ml perfume in my collection - months ago, the mini version I bought on a whim blew me away. I need to test both the large and small versions again in direct comparison, but somehow the mini seems more intense to me. However, it could just be the enthusiasm in my memory from 3 months ago, as I had rarely smelled something so balsamic and beautiful, and now I knew what to expect and my expectations were correspondingly high.

What makes the scent so special, I can't say exactly; it lies somewhere between Zino and Cool Water in a humid, paradisiacal rainforest. It is balsamic, spicy, green, powdery, thick, sweaty, and sweet. A somewhat different but similar interpretation of the Epic Man theme. Lemon, lavender, and mint create a interplay that frees the mind from all burdens and is incredibly relaxing. Exactly fitting to the name and better than a long hot foam rose bath followed by a massage. The scent is laid-back but still masculine and very warm. Cozy, cool, and full of contrasts. A dream of a fragrance that I would trade without hesitation against all the new releases of the last 5 years. And one shouldn't expect such a thing from Davidoff anymore! The scent is rough yet liqueur-like, also reminiscent of a green version of Rochas Lui. Vanilla, benzoin, and moss with a hint of leather clearly form the last part of this extinct masterpiece. A blend that you must test; it is hard to describe. Another scent that reminded me a bit of Relax was Bogner's Deep Forest.

The bottle is a typical Davidoff and inconspicuous, almost ugly. The famous Pan on the box is, however, a nice gimmick/insider. The sillage is definitely there, but in my opinion, it is rated a bit too high. For me, the scent remains a relaxation fragrance for leisure, not a scent for going out. It has a good longevity of at least 9 hours, perhaps even double digits.

For me, the best Davidoff fragrance, which even makes Cool Water and Zino look old. There is nothing comparable, no substitute - just sorrow, melancholy, and even despair. Those who own an untainted specimen can, of course, mourn in deep relaxation and enjoy this scent from time to time. But sorrow must also be present, as it is one of the lost pearls of fragrance history. No ifs and buts.

Relax & enjoy!