BackToTheOud

I have become cautious with dupes, as many that were highly praised have disappointed me...

I'm glad I tried this one. It has the Ganymede DNA in it, but that's not all. It has this fruity note from the mango as well, which makes it lighter to wear in my opinion and gives it its own character. So it's not a 1 to 1 dupe. Ganymede has something piercing at the beginning for me, something distinctive that is actually too strong for me (after 1 - 2 hours it becomes pleasant for me) and that is not the case here.

I also read something that the Masa has something artificial, synthetic, and piercing that Ganymede does not have... But I can't confirm that; on the contrary: I prefer Masa...

Of course, there's always something better, and if someone has fallen in love with Ganymede, I can understand wanting something that is somewhat similar, so I would recommend trying this one.

This one reminds me a bit more of "Baccarat Rouge 540 (Eau de Parfum) | Maison Francis Kurkdjian," but still has the mineral aspect included; there are certain parallels due to the saffron and the sweetness, but it is still something different.

I'm glad I gave this one a chance.

I got myself a sample, I liked it, but it wasn't particularly special to me at first sniff and too expensive for the price.

Tested further...

So far so good, after some back and forth in the souk, I ended up getting a whole bottle at a good price. The thing is that with fresh scents, you tend to use them up faster since you spray more often. But that’s just the nature of the beast.

About the scent: As a citrus fan, I find the opening to be one of the best I’ve ever smelled in citrus fragrances. Simply really well done, zesty, fresh, and authentic, which is important to me. And that’s what caught my attention right away. The way the citrus note is composed is also very nice.

Well, then ginger comes through along with the fruity, sweet notes that slowly replace the citrus. I find this combination quite good and also tasty. It’s not overly sweet, but definitely noticeable, yet everything is pleasant.

And regarding likability and boredom: My goodness, it is likable, but that’s exactly what I’m looking for here, and it does that well and authentically, which is what I want. I have enough orientals and experimental scents, oud, etc. That’s nice and all, but you can’t always use them everywhere, and that’s where Forever Love comes into play.

There are people who don't like it because they associate it with cleaning products or wet wipes, which I find unfortunate. You just have to embrace this citrus theme. The combination of lemon and iris is really nice, and it doesn't come off as powdery or feminine. The woody aspect also comes through a bit. It's quite simple, but that's often better for everyday wear. It is also well-received.

It doesn't smell artificial either.

It gives me a vacation feeling, similar to "Colonia (Eau de Cologne) | Acqua di Parma," but that one has a bit more of a barbershop vibe.

The only point of criticism:

While the price seems cheap, you need to use so much that you end up with a similar amount from an EdP Freshies for 120 euros for 100 ml, if not more.

Years ago, I first got a few samples of niche fragrances, and Falcon Leather Eau de Parfum was among them. It convinced me right away, and after that, I tried many other scents, including other leather fragrances, ultimately declaring it my signature scent for winter or cooler days.

In a way, it is minimalist in terms of ingredients. I read here that it is loud among the comments, which is not a contradiction. The birch tar is indeed prominent, that’s true, it stands out, but overall, the fragrance is generally well-received. Two sprays are more than enough; sometimes one is better.

I tend to prefer subtle (but also dark) fragrances that simply resonate in the background and are not intrusive or annoying, so I can’t understand some statements, but tastes are simply different.

I also tend to be rather unassuming in appearance and introverted; one must wear the right fragrances at the right time. I wouldn’t wear this at work, but it is an optimal leisure scent for the evening or even during the day on cooler days.

However, it doesn’t have the striking quality that many Xerjoffs have; it’s a different style.

The saffron creates the leather accord, with the initial birch tar, labdanum, and Siam benzoin making it resinous, and through the latter, it becomes sweeter and more vanilla-like towards the end. There is a progression, with the smoky aspect receding more and more into the background, which is strong at the beginning.

There is nothing artificial or synthetic, which often bothers me, even with many niche fragrances.

An optimal scent for me; I think I’ll get a 100 ml bottle as a backup. Hopefully, the formula will never change.

Unlike many other leather fragrances, it is a bit smoother due to the sweetness, which doesn’t become overwhelming but simply fits well.

What can I say, I agree with everyone here that this is not a perfume.

In India, there is an attar called "Mitti Attar." It basically contains 2 ingredients: clay distillate and sandalwood oil. These are mixed in a ratio of about 20/80.

Since I had a sample of Le Mitti at home, I quickly mixed it myself. Here, it contains alcohol, in a different ratio. And that was a good thing, as it lasted longer on the skin and had something of a perfume.

This can certainly be tested further with, for example, rose or other ingredients.

So, in short: Alone, it is useless, but great for further processing.