Animilovic

Oh, I have the honor of writing the first review for this fragrance. I have never actually owned a fragrance from Mind Games, but I have noticed their chess-like bottles once or twice.

Chess and perfume are not necessarily things you would immediately associate with one another. And even after reading the manufacturer's explanation, my feeling that chess and perfume still have little to do with each other has not changed much. "MIND GAMES combines the complex craftsmanship and strategic brilliance of chess with the innovative, hypnotic effect of perfumery." Well, okay, but what, for example, apples, nougat, rose and oak barrels specifically have to do with chess is not really explained in any particularly comprehensible way either.

Check Please starts promisingly, and I like the fruity-sweet nutty nougat opening. But after about an hour, I realize why Nutella is sold in a jar and not in an oak barrel. The woody note that appears then somehow smells rancid, and I do not like it at all. I have to wait until the drydown so that the creamy amber, vanilla and sandalwood mix can win me over again. Mind Games does not make much of an effort to explain how the ingredients relate to the game of chess. I see little connection there either. Unless you find a really old chessboard belonging to your grandfather in the attic. That could smell similarly rancid to the oak barrel accord. But I do not think this connection was intended by the manufacturer. Personally, I find it tends more towards the masculine side, but the statistics do not confirm this. 203 users on Parfumo, 49 percent of them women. So almost evenly balanced.

If I read correctly, this fragrance is an extrait. So it would be nice if the fragrance lasted as long as the longest chess game:
"The longest official chess game in tournament history lasted 269 moves and ended in a draw in 1989 after more than 20 hours of play between Ivan Nikolić and Goran Arsović." But with four sprays on my neck, I was able to smell it on myself for about four hours. So my king fell considerably faster.

The bottle is probably the best thing about the fragrance. The chess association is immediately clear, without having to engage extensively with the manufacturer. The character of the fragrance does not really match the metallic, cool look, though; a wooden chess piece in a brown tone would have suited it better. Still, the theme was executed in a high-quality manner.

In terms of price, I have to make it clear right away that the fragrance does not justify its price. 270,- euros for 100ml is asking too much for such a mediocre fragrance. The bottle alone is worthy of this price range.

My grandfather was crazy about chess, my father already less so, and I have practically nothing to do with chess and prefer backgammon. Check Please will unfortunately not awaken a passion for the game in me.

In my reviews of Aoud Exclusif and Gold Prestigium, I already teased that these two vanilla fragrances are not necessarily Mancera's best creations. I also hinted that Aoud Vanille and Amore Caffè are the better vanilla alternatives, and I am happy to explain why in the following review.

Aoud Exclusif and Gold Prestigium felt like a vanilla mishmash without any clear individual character or expression. The vanilla seemed more like an accessory amid the jumble of other ingredients. Aoud Vanille skillfully showcases vanilla with various facets. It is remarkable that the vanilla powers through from the very first second, even though it is actually listed as a base note, and the opening envelops the vanilla in tremendous darkness. The Nepalese oud seemingly creates an association with dark vanilla, and I was impressed by its expressiveness. After the dark vanilla period, however, another facet emerges. The floral notes make the vanilla appear much more delicate. As if the peaceful sunrise followed the dark night. I could also wear this peaceful vanilla character very well. I almost like the woody finish best and it makes for a wonderful ending. The fragrance is a great demonstration of how versatile and broadly usable vanilla can be as a fragrance note. Since different and contrasting facets are presented, I fully agree with the unisex classification. I was therefore surprised that 87% of the 930 registered users of the fragrance on Parfumo are men.

The vanilla powers through from beginning to end and the performance is remarkable. With four sprays on my neck, I could perceive the fragrance myself for around eight hours.

I like the flacon design, and the various facets are also reflected in the flacon's brightening color gradient.

Value for money is generally top-notch with Mancera, and Aoud Vanille is no exception. Multifaceted vanilla DNA, monster performance, a beautiful flacon, and available online for around 108 euros for 120ml.

Although Aoud Vanille has already won me over and I can certainly recommend this fragrance, Amore Caffè could be the even better vanilla fragrance from the house of Mancera - a review will follow shortly.

Even with the fragrance sibling #Oudian from the same house, I thought, what a strange name. And somehow #Anelo also sounds similarly odd. However, there is definitely a concept behind these peculiar-sounding names. Oudian was a combination of the main ingredients oud and durian, while Anelo is a combination of the main ingredients pineapple and pomelo. So that's where the names come from, but let's get to the fragrance.

The fragrance was inspired by sailors and their spirit of discovery and is intended to celebrate the exploration of new worlds through the finest aromas from distant lands. Accordingly, the fragrance opens in an exotic, fruity way, and the pineapple note is much more successful than in #1 Million Black and does not smell like synthetically oversweetened chewing gum, but rather comes across as natural and mature. As it develops, some of the sweetness remains, but it also drifts in a mild floral direction. I would also describe this as successful, although with more of a leaning toward the feminine. However, I could not really understand the rather high rating of 8.4. I like the final phase, consisting of amber, patchouli and vetiver, better than the preceding phases. To my nose, the fragrance seems rather feminine in the first two phases, yet the fruity, floral notes result in an incredible 89 percent male share among 979 registered users.

An oil concentration of 30 percent should ensure good performance, and I can confirm this. Four sprays on the neck and a self-perception of over eight hours are top-notch. #Oudian performed similarly strongly, so apparently Pernoire places a great deal of emphasis on good performance.

However, I have to backtrack a little when it comes to the bottle. With #Oudian, I already criticized the fact that this smooth white bottle has absolutely nothing to do with a fruity oud fragrance. #Anelo presents the same contradiction. Exotic fruits and a clinical white bottle? There is no connection whatsoever.

Value for money is extremely difficult to assess. A hefty 240 euros is charged for 50ml. That's brutal. I mean, we're talking about an extrait that also performs beautifully, but the fragrance DNA and the bottle do not justify the price. There are better alternatives available for less money.

It's not for nothing that #Vibrato is listed as a similar fragrance for comparison. Mandarin, ginger, magnolia, patchouli and vetiver are present in both. However, I see Vibrato as the clear winner in comparison. For one thing, the woods in Vibrato provide a stronger contrast and greater unisex potential. The bottle is far more beautiful, and the price is considerably lower due to supply and demand. 100ml of Vibrato can sometimes be found for under 200 euros. I don't see a single reason why anyone should spend more money on half the quantity of #Anelo.

The English word “wack” is a colloquial term (slang) and, depending on the context, translates as “bad,” “lame,” “crappy,” or “crazy.” - Judging by the fragrance DNA, this title would be more fitting for the perfume. Even though I generally love black, whether it’s my black leather jacket, my black motorcycle, my black sneakers... only 1 Million Black manages to ruin it for me.

Since I always test fragrances blind at first, the title Black made me think more of black leather in the style of Ombré Leather (2018) Eau de Parfum, but the fragrance isn’t actually that “black.” As is typical of a 1 Million fragrance, the perfume opens with an enormously oversweet bubblegum note that is not lacking in synthetic facets. Unpleasant, tiring, and it reminds me why I was already not a fan of 1 Million Eau de Toilette in my youth. The synthetics remain a constant companion as the fragrance develops, resulting in a creamy end-mess in which the vanilla and ebony have been thoroughly wasted. The fragrance was never “Black,” whereas “Wack” it was throughout.

“An expressive creation with a longevity of up to 48 hours that leaves an unforgettable impression.” That is what Rabanne says about the fragrance’s performance. I see three false claims in one sentence.
Expressive? No, more like synthetic-intensive.
48 hours of longevity? No, four sprays on the neck last around six hours in terms of personal perception.
Unforgettable impression? No, and if anything, in a negative sense.

The bottle of 1 Million Eau de Toilette already had a seriously tacky vibe, and while 1 Million Black has less gold, it is no less tacky. When I compare the bottle with a high-quality gold bottle such as Oud Save the King Eau de Parfum, the difference in presentation becomes clear.

You can already get 100 ml online for 90 euros, and even so, that is not a good price. The performance is around six hours of personal perception and is therefore quite good, except that these six hours are almost unbearable due to the maximally synthetic fragrance DNA.

My mother gave me the sample of 1 Million Black, and I have to be grateful to this wonderful woman for many things in my life, but not for this sample. Another flanker that can be skipped, while the endless designer flanker spiral keeps turning merrily.

The last time I had a sip of cola was in 2012. A full 14 years ago. Back then, I would knock back a bottle almost every day, but when I turned 18, I suddenly thought, "what kind of unhealthy nonsense am I actually drinking here?" And so it happened that, from one moment to the next, I burned all "sweets" out of my life and haven't relapsed since. I was a little skeptical when I first saw Tonka Cola, because what works on the tongue doesn't necessarily have to work on the neck too, right? But if you want to broaden your fragrance horizons with a certain added value, you should also engage with those fragrances that make you doubt them beforehand. Because boy, oh boy, who could have guessed how sexy cola can be on the neck.

If I really had to describe Tonka Cola in just a few words, I would say sex appeal with elegance. If someone had told my 12-year-old self that cola could be this sexy, I probably would have eaten more little cola bottles instead of apple rings, Smurfs and frogs. The very ingredient that made me doubtful beforehand turns out to be a true highlight. Right from the start, this incredibly elegant cola note, brimming with sex appeal, unfolds. Slightly spicy but not over the top, everything is finely balanced. And with regret, I have to say that this cola opening doesn't even survive the first hour. If this initial character had lasted longer, an even higher rating would have been possible. That shouldn't lead to any misunderstanding, because the rest of the development remains very pleasant as well, and tonka and vanilla harmonize skillfully right up to the bitter end, but I simply miss the magic of the opening, that certain something. Personally, I find the fragrance rather masculine. Somehow, the opening immediately gave me a confidence boost when I walked through the door, and the numbers back up my impression, because of the 2,570 users on Parfumo, no fewer than 78 percent are male.

Mancera is partly known for monstrous performance, but Tonka Cola is more in the lower midfield. I was able to smell four sprays on my neck for around four hours.

The amber-colored bottle matches the fragrance perfectly in terms of color, and on Mancera's own website, it is set against a wave of cola.

Mancera almost always offers good value for money, and this fragrance proves that as well. The RRP for 120ml is 150,- euros. That is a good price. However, if you look online, you can already find offers for just under 80,- euros for 120ml, and despite the mediocre performance, that is a top price because the fragrance DNA is unique.

Tonka Cola is a bold fragrance that relies on an unusual combination, and that is precisely its recipe for success. With some Mancera releases, you miss that certain something, that distinctive feature, but as with Red Tobacco, the fragrance simply bubbles over with its own character. Will I become addicted to cola again now? No, my tongue will have to be disappointed, but I will be treating my neck to it more often from now on.