Séxūal Sugar Daddy Michel Germain 2010 Eau de Toilette

"Hugs & kisses guaranteed" - under this advertising banner, Michel Germain launched the sexual sugar line. The marketing campaign, with allusions to mysterious aphrodisiacs and the sensually bittersweet fragrance pyramid, is supposed to do the rest. The question remains: does this calculation really work?

Let's start with the name of the self-proclaimed ladykiller: "Sexual Sugar Daddy" - if there were a prize for clumsy, stupid, and even nonsensical titles, this candidate would rightfully join the second row, immediately behind the eternal firsts from Etat Libre d'Orange, occupying that place with dignity. The idea of a response to the question: "What fragrance are you wearing?" is even delicious. But shame has always been one of the greatest enemies of sex and sensuality. The evolution of primitivism has thus begun - seemingly.

Now to the scent: Sexual Sugar Daddy undoubtedly possesses a phenomenal and inviting fragrance pyramid, especially for fans of the extravagant gourmand category, which turned my interest into a purchasing urge, even leading to a daring blind buy. However, applied to the skin, the mystical womanizer reveals its authentic side and turns out to be an elevated mediocrity, no more and no less. Here, the sometimes disappointing high expectations downgrade the fragrance towards mainstream, and the seemingly alluring fragrance pyramid reveals itself as a facade, albeit a positive facade with potential.

Throughout the entire scent development, many parallels to Prada's Amber Pour Homme cannot be dismissed. An amber note accompanies both the top, heart, and especially the base notes. Cinnamon and fir balsam harmonize very well together, most of the grapefruit peels disappear immediately after their greeting, and the caramelized pralines continuously strive to produce a relatively heavy sweetness, which unfortunately they eventually achieve. The patchouli note is skillfully showcased here, and there is no trace of the listed leather. The fragrance overall is very sticky and scratchy, even stuffy, and yet (or perhaps because of that) captivating and sensual; it possesses an interesting face with natural edges and corners. The combination of smoky fir balsam and mild cinnamon clearly wins the race here, while the dragging amber note and the oppressively sweet praline accord hold back the triumphal march of the magic potion. Sexual Sugar Daddy is a good and interesting fragrance, but far from an olfactory masterpiece.

The bottle is solidly made, its contents in a light aquatic blue (not tending towards black as in the marketing photos!) and the outer packaging wins the embarrassment award with its black-gray speckled glitter design (fitting for the name). The longevity is good to very good, and the chance of fading the scent itself is rather low. Ultimately, a nice and presentable "Daddy," who, however, wants more than he can ultimately deliver.

CONCLUSION: Those who like Prada's Amber Pour Homme and can appreciate exaggerated fragrances like A*Men might make an interesting new discovery with Sexual Sugar Daddy. Those who count sweet smoky scents among their preferences can confidently try the test strip, and those who trust aphrodisiacs as an ingredient and seriously believe in a promising marketing campaign should let themselves be convinced of the opposite. So f***ing what - sex sells.