Armani Privé - Figuier Eden Giorgio Armani 2012

Paradisiacal - and completely without a snake...

It is said in the First Book of Moses (Genesis), Chapter 2, 10-14:

“A river flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four main rivers. The first is named Pishon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; there is also bdellium and onyx stone. The second river is named Gihon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush. The third river is named Tigris; it is the one that flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.”

The "Garden of Eden" is referred to as "Paradise" in the Greek translation of the Tanakh. It can be found in the 1st Book of Moses (Genesis) of the Bible, which describes it in Chapter 2 and tells of the expulsion of man after the "Fall" in Chapter 3. "Eden" referred to the steppe in Sumerian. There was also a mention of the region "Heavenly Eden," a place that seemed to be fertile but later became barren. This description historically relates to the changes in conditions that, according to climate research, occurred at the end of the last Ice Age in the Levant: The formerly green steppe dried up, prompting humans to take up agriculture. This is also mentioned in relation to the expulsion from Paradise as a new basis for sustenance.

Christian theology refers to the "Fall" as a symbolic event described in the Bible as the consumption of the "forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge" by the first human couple (Adam and Eve) ("original sin"). The resulting history of calamity is called "original sin" - the only sin that can be transmitted from one person to another. This means that every person, as a descendant of Adam, is "born into" this story and thus is preloaded in their own story of freedom.

In Jewish tradition, the name "Gan Eden" became the gathering place of the righteous after death. However, speculation about its geographical location on Earth was avoided. This is also consistent. Judaism refuses to precisely define the location of Paradise, the mountain of revelation, Mount Sinai, and others, in order to avoid the dangers of worship, invocation, pilgrimage cults, as well as the veneration of holy sites or idolatry. After all, even the name of God is used very cautiously. Judaism does not recognize sins that could be inherited.

In Islam, the expulsion of Adam and Eve is also seen as a kind of new beginning. The Christian concept of a fall is explicitly rejected. According to Islam, the expulsion from Paradise did not disturb the relationship between Adam and Allah. Adam is regarded by Muslims as the first Muslim and also as the first prophet of Islam. According to Islamic tradition, Adam and Eve were indeed cast out at different points on Earth and had to wander for some time in search of each other. Therefore, in Islam, the story of Adam and Eve is also portrayed as a special love story. According to tradition, great cities later arose at all the places on Earth where Adam lay down to sleep during his search for Eve. According to Islamic belief, Adam and Eve only found each other after a long search at Mount Arafat (in present-day Saudi Arabia), where they embraced and praised Allah.

Phew, after so much knowledge-sharing, I need to rest for a moment. And where better to do that than under a shady fig tree? I don't have to walk far for this, as our test candidate today, "Armani Privé - Figuier Eden (2012)" by Christine Nagel, promises by its name that this fig tree is located in the Garden of Eden. A quick spray from the elegantly designed bottle and the first refreshment spreads: A delicate bergamot, hand in hand with a juicy mandarin. Only a gentle fruity hint greets us here. Like a citrus veil, these two fruits wrap around us. They are not sweet or overly ripe. No, just fresh, natural, and noble. And a bit spicy too. You can sense a slightly sharp peppery spice. Not unpleasant. I hardly dare to use the word "spicy." Because this pepper in the top note serves solely to give the fruits a subtle additional component.
But then we have already arrived at our fig tree: A very natural green fig awaits us. It is not sour, but simply refreshingly delicious. But: Just a hint of it. Just like our citrus fruits earlier. However, it has not come alone: No, the impression of a green - and thus refreshing - fig is enhanced by a green-grassy note. This, along with a light tea hint, ensures that this fig remains refreshing at all times. It will never become too sweet. It will always caress us with the commendable intention of refreshing our bodies exhausted from a tiring day. And so it envelops us - light and airy, dances around us. To be more precise: It "wafts" around us. Like a gentle breeze coming from a nearby Mediterranean fig plantation on a hot summer day, refreshingly soothing. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But never completely gone. Always a refreshing breeze. And if you think it has suddenly become still, it is suddenly back again. It says "Hello" and resumes its refreshing work for the whole long dear day.
But even our day must come to an end. The sun sets and night falls. What remains is the earth heated by the relentless daytime sun beneath our feet. A warm earth. A pleasant earth. Warming amber conveys this impression of heated earth at sunset. Amber, mingled with a hint of fig.

My conclusion:
If I were Eve and a fig in the form of this fragrance had been offered to me by the snake, I would have taken it. It doesn't always have to be an apple...