Basti87

A sample that I've had lying around for a while and simply forgot to review: Aqaysos from the French brand Pierre Guillaume, who is also the perfumer. A brand that flies a bit under the radar and is worth checking out, as the prices are quite reasonable for niche standards. This Aqaysos from the Collection Noire is already one of the bestsellers of the brand, which is not entirely surprising. With this wonderful black currant note, the fragrance has something beautifully dark-fruity that you don't smell every day in this form. The scent hasn't completely convinced me to make a purchase, but objectively, it is a great fragrance that will surely find its fans. The scent has very herbaceous-spicy vibes that lean a bit towards aftershave territory. You have to like that. It's not really my type, and my expectations were different when I ordered this small sample. Nevertheless, it's a scent that I enjoyed testing and can already report positively about.

In terms of price, the 100ml is at €165, and during Black Week, you can get it for 20% less, which is absolutely fair for this quality. The bottle and the scent also create a great overall picture and deliver quality.
Aqaysos is clearly a black currant fragrance. This note is very prominent in the first hours. I really like this note, and here it is well presented and showcased. This fruity, slightly dark note comes with a peppery spiciness, and this berry note also has the typical sour undertones. There are also some citrus notes and slightly herbal coriander noticeable in the opening. As the scent develops, it becomes a bit more sour and also develops slight aftershave vibes, which pushes this unisex fragrance slightly towards the masculine side. Bitter notes and a pleasant peppery spiciness accompany the black currant. The drydown consists of clean musk and a lot of light woods. The cocoa bean in the base is not really active, and the fragrance doesn't become truly sweet. The scent feels confident and composed, making it great for everyday wear. I don't perceive any real excitement for special moments in life, but that's for everyone to decide for themselves.
Performance is in the solid and above-average range. Far from beast mode, but quite suitable for everyday use. The fragrance is unisex and for all fans of black currant, leaning towards the masculine side in my opinion.

Overall, a great fragrance that is very unique with this dark-fruity berry and the citrus-spicy notes. For everyday wear, it's a confident scent that accompanies well and has character.

Anyone who follows my reviews and statements knows that I am more of a fan of modern styles and scents. However, now and then I also enjoy classic fragrances like this one in the style of the 80s with this Gold Man. The style fits the release year of 1983, but it is quite surprising that this brand from Oman has been on the market for so long. Certainly not as commercial as it is today and definitely with different bottles when looking at the old releases of this brand. I didn't find Gold Man that great in my younger years, but I like it much better now than before, although it does smell mature and is rather heavy to wear if you have a more modern style. Thus, this is not really a candidate for purchase for me, but still a few commendable words in my review about this scent and this brand. Of course, this classic has little to do with the style of today's releases, but it's great that there are such scents for vintage fans. This scent slightly reminds me of Chanel No5 or Aramis 900, which means it is more suited for people with life experience.

In terms of price, this scent is certainly not cheap like all from this brand, but sometimes this fragrance can be found at a good price for Amouage standards. Even though this is officially a men's release, women can certainly wear this floral scent as well. Anyway, most Amouage fragrances are very unisex.
The scent comes in the usual bottle, which I simply find fantastic with this magnetic cap. It's just nice to have these bottles in the collection.
Gold Man is a typical vintage scent that will be very floral and, in many eyes, somewhat old-fashioned. I enjoy this pleasant serious mix of floral-spicy notes and also a touch of animalistic civet. An oriental hint fitting for the brand is also present here. The floral notes of lily of the valley, rose, jasmine, and iris provide a pleasant timeless floral touch. Many younger people may not have experienced this style; for me, it is a familiar scent from the 80s and 90s. The pleasant spiciness, the moss, and the woody notes also blend well with the floral notes and are already a statement of past decades. The slight animalistic civet gives this scent its special charm, and the spiciness is well dosed. A rounded fragrance that gives the wearer a serious and elegant appearance. For me, it is not a scent I would feel completely comfortable with, but on others, it would certainly shine. Wearable in everyday life and at more elegant occasions.
Performance is in a good range, lasting about 8-10 hours with a good sillage that never becomes too strong.

Overall, a great scent in vintage style. Absolutely not my style and preference, but I don't find it bad at all.

This fragrance is a great example that cheapies don't necessarily have to come from the Middle East. With this scent, which you can also find in many drugstores, you can definitely do something. Fleur de Thé is one of 12 fragrances in the Les Parfums Matières collection, where you can find 12 different themes that are also described in the title. I've known this Fleur de Thé for a while, and it came across to me the best in terms of concept and reactions; I haven't tested the others yet. Primarily, this is a tea fragrance, and the Fleur in the name is more perceptible in the background, so it's not completely wrong, and you get what you expect. However, a fresh kick from citrus-green notes is rather present. The fragrance is listed as a women's scent, which is true but can also be worn by men who enjoy tea fragrances with a pleasant fresh kick. A similar scent is also Pomelo Sorrento by Gritti. It's very far from the DNA, but the type of fragrance aligns. A great cheapie that can also be easily gifted due to the price and because it is extremely easy to like and wear.

As mentioned, the fragrance is available in drugstores, but online at extremely good prices in sizes of 50 and 100ml. The large bottle costs under €20, the small one just over €10, making this bottle a good scent for on-the-go. The bottle gives a great summery and high-quality impression.
The fragrance is definitely usable throughout the year, as you always have a need for a freshie. It should be noted that this scent is more about a fresh kick and is rather short-lived, which is not bothersome at this price point, especially since the time it is present exudes a lot of fresh charm. A wonderful invigorating green tea note on a summery-citrusy-fruity mix with lemon, mandarin, and a lot of soft neroli. In the heart note, floral notes come through that are very gentle and calm the citrus a bit. There are also some soft green notes present, which harmonize wonderfully with the citrus. In the later hours towards the base, the fragrance becomes very soft with wood, clean musk, and a subtle warmth. The highlight of the fragrance is definitely the top note, which is pleasantly noticeable for about 2 hours. After that, it becomes rather clean & fresh, but very solid and pleasant.
Performance is rather modest with a longevity of 4-5 hours, and in the later hours, it has a rather weak skin-close sillage. However, with the fresh kick of the top note, the sillage is convincing, making it perfect for the gym or just for short activities.

Overall, a great invigorating fragrance that I can absolutely recommend if you're not necessarily looking for a powerhouse. The price is great, and I give a clear test recommendation if the scent profile appeals to you.

I thought I had already written something about this great flanker a few years ago, but aside from a statement, I haven't contributed anything. I'm now making up for that with a detailed review. It's a really very cozy scent that absolutely fits the current season. The flanker has been in my collection for many years, and I enjoy wearing this YSL from time to time, especially in the autumn and winter months. It's a shame that there is nothing new in this line and that many flankers have had to go, as the brand seems to be focusing more on the Myslf and Y-line. It would be cool if something new would come out soon with this legendary La Nuit DNA. This Le Parfum doesn't carry that DNA as strongly and is somewhat independent. Released in 2010, this perfume is still on the market alongside the original La Nuit de L'Homme Eau de Toilette and the flanker "La Nuit de L'Homme (Eau de Parfum) | Yves Saint Laurent." The original, especially the older batches, are of course the best, but this Le Parfum also has great cozy vibes that are well-suited for the cold season.

In terms of price, this Le Parfum is available at a normal price like most designers. 100ml usually costs between €70 and €80, which is absolutely reasonable for this quality. Those expecting a scent with the typical La Nuit de L'Homme DNA may be disappointed here. The name and bottle suggest an intense version of the classic, but it is already more independent. Some light vibes are recognizable, but only if one concentrates very hard. Here, it is clearly more autumnal with this great fruit punch.
I see this scent totally fitting for the pre-Christmas season and also for those crisp cold days when you want to snuggle up comfortably and drink something warm like mulled wine. The fruity note is, of course, the highlight of this scent, or rather, what defines it. There are warm fruits with a wonderful berry touch. Warm spices like cardamom, anise, and a bit of cumin come together to create a warm-spicy overall picture in harmony with the fruit. The scent never becomes too heavy and offers a pleasant aroma that doesn't overwhelm anyone, yet still strongly spreads these cozy vibes. Lavender also comes through nicely over time, keeping this scent a bit lighter. Dark patchouli notes also come through well, making it quite wearable in the evening and at night. Vanilla gives the scent a pleasant but not overly gourmand note. Initially, sweet-spicy notes dominate, along with fruits in the first hours. Towards the base, the scent becomes cozier and also slightly woody-balsamic-sweet. Overall, I find this flanker very cozy and successful.
The performance is rated here as rather poor compared to how it actually is. Perhaps it has already been reformulated like so much at YSL. I get a longevity of 8-10 hours and a pleasant good sillage that delivers well.

Overall, a great flanker that has held its ground on the market for quite a while for a flanker. Unfortunately, scents like Bleu Electrique have long been discontinued. As mentioned, this one is clearly more independent without that world-famous LNDL DNA. If you have a preference for sweet-spicy-fruity scents, you will find a great fragrance here.

I also need to report on this Gyokuro from the Venezia & Oriente collection by The Merchant of Venice. I had already written a brief statement some time ago, now here is the detailed review of this wonderful tea scent. This line consists of 3 fragrances: I have the Moscado in my collection, which I can warmly recommend if you like clean-fresh scents. The Blue Tea is also a really great clean tea scent with floral undertones. Overall, I really like this brand from Venice, and there are already some really great releases that have convinced me, at least the fragrances I have tested. The Gyokuro gets its name from Gyokuro tea. I'm not really a tea drinker, so I don't know the smell & taste of this tea. Google reveals that it is a noble Japanese green tea. In any case, this tea note is really wonderful and relaxing, giving the creation light wellness-spa vibes. It works really well for the heat and athletic activities, and roughly goes in the direction of Pomelo Sorrento.

The packaging and bottle are absolutely stunning, and having a bottle from this brand or this line in the collection is definitely a treat for the eyes. The uniform shape with the beautiful caps has its own charm, and this frayed ribbon is quite cool, similar to what you find with Casamorati. The price for the 100ml is around €200 at the recommended retail price, but with a bit of patience, you can find it for just under €100. I wouldn't necessarily buy it at the recommended retail price, but under €100 is a price that is absolutely reasonable and also good for this wonderful quality and DNA.
With tea and peach, one might think that the scent smells like peach iced tea. This is not the case, as this EdP comes across as quite noble and, as mentioned, rather spreads these wellness vibes like, for example, Wulong Cha. Here, however, there is also a fruity twist. The opening is a bit more vibrant with a citrusy grapefruit freshness and also pleasant summery fruits that lightly overlay the tea note. The tea note is a pleasant green tea with a slightly bitter nuance, and here it is totally soft with those typical tea vibes. Tea notes have a calming and grounding effect, and this note manages to convey a clean vibe and, in my opinion, slightly promotes well-being. After 1-2 hours, the peach note also comes through well, which feels quite authentic and not as synthetic and sweet-sticky as many designers with this note. Relaxed neroli notes come through and enhance this clean touch. Floral notes also emerge over time but are not in the foreground. I do not perceive tuberose from the pyramid, so it does not play a significant role here. The base fades out woody with sandalwood, a bit of warmth from amber, and pleasant noble vetiver. For me, it is thoroughly rounded without any disruptive factors. The scent is unisex, but due to the fruity and floral notes, it may be a bit too feminine for some. Personally, I would absolutely wear it and feel comfortable with it.
Performance is in the medium but solid range with about 6-8 hours of longevity and a good sillage in the first hours, which then becomes a bit more intimate. Especially for a refreshment kick, this is absolutely top. It could also be sufficient for everyday use.

Overall, a wonderful tea scent with great fruity notes. A noble fragrance that appears simple and uncomplicated. It can be used all year round, especially in spring/summer. If you like peach and tea, this is the right one for you and you should definitely test it.