Contre Bombarde appeals to me a bit more than the slightly aloof, cumbersome Plein Jeu that I tested this afternoon. While Plein Jeu reminded me of a cold, abandoned monastery vault, here at least a small fire glows, where one can warm their hands... there is still life here... which had long since extinguished in Plein Jeu... in Contre Bombarde, I can still discover something like a soul. I can't sniff out any bitter oranges or juniper berries, but I do detect delicious, ethereal resins that blend beautifully with the soft incense. What gives it a warm glow is definitely the dirty vanilla, which comes across as somewhat shabby but not unsexy. I really enjoy such tension-filled contrasts in fragrances; that's often what makes them special. What I like less is that the amber-vanilla sometimes smells a bit sweaty, yet I can't deny a certain allure... interesting;-)! Still, I like it significantly better than Plein Jeu, simply because it has much more depth and feels more inviting and accessible to me. The still slightly present, aloof "cold shoulder" makes it more attractive than cumbersome. However, images of a rather overweight person sweating and smelling unkempt in the height of summer keep coming to mind. Yes, I know that being human is something very natural and can smell very sexy, but I am torn back and forth the whole time. The pleasantly woody base can still score points, rounding off the fragrance nicely, but it doesn't catapult it onto the winner's podium, meaning it's definitely not a candidate for purchase for me. The longevity is very good at a full 7 hours and leaves no wishes unfulfilled, just like the sillage.
Pluto 8 years ago