Matrix The Dua Brand 2017

The hope for uniqueness is something everyone has a little bit of when ordering from Dua. I had read a lot about the fragrance, and many YouTubers discussed Matrix as an excellent summer scent. It is said that Matrix is a very good copy of Shooting Stars - Nio, (which I do not know). So I didn’t hesitate long and ordered it, as the summary here was also very positive.
I have tested the fragrance for several days now and will try to share my subjective experiences with you.
The scent starts very cologne-like, citrusy and spicy, so definitely a rather fresh-summery fragrance. Neroli and bergamot are clearly noticeable here. After 10-20 minutes, cedar, amber, and especially the woods begin to shine through. A similar concept to the well-known Artisan Pure by John Varvatos. First citrusy fresh in the drydown, then light pleasant woods. However, as mentioned above, Matrix brings much more neroli and amber, and the woods are not so reserved. Whether this is positive or not must be decided by each nose for itself.
The fragrance somehow reminds me of a mix of Artisan Pure, Mercedes Benz Cologne, and Terre d'Hermès. Three scents that I like, but in combination, at least in Matrix, they seem overloaded. For experienced noses, it is certainly a feast to sniff out and define the nuances. However, especially in summer, I prefer it to be simple and fresh. Matrix can often be very challenging and possibly even exhausting in this regard. But I am looking forward to summer to try it out then and see if I like it more.

Conclusion:
At around €200 per 100 ml, Dua is not a cheap dupe house. Those looking for the right scent for summer while wanting to save their wallet should rather opt for Mercedes Benz Cologne, Artisan Pure, or Rakaan, which are not much worse/different than Matrix. Nevertheless, it is a solid and somewhat spicier summer scent compared to the ones mentioned above. Sillage and longevity are in the medium to good range for a summer fragrance (5-7 hours). However, the fragrance will probably not become something special for me anymore.

I hope I could give you a little insight into my experiences with the fragrance. Let’s keep sniffing....