Balso

First of all: I can't quite grasp the scent pyramid, more lemony, floral, a bit cheeky tuberose, maybe a hint of lavender, with a sprightliness and energy that awakens the spirits of life.

It makes you active, you enjoy moving with it.
It makes you feel younger, makes you forget your age.

Musk & amber only come much later, very subtly. This typical somewhat metallic background noise (the alcohol?), which is often perceived as intrusive in many of these new Arabic fragrances, is present here as well, but only at the beginning and very faintly, dissipating quickly.

However, the longevity is limited; if you want to keep it lively, you have to reapply. An atypical oriental.

Bottle: very quirky - a lying heart, the stopper is actually open, thus only half protection, feels heavy in the hand, gives the impression of ceramic, but I believe it is still glass. Very amusing to handle.

First of all: I was initially excited about some of these “new Arabic fragrances,” but more and more, this underlying synthetic “thing” creeps in and spoils the fragrance experience.


To the impressive aspects: Packaging & bottle: great, aims to convey a high-quality impression, and it does, but upon closer inspection, the labels & closure are slightly askew, the heavy, bulky bottle is somewhat oversized, and the design details are a bit clumsy.

Regarding the scent: first impression - WOW! What a… well, what actually… massive fruity floral bouquet cloud that quickly develops into a disordered room fragrance with elevator music quality in peach & cleaning musk.
And connoisseurs know what I’m talking about: this synthetically sharp background noise that causes a somewhat rough throat coating and makes your nose wrinkle. I don’t know what it is, but it’s certainly not pleasant; I’ve been noticing it more often in some Arabic brands.

I noticed little rose, magnolia yes, but very synthetic, more of a floral mishmash with artificial peach and synthetic musk.
Maybe intended as a dupe, but I wouldn’t know which one.

No rose, no cardamom, no amber, no patchouli. Nothing that reminds of perfume.
I only smell oud, strong, burnt, decayed straight from the oven. Maybe a bit of resin and leather.
This visit to the incense chamber has little to do with perfume.
While washing off from my forearms, I wondered: why create such a "scent," what does the perfumer expect from it? Who uses such a product?
Somehow a shame. The formulation is alcohol-free, milky substance. The bottle and the spray head are very high quality.

Sour, bitter notes, yes, add a bit of "green apple" cleaner and what do you get: well, what actually? In my nose, this is not a perfume, it wouldn't even pass as a scent for cleaning products.
I don't quite understand the formulation "alcohol-free," the substance is milky, but really not usable. Terrible.
Perhaps my sample was defective due to the lack of alcohol, that could be the case as well.
What a shame. The bottle would be very beautiful, and the spray head surprisingly good.

Interestingly, at the beginning very leathery, almost cloying, little flower, little citrus, musk and amber very distant. Heavy, masculine, somewhat cumbersome, angular. Unisex, well.


15 minutes pass and it doesn't really become floral, but still leathery and turns smoky, dry, bitter musk, somewhat woody. Somehow, Rouge Monotheme gives an unfinished impression, as if it still needs to mature, like whiskey or rum.
Nevertheless interesting, but something is missing here. Perhaps it needs a layer that brings the flowers through.
But who or what can cope with this intended awkwardness? Still searching…