Yogananda Duftanker MGO Duftmanufaktur 2017

The fragrance here was interestingly named after an Indian yogi. Somehow its creator thought it would carry something spiritual, perhaps even sacred. However, this differs from my own sensation of the scent. Instead of tranquility and balance, the Yogananda represents something wild. It is an untamable animal what lives in the bottle. After a few sprays, the animal, which has been dormant, is let out of its "cage". As soon as the barrier opened, it knew no restraint. The first moment after spraying reminds me of a scene from the movie "Highlander", when Mel Gibson screams "Freedom!" on his horse.

Now for the more technical description:
Although flowers were used in Yogananda's composition, you might not recognize them individually. Instead, the top note is where the coarse animalic comes into its own. Now and then this is rounded off a little by benzoin. Presumably, this is a high-quality Indian oud, which provides for this effect. The cedar gives the fiery beast a sharp edge, yet the whole is very balanced. The dance of the wild beast is the main theme of this fragrance, though it tames down a bit in the base. You could say the animal is lying down on a mossy forest floor, surrounded by old trees whose leaves have long since stopped being green. Here you can smell the moisture in the air, the resins and the wood of the trees with an animalic sweetness, but not cloying (presumably the civet cat). This phase is a bit calmer and not as dynamic as the beginning; here the fragrance reaches its equilibrium in the olfactory sense.

As with many MGOs, this is a one-off.... around an experience. However, one must have some patience so that one is not overwhelmed by the fragrance. For adventurous noses, it will certainly be an exciting roller coaster ride. However, if you are looking for something calmer, you should rather reach for Tranquilla.