Essence de Femme Hugo Boss 2007

"Aha, Hugo Boss, the suit tailor. Hugo Boss, the one with Boss Bottled and that macho advertising. Well."

That's roughly what I thought whenever I encountered a Hugo Boss fragrance. So I avoided engaging with it at all. Until, yes until I was offered Essence de Femme and bought it more on a whim.

Sure, I tried it, and at first I thought, okay, you didn't pay much for this, and for that it's quite good...

Then I tried it a second time. And what greets me there? A wonderfully sparkling glass of champagne with a good portion of cassis. A Kir Royal as it should be! I really didn't expect that.

Well, let's see how it goes on. And it continued just as beautifully. A fresh, aromatic mandarin/freesia scent, not sweet as expected, but fresh and green. I like this, I like it a lot!

When the lily joins in with its full bloom and the jasmine shyly throws in a few blossoms, I am already more than satisfied with my purchase.

No, I really didn't expect this from Hugo Boss. A real surprise. And I love such beautiful surprises.

As it becomes fruitier again, I expect the cassis, but no, it's softer, sweeter. It's early summer in Barcelona, those delicious, small, firm apricots that are very light but incredibly aromatic and sweet.

At the same time, the scent becomes calmer, warmer, and more intense, as amber kicks in and turns the Kir into what it really is, a KIR ROYAL.

Well then, cheers. I'll gladly take that, even if the fizz could last a little longer.

P.S.: the base lasts very long, it still smells this morning!