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Yesterday we visited the Bon Parfumeur Greet & Meet in a large department store in Munich city center. What was particularly nice was that the founder Ludovic Bonneton was there in person. First we sniffed our way through the Bon Parfumeur fragrances and were then lucky enough to speak directly to Ludovic, as there was not much going on. We spoke to him directly in French, which obviously pleased him. Very relaxed, very approachable. He introduced us by our first names straight away. So our first question was what his most personal fragrances in his brand are and what stories they tell.

He immediately told us his favorite fragrance, which he associates with meeting his wife: 502 Iris Cartagena. He then also told us about his wife's favorite fragrance, which is so special to him because it is constantly evolving: 403 Myrrh Shadow.

He then talked about a fragrance that reminded him of an experience when he was young. When he went on a trip to India with a friend and arrived at the Taj Mahal late in the evening. They camped wildly in the garden in front of the Taj Mahal. He told of his fear of the park guards and their dogs. But no one came and they experienced a magical moment when the full moon rose over Taj Mahal that night too. This moment, the smells and feelings of that night inspired Ludovic to create 303 Marbre Rouge. Funnily enough, this was one of the fragrances that I particularly liked when I tried it. I ended up taking it with me. A nice moment for me was that I was able to have the bottle and packaging signed and personally dedicated to me by him.

But what does 303 Marbre Rouge smell like?
The opening is intense and spicy. Chilli, pink pepper and cardamom. The cardamom gives 303 Marbre Rouge a fresh, almost citrusy note. Ylang ylang shimmers through pleasantly and is not dominant. For me, it is more of a subtle fruit than a flower. The subtle sweetness gives the fragrance something romantic and soft. Benzoin and tolu balsam give the fragrance its warm depth. They underline the spiciness and complement it with resinous, cinnamon and vanilla tones. Almost balsamic and minimally floral. Patchouli and vetiver round off the whole, adding a woody and earthy note and completing the spicy fragrance experience. A bit like a night in a strange oriental garden full of secrets.

On the Bon Parfumeur website, I found a quote from Ludovic Bonneton that alludes exactly to the story he told us and beautifully summarizes the idea behind 303 Marbre Rouge.

"Amazement at the fusion of the cold marble of the Taj Mahal and its garden. In my fragrance, I bring the flowers into the walls of the palace." Ludovic Bonneton

In summary, you get an exciting spicy-woody and balsamic fragrance experience with oriental warmth. 303 Marbre Rouge starts slightly fresh and spicy and ends with a light gourmand note in the finish. Complex and very sophisticated. Perfect for cool summer nights, or then in fall and winter.

He also told us that everything is made in France. The bottle comes from Normandy, the perfume itself from Grasse, the labels from Cognac and all the packaging is made in Grignon. In the end, I also found it exciting that you get 100% French craftsmanship here.

Today I would like to tell you about my first eau de cologne for the summer. My summer hero. The scent I wear when the asphalt shimmers on the way to the lake, or when my neighbors already know that I've left the house because I'm following this irresistible scent trail towards the office.

It's Marcel and he's celebrating summer with me. Very stylish, not at all quiet and surprisingly long-lasting. And it cools me down at the same time.

It starts with a fresh, slightly tangy citrus opening. Blood orange, bergamot and rosemary. Slightly tart, citrusy green. And that's what I really like at the moment. Masculine, masculine and elegant, yet a little old-fashioned. There is also lavender and a fine and subtle sage leather note. That's what makes it so incredibly appealing and charming to me. Marcel gives me poise and presence and pushes me stylishly into the day.

The base remains the vetiver, the warm cedarwood with a hint of tonka.
This lays soft and almost creamy on the skin and still remains somewhat green in the background. I like this twist and it flatters my nose for longer than I would have thought. Small waves keep rising into my nose. Subtle luxury! It is not uniqueness that I perceive here, but rather the perfectly coordinated interplay of all the notes involved. That makes Marcel really good.

I was not yet familiar with the Marie Jeanne label. It was founded by Georges Maubert, a member of the Robertet dynasty based in Grasse, France. For those who, like me, perhaps didn't know: Robertet is known worldwide as one of the largest producers of natural fragrances.

Marie Jeanne as a label stands for craftsmanship, natural ingredients and is located directly at the source. The Marie Jeanne brand sees itself as a reference to classic French femininity and perfumery art. Retro and noble and an imaginary ideal for timeless elegance.

And Marcel? with its name, Marcel bridges the gap between classic French, charmingly old-fashioned, but modernly interpreted cologne. The fragrances of Marie Jeanne are dedicated to Georges Maubert's family name.

And for women, there is a matching counterpart: Marcelle.

Beach Hut Man | Amouage" was conceived as an aromatic idyll in the wild garden of a beach hut, where dunes meet the sea. This is how Creative Directory of Amouage, Christoper Chong, describes the emotional centerpiece.

To be honest, I have to admit that when I first got my hands on Beach Hut Man at the end of last summer, I wasn't thrilled. Too edgy, too bulky, too green. But now, a year later, I'm really impressed and I'm trying to combine my impressions at the time with my current experience to show you what turned me off back then and what I love about it now.

To start, you get a bright green mint candy, between wet beach grass. As well as a hint of orange blossom. It smells like English bitter orange marmalade. Tart, spicy and nostalgic. A year ago, I couldn't even put my finger on what came next. Now I'm a bit smarter. Galbanum! It is a bitter, aromatic gum resin extracted from Asian ferula plants. As an oil, it brings that typical fresh green accord that is often used in chypre or oriental compositions. Galbanum plays a powerful role right from the start and underlines the wild herb garden.

For me, the vetiver and moss become more prominent as the fragrance progresses. Dry, earthy and somewhat mineral. And at the end, patchouli, myrrh and the dry woods remain. Like walking through the dunes when the smoky, warm smoke of a smouldering driftwood fire wafts into my nose.

To sum up, Beach Hut Man doesn't take me to a beach hut in the Caribbean where exotic cocktails are served. Rather, it takes me to the North Sea, the Baltic Sea or Iceland.

The whole scent of Beach Hut Man put me off a year ago. Now I love green, mossy and characterful compositions. Pleasantness not at first, but at second glance!

Not beach shell vibes, but adventurer vibes. The wild dress of youth.
Wearable when it gets warmer. In spring, on summer days, or early in the morning at the Ammersee when I'm taking photos. When I can still hear the laughter of youth in the background, wafting from a campfire after a night out.
Then they come back. The emotions and memories. Beach Hut Man.

In gloomy Germany, I sniffed heavily,
of sun, beach and sea.
I longed for sand and club,
for a fragrance that can, not must.

Then something flew into my nose,
a misty scent, but not an embarrassment.
Kai Porten stands on clear glass,
the connoisseurs quietly wrinkle their noses.

But still, my heart! I sprayed gently,
and lo and behold, it was summer night!
A smile crossed my face,
because dazzlers don't usually smell like that.

Apple! Fresh! A smoky hint,
then birch tar, who needs it.
Vanilla warm, but never too heavy -
a hint of vacation, just not empty.

And suddenly. Almost not recognized,
a fruit blows from the tropics.
A tropical breeze, barely perceptible, but there,
whispers softly: The banana, oh yes!

The base nestles velvety and light,
with a musky greeting to the summer night.
A sandalwood, quite beautiful and fine,
carries us into the evening light.

A summer scent, so bold and warm,
as summer days used to be.
The quay, it doesn't make it high,
it smells of beach, fire and summer weeks.

(Freely adapted, inspired by Heine)

Introduced in a perfumery. A very experienced saleswoman works there who has always introduced me to exciting fragrances. This time she showed me her new favorite fragrance: Beach Klub. I smiled. I tested it. I was thrilled! An unusual summer beach fragrance experience.
Only those who can change their mind have one.

"Perfume is a soul that shapes your shadow" - Meo Fusciuni

Hardly any sentence describes it better than the sentence by Meo Fusciuni himself.
For me, Buio is an echo of the night. A silent companion that goes with me.

I set off almost every evening at 9 pm. My evening walk through the quiet little town. The lanterns on the streets provide some light and cast shadows. Dimmed lights in the houses and apartments, tired people behind the curtains. A few people with dogs and people returning home share the night streets with me. I am caught up in my own thoughts and feelings. I am wearing Buio.

For me, Buio captures this reflective mood at night well.
I smell the edge of the forest, clambering ash, resinous mist lying on the ground. But it also smells to me like silence, which is only perceptible in a city at night. Shadows that linger in the streets and thoughts that are tied to memories and events. I think I am and Buio is there.

Dark, earthy and resinous root wood are dominant and so beautifully balanced, as I know it from all Meo Fusciuni fragrances. Very pleasing, meditative, engaging and enveloping. Then there are the flowers at night. The peony stands for transience and the rose geranium exudes a warm, rosy green scent even at night. The magnolia leaves its flowers open at night and smells even stronger at dusk. It is a transitional plant between day and night. And the osmanthus? It belongs to the fragrant night bloomers. Its fragrance is particularly strong at night. It is also a symbol of longing and memory. It exudes a velvety, apricot-like depth with a melancholy touch. The flowers accompany the fragrance in the background. Meo you fox! Together with the wood and vetiver, I perceive the fragrance to be very close to the ground. Strong, spicy and earthy. Meditative and introspective.

What touches me is not just the entire fragrance experience around Buio, but what it stands for: shadow and light. Life and memory. Everything in balance. As with all of Meo Fusciuni's works, this is reflected in the bottle. Lid and glass. The same shape and weight. Opposites that do not contradict but complement each other. Ying and yang in Italian.

The Buio was created during a phase of intensive self-reflection. This phase was accompanied musically by Nils Frahms. Also one of my favorite pianists of our time. I mention it because it is worth listening to something by Nils Frahms with the fragrance. I found it quite exciting myself.

Thank you Meo for this great fragrance experience and the great companion for thoughts and your own reflection in the evening. (Also works during the day, of course :))