After a year of "Genius! But not brilliant... Am I going to buy this on vacation? Do I really need it?", I'll take you with me on the journey that led to the purchase. :)
First of all: The
Effect is definitely not a 1:1 alternative to the
Side Effect. If that's what you're looking for, you're probably in the wrong place. But if you want to get to know an ingenious twist on
Side Effect, this little gem could be something for you.
What initially put me off
Side Effect derivatives? The basic DNA. When the collection grows a little further and space is limited, at some point you simply have enough "boozy stories" in the collection to at least rationally question the purchase once.
This is where the
Effect comes into play:
Yes, you can tell that MAD was definitely inspired by Initio's fragrance:
Amber, cinnamon, lots of rum, a bit of pepper - yes, it's going in the right direction here. Like its role model,
Effect becomes darker, warmer, more comforting in the drydown and brings a light vanilla note with it. That's nice. :)
However, one crucial component changes everything: the plum.
The comparison to
Paragon always popped into my head when I was testing it, as the plum accord of
Effect is very similar (albeit much less dominant). For me, however, this is the perfect balancing act between the two worlds, as the
Paragon (as well as the somewhat tamer
Vintage Radio) was always a little "too plummy" for me, although I actually liked the fragrance - but it was never enough for me to buy more than the bottling.
The
Effect manages to really skillfully incorporate the plum into the Side Effect DNA without completely losing its role model. What is missing, however, is the tobacco note of the original. I don't notice this at any time. This makes the MAD fragrance a little lighter, but it undoubtedly loses its 1:1 credentials.
Obviously - I like the fragrance. Is it a daily candidate? Definitely not. I've been testing the MAD fragrance in the store on and off for over a year. Sometimes I thought it was great, sometimes I thought to myself "oh, somehow not necessary". As with so many fragrances, you (or your nose) have to be in the right mood on the day and be in the mood for the DNA. However, I generally experience this phenomenon with Boozy candidates. Said desire is probably also more likely in the fall/winter or on that infamous "balmy summer evening". Ironically, I was immediately triggered when I finally sprayed it on again at 28° C in Turkey while a member of staff was frantically collecting my order. That's how it can happen sometimes.
The H/S is, as so often with MAD, outstanding. It lasts a relaxed 7-8 hours on the skin with a flattening sillage after approx. 6 hours, and on clothing it easily lasts 24 hours. For the price (see below), this is really bombastic.
The price is really difficult here. I bought it last week for ~€25 in Turkey. For that, the fragrance is definitely a no-brainer. I wouldn't have bought it for the €60-65 I got in the EU and I wouldn't get a restock for that price either. But let's be honest - you usually always know someone who has already booked their next vacation in Turkey and can stow a little souvenir in their suitcase.
So what to do? Test it out? Absolutely! Buy blindly? Absolutely not. Get a bottle and give the fragrance a little more time.
Top Notes 
Rum
Cinnamon
Pepper
Heart Notes 
Balsamic notes
Plum
Base Notes 
Amber
Musk
Sandalwood
Vanilla
Woody notes
