Woody Mirage Douglas 2017

When I visit a Douglas store, I usually turn to the few "outsiders" it has to offer. Besides the current "in fragrances" and well-established classics, there is only a small island of true individuality. Usually, "individual" also means expensive, but if you're lucky, you can find something good for cheap...
Not the "cheap" that clings to some "drugstore scents," but the truly quality-good for an astonishing price.
A private label, of which there aren't many fragrances available. But with "Woody Mirage," I happened to spot something that was exactly to my taste and snagged it.
The scent starts almost reminiscent of 4711, but that quickly fades away to reveal a beautifully arranged spicy-woody, soft fragrance composition with just a few floral notes.
With just the right amount of sweetness (at least for my nose), which softly contrasts the woody elements and gently balances the spice. Yet slightly bitter passages dominate the fragrance.
The shifting "moods" in this scent are subtle and almost ethereal, yet they make it very lively and well-meaning agile. And in this lively spice with the discreet sweetness, I believe the Douglas house has reminded us of its beginnings as a small perfumery, where much was still "brewed" in-house to stand out individually from other perfumeries.
A matter of honor for a fragrance house that has now become the "Mecca" of mass-appeal in fragrances and the much sought-after classics.