Smells Like Me! Duftanker MGO Duftmanufaktur

An energizing citrus scent that simultaneously has sweaty-animalistic traits?

It's a bit paradoxical, isn't it?

A brief analysis sheds some light on what the fragrance is and what it is not.

Furthermore, I would like to advocate for such works, which are sometimes hastily (and often unjustly) criticized.

But let's take it step by step:

We are greeted by a beautifully citrusy-sour opening of bitter-fruity yuzu. It’s as if you were smelling your fingers after peeling it. Complementing this is a sour civet note that immediately adds a warming spice, disperses a slightly animalistic flair, and connects wonderfully with the bitter notes of the citrus. A certain sharpness occasionally bites through, likely due to both the civet and the cloves. In the warming presence of cumin, the little kittens sweat subtly under their fur. After a short time, the fragrance transitions into softer notes as the citrus makes way. The rose is perceived as rather background floral and does not come across as juicy or fruity at all.

Additionally, slightly oily-floral and greenish notes emerge, which can probably be attributed to the synthetic additive Hedione. Hedione, also known as Methyl Dihydro Jasmonate, emits, as the name suggests, certain hints of jasmine. However, it does not come off as indolic here. Moreover, Hedione has the function and property of intensifying other notes in its presence.

Speaking of intensifying.

There is a certain synergistically acting Ambermax note that does not come across as synthetically harsh, as is often the case in the designer segment. Ambermax actually has a significantly higher impact compared to Ambroxan.

MGO has achieved a really pleasantly "smooth" dosage here. Not least likely due to the combination with real amber.

For some, this may certainly seem like sacrilege, I know.

Personally, I find this quite exciting, provided it is used and thought out sensibly, and I do not reject it out of hand. Undoubtedly, the use of such synthetic additives often leads to a stretching of natural ingredients or simply a price optimization. But increasingly, we are also seeing artisan works that rely on such support, where natural ingredients are "boosted" with a certain push, and ideally, it is in this symbiosis that their wonderful aromas can fully unfold or at least radiate longer and sometimes even beyond skin contact.

Until the dry down, the fragrance maintains a sour/(citrusy) base structure with slightly spicy-bitter-warming notes. If we can speak of sweetness at all, one can sense a minimal sweet-resinous labdanum trail that runs along the rose petals.

Overall, this fragrance is truly not designed for the broad public. It comes across as far too specific and idiosyncratic. In terms of projection/sillage, I would describe the fragrance as rather delicate despite the use of synthetics. This also shows how sparingly and carefully the mentioned substances have been used. However, the longevity on the skin is surprisingly enduring. For fans of animalic and citrus scents who can handle synthetic companions in a subtle manner, it is definitely worth a try.