Black

Pure Black

Mandarina Duck 2009

Some time ago, I was (once again) browsing on Parfumo and stumbled upon Pure Black by Mandarina Duck.

An affordable fragrance that contains some of my personal addiction ingredients (vanilla, tonka, and sandalwood)? Of course, it had to be tested! Through a dear Parfumo friend, I got my hands on the object of my desire, and today was the day, the fragrance arrived, so the test could begin.

Right after spraying, I am overwhelmed by a wave of synthetic bergamot and orange. OK, one mustn't be unfair and should give every fragrance its chance to unfold and develop (no, I don't work in the Federal Ministry of Education, and I don't have an educational mandate here).

With great anticipation and now somewhat clouded excitement, I wait for my "trio." It doesn't take long, and vanilla, tonka, and sandalwood make their appearance. However, unlike usual, they don't play together, they don't complement or blend, but rather lie flat on my skin. Huh? And now? Nothing more. Like the infamous couch potatoes, they don't move an inch, they are static and phlegmatic.

As Heidi Klum always so inimitably says? "That looks boring now, try a different pose...". Exactly what Pure Black could use.

For me, the longevity isn't particularly great either, which in this case is more of a blessing than a curse.

No, PB and I do not find common ground. I have absolutely nothing against affordable AND good fragrances, which do exist. The price alone definitely doesn't make it. There are also super expensive fragrances that certainly do not live up to their promises. But this specimen here is just too little fragrance for me. PB doesn't bring a smile to my face; I almost perceive it as loveless and quickly thrown together (instant pudding instead of pudding cooked with milk).

Given Nathalie Lorson's history, I would have expected a bit more. But everyone is allowed a bad day. Maybe it was just the guidelines from Mandarina Duck? But it doesn't matter.

Of course, this fragrance cannot possibly compete in the Champions League of Guerlain and Co., but even affordable fragrances should at least have a surprise, a wink, or something that triggers that "I-want-to-wear-this" wish.

I would say that Mandarina Duck should better continue to focus on bags, as they apparently understand that more than perfumes.