HM Hanae Mori 1998 Eau de Parfum

This fragrance has been on my wish list for a while because: it is rarely encountered, very affordable, and well-rated. Additionally, the sweet-citrus scent profile piqued my curiosity. Even though my perfumes are not supposed to remind me of food or drink: I really enjoy this apparent contradiction (sweet-sour), especially in cocktails and desserts. Until now, I was held back from testing it by the very floral heart note, but my "fear" that it might become too flowery for me was unfounded.

The Japanese DNA of a fine and rather light scent progression can also be found in HM. From beginning to end, a finely balanced lemon reigns supreme, garnished with a hint of mint. However, this lemon rests on a chocolate sorbet, which fortunately is still quite far from Mugler's gourmand DNA. All the other fragrance notes (especially the floral ones) are only subtly perceptible, but they seem to soften the sharpness of the lemon and slightly rein in the sweet base.

Of course, HM has something lemonade-like, dessert-like, but it does not come with the sweet weight of modern contemporary fragrances. In my opinion, HM can definitely be classified as unisex, as there is a notable absence of masculinity here. I do not perceive HM as an Eau de Parfum; H & S can be placed in the upper middle field.

All in all, HM is a beautiful and pleasant fragrance, but in the end, it is just a tad too sweet for me. Therefore, it does not really sweep me into a storm of enthusiasm, but given its price and balance, it finds its way into my collection - especially since it is wearable for me on various occasions.

I would like to add without bias that HM received a full 5 stars, the highest rating, from the international perfume tester No. 1, Luca Turin. But in the end, he is just a guy with a nose.