Signature Steel Câline 2024

Out of spontaneous surprise that the tiny (and otherwise poorly stocked) DM on the outskirts of Vienna had Signature Steel sitting in the Câline shelf, this cheapie ended up in my shopping basket today.

I had already tested it last year, in direct comparison with Black Water. Back then, La Rive won due to its quite successful pineapple note. The Câline left no lasting impression and therefore only received a sober statement. Has my opinion about Signature Steel changed?

Yes and no. While I still like Black Water a bit better, something became immediately clear to me during the comparison test today that I simply overlooked (or rather, over-smelled?) back then: Yes, it is a clone. No, it is not a Aventus clone. Because the scent profile was practically copied 1:1 from another very well-known Aventus imitator: Explorer!

The similarities are fascinating; not only in terms of scent, but also in performance, the two Aventusians are as alike as two peas in a pod. Since Explorer was one of my first perfumes and I bought it back then without ever having smelled Aventus, this scent will always have a special connection for me. Although I really like the scent overall and even prefer the scent profile to the original in a way, it was ultimately the lack of longevity and rather weak sillage that kept me from purchasing another (not exactly cheap) bottle. It's nice to see that Câline has managed to completely reproduce the feeling and performance of Explorer for a tenner!