“The autumn is here and I am in love.” ― Kamand Kojouri
On YouTube, you can currently scroll through countless top lists like “best fall scents for men,” starting with everybody's darling Jeremy, through Gents Scents, Demi Rawling, Redolessence, to Max Forti and many lesser-known names. These lists essentially recite the usual mainstream suspects depending on the author, such as Spicebomb Extreme, Azzaro Wanted by Night, Stronger with You, Ultramale, and the like. However, there are always hidden gems that I wouldn't have thought of, like Azzaro pour Homme Amber Fever or Issey Miyake's Nuit d'Issey Noir Argent. So, eyes closed and go for it!
The fragrances of the cooler season create for me, with their sweet, heavier, partly gourmand notes, a more tangible atmosphere and mental imagery compared to the fresh summer scents. Whether I stroll through the Christmas market with Spicebomb, grill marshmallows by the campfire with Replica by the Fireplace, enjoy apple strudel with Layton, or explore an Indian spice shop with DSquared's Potion, I simply love being transported to another place by scents and letting my soul dangle.
Wow! for Men EdP Intense is one such representative that I miss in the aforementioned top lists. Mainstream, but not really widespread (currently only one entry in the Souk), pleasant, but with a recognizable character, yes, almost niche in a way. Here, only three notes really play loudly. There is the chestnut, which sets the tone throughout, there is cinnamon - the sweet variety, and cashmeran, which refreshes the fragrance and balances the sweetness. This trio makes me feel like I'm walking through an autumn forest on a sunny afternoon, nibbling on roasted chestnuts. The orange note, which particularly accompanies the first half of the development, clearly sets the fragrance apart from the heavier winter sweets like Spicebomb or Stronger with You, making it an ideal candidate for autumn in my opinion. Wow! Intense is harmoniously composed, the fragrance develops coherently, and none of its phases annoys, even though it lasts long and is clearly perceivable by those around. It is universally wearable for those over 20, but I would rather reach for one of the Guerlains for a formal meeting. A well-rounded composition that, if it didn't say JOOP on it, could easily be sold for more than 30 EUR per 40ml. The presentation is minimalist: a metallic bottle with a sparingly dispensing atomizer and a plastic ring instead of a cap. However, I really like the play of colors and it communicates aptly what one experiences after spraying.
Wow! Intense embodies for me, like hardly any other fragrance, a positive autumn feeling that I love to share and experience myself. A blind buy or at least a test candidate!
Chevalier 5 years ago
