Infusion d'Homme Prada 2008 Eau de Toilette

In my perfume development, Infusion d'Homme represents a milestone, that much is clear. I became aware of it through the YouTuber Kristo, who significantly shaped my perception long before Parfumo; Id'H was for a long time his favorite (designer) scent. I was impressed by how enthusiastically he described it, while at the same time conveying the impression that he would prefer to keep it to himself. Even more fascinating to me was the question of how something so seemingly simple and classic could score so highly with him, as Kristo's preferences were predominantly focused on darker, angular, and peculiar fragrances back then.

About a year ago, Kristo humorously yet solemnly buried his empty Id'H bottle in a blue plastic trash can, both as a sign of his gratitude and as a symbol of his olfactory evolution. Id'H still plays a significant role for me. The first cautious 50ml bottle was soon followed by a 400ml splash bottle along with aftershave balm, shower gel, two bars of soap, and a pretty funnel with the Prada logo, thanks to the blessings of the gray market at a price that was only slightly above that of the first bottle. The large supply invited lavish use. Not only do I wear this scent more often than any other, but I also regularly use it to scent my bed linens or to refresh musty jackets and scarves. For a while, I had the habit of spraying my window curtains completely with Id'H, as it smells in an abstract way as if the window were open and outside it were a rainy spring day. The two bars of soap scented my T-shirt drawer for about three years. I have never opened the surrounding noble paper with the pretty Prada ribbon; I would first need to procure a suitable dish.

Soap is an important fundamental theme in this fragrance, and if you have even the slightest vague idea of a classic piece of French soap, and this idea is refined by me to specify that it is an exceptionally expensive piece of soap, then you are probably very close. Added to this is the scent of a loved one's skin shortly after a thorough shower and drying, a fresh shirt just put on, and white bed linens that are still slightly damp, steaming in the sunlight. That's pretty much it. Id'H does have a somewhat distinct opening, a bit brighter and, with good will, perhaps a bit citrusy compared to the rest; otherwise, it oscillates around the mentioned reference points for many hours, emphasizing the soap at times, the fresh shirt at others, depending on the weather, wearing situation, and the day's olfactory perception.

For a long time, I found the pyramid of Id'H to be an inaccessible puzzle, initially simply due to a lack of experience with individual notes. To this day, however, no note appears to be unequivocally graspable at any time; if at all, I only recognize it very indirectly - yet its ingredients are all among those I particularly like; neroli, frankincense, benzoin, cedar, orris root, this is almost too obvious a recipe for a fragrance for me. Interesting learning effects arose for me through the use of the various supplementary products, which emphasize certain aspects of the scent more strongly. The aftershave balm shows what role benzoin plays in Id'H; it is sweet, almost gourmand. The shower gel primarily highlights the fresh and crisp qualities with vetiver, neroli, and iris. However, with the EdT, these specific associations are still overshadowed by the seamless blending of all elements. Id'H embodies for me the state of absolute perfection, whose harmony is only occasionally gently interrupted by a single protagonist glowing a bit brighter than the others.

"Perfection" is a big word, but even after using around half a liter of Id'H, this impression has not diminished. This fragrance tells of a perfect parallel universe. It is bright and radiant, yet absolutely serene, filled with its sublimity. Like a deep breath with closed eyes. Its fundamental approach is, however, decidedly universal; a floral soap scent for men may have once been an interesting concept within the perfume industry, but the fragrance itself never surprises at any point. It only alludes to things we know, and depending on one's expectations, one might even attribute a tendency towards arbitrariness to it. My girlfriend, for example, would probably point out that there are certainly at least more impressive fragrances in my collection.

For me, Id'H is a very classic fragrance, but it manages to not come across as traditional or even old-fashioned; its surreal yet subtle aura derives from a delicate balance of warmth and clarity, while its references create a sense of familiarity - surprising moments or even the intention to impress someone would destroy this atmosphere.

Id'H not only accepts not being perceived as a perfume, it almost intentionally eludes this categorization. Nevertheless, it strikes me as luxurious, sublime, and almost in a pleasantly utopian way.