BeginswithaJ
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BeginswithaJ 5 years ago
A more mature Classic 8.0
Since this is a flanker for Zara Classic 8.0 I'll treat it as such.
I feel this is a slightly more sophisticated version of 8.0, where it's less fruity and more suited for casual business wear. It won't upset anyone, but does have a slightly unique smell that relaxes. I wouldn't wear it over 25 though. By then you'll have come across more interesting fragrances.
What differs from the Classic version is the more pronounced citrus opening, and the absence of the sweet synthetic melon. It's still driven by the dusty, freshly-ironed-shirt accord of violets and marine notes in the heart. Within half an hour the patchouli does it's work and pushes a bit of incense, a spicy accord through, yet it remains very sublte. It stays dusty fresh, and has a greener vibe than the Classic 8.0
Sillage and performance is as expected: short projection, and just about a skin scent after an hour or two.
There's no major difference between the 8.0 line as a whole, so if you have one, maybe look beyond their flankers and find something more distinctive.
I feel this is a slightly more sophisticated version of 8.0, where it's less fruity and more suited for casual business wear. It won't upset anyone, but does have a slightly unique smell that relaxes. I wouldn't wear it over 25 though. By then you'll have come across more interesting fragrances.
What differs from the Classic version is the more pronounced citrus opening, and the absence of the sweet synthetic melon. It's still driven by the dusty, freshly-ironed-shirt accord of violets and marine notes in the heart. Within half an hour the patchouli does it's work and pushes a bit of incense, a spicy accord through, yet it remains very sublte. It stays dusty fresh, and has a greener vibe than the Classic 8.0
Sillage and performance is as expected: short projection, and just about a skin scent after an hour or two.
There's no major difference between the 8.0 line as a whole, so if you have one, maybe look beyond their flankers and find something more distinctive.
Dusty
Please note: I tested the 2020 rebranded version Classic 8.0, which has the same Fragrance notes.
Sunny and uplifting summer scent for the young masses. Some say it's a Lacoste White 12.12 dupe, and I can understand that.
If you were enthusiastic about the mint, skip this fragrance. It's nowhere to be found. The opening consists mainly of bright citrus and melon, which changes into a dusty melon note in the heart within the hour.
And this is where we touch base with the dominant note of the Zara 8.0-line: violets! Here, but also in the flankers is a flowery, dusty accord from beginning to end, which might make it smell a bit 'off', 'stuffy', or 'musty' for some. Together with the cedar, to me it smells like more like sun-dried laundry, or a recently ironed cotton shirt. Not at all unpleasant. It gets a little more woody in the dry down and some kind of milky accord appears, in the direction of coconut milk.
Sillage is mediocre at best, and performance wise there's nothing to write home about. 2 hours in it's not much more than a skin scent.
Sunny and uplifting summer scent for the young masses. Some say it's a Lacoste White 12.12 dupe, and I can understand that.
If you were enthusiastic about the mint, skip this fragrance. It's nowhere to be found. The opening consists mainly of bright citrus and melon, which changes into a dusty melon note in the heart within the hour.
And this is where we touch base with the dominant note of the Zara 8.0-line: violets! Here, but also in the flankers is a flowery, dusty accord from beginning to end, which might make it smell a bit 'off', 'stuffy', or 'musty' for some. Together with the cedar, to me it smells like more like sun-dried laundry, or a recently ironed cotton shirt. Not at all unpleasant. It gets a little more woody in the dry down and some kind of milky accord appears, in the direction of coconut milk.
Sillage is mediocre at best, and performance wise there's nothing to write home about. 2 hours in it's not much more than a skin scent.
The bottle says it all
It smells brown. Not coffee, chocolate or 70's powerhouse brown, just... brown. Extreme 6.0 is a somewhat pleasant, warm fragrance. Sweet mouldy woods done in a nice way. Unfortunately almost as forgettable as the Classic, so a good flanker I suppose. Don't get me wrong: it's absolutely an agreeable scent, but won't stand out in a crowd.
Top notes are resinous, just as the Classic version. Yet the pear note is more noticeable which gives the opening a slightly more fruity note. Dont buy this for the pear: it's gone before you know it.
The dry down is generic woody with a hint of synthetic leather and the ever present resins leave a harsher aftertaste than in the opening. I even detect a medicinal note here and there sometimes. The iris is noticeable: there are some powdery aspects that connect Extreme to the other 6.0 fragrances.
Skin scent in over an hour, so in line with the other 2020 releases thus far.
Not one of the better ones in the line-up in my opinion.
Top notes are resinous, just as the Classic version. Yet the pear note is more noticeable which gives the opening a slightly more fruity note. Dont buy this for the pear: it's gone before you know it.
The dry down is generic woody with a hint of synthetic leather and the ever present resins leave a harsher aftertaste than in the opening. I even detect a medicinal note here and there sometimes. The iris is noticeable: there are some powdery aspects that connect Extreme to the other 6.0 fragrances.
Skin scent in over an hour, so in line with the other 2020 releases thus far.
Not one of the better ones in the line-up in my opinion.
Geranium-centric Starwalker
After the hyper fresh citrus open that lasts just about as long as a sneeze, it moves toward a greener, aromatic aquatic. Here is where the geranium's green note starts to introduce itself more prominently than in its Classic 5.0 cousin. I'm also picking up some nutmeg, and a squeeze of lemon/bergamot. Probably from the Geranium note as well.
After drying down a bit and breathing for about half an hour, a little bit of Mont Blanc's Starwalker comes peeking around the corner. Which gets more pronounced the longer we wait. And so Extreme 5.0 gets more powdery and soft. Fresher than Classic 5.0, without being sporty fresh. More like opening a window on a sunny day in spring.
Sadly the sillage and performance are again disappointing so don't expect to enjoy the dry down too much.
Final verdict: If you like Zara Extreme 5.0, give Starwalker a try! The latter is more linear, so it lacks the squeeze of lemon, but it's a bit brighter and has way better performance.
After drying down a bit and breathing for about half an hour, a little bit of Mont Blanc's Starwalker comes peeking around the corner. Which gets more pronounced the longer we wait. And so Extreme 5.0 gets more powdery and soft. Fresher than Classic 5.0, without being sporty fresh. More like opening a window on a sunny day in spring.
Sadly the sillage and performance are again disappointing so don't expect to enjoy the dry down too much.
Final verdict: If you like Zara Extreme 5.0, give Starwalker a try! The latter is more linear, so it lacks the squeeze of lemon, but it's a bit brighter and has way better performance.
BeginswithaJ 5 years ago
a sweet short stay
Of all three fragrances in the 5.0-line this one is by far the sweetest. I'd describe it as a very generic, mass appealing fruity aquatic. It's just... there. Won't offend anyone, but won't wow either.
From a sparkling and fruity opening with berries and lemon, we land on one of those sweeter red-and-yellow apples. After a short while the apple gets covered with a drizzle of honey and I even detect some cinnamon notes in the background. This all merges into a softer, powdery leather accord where it stays during the dry down. So progression is surely there, it's far from linear which is quite entertaining.
Enjoy it while it lasts though, because it sure doesn't. Sillage is mediocre at best, and it will turn into a skin scent within the hour, maybe two. Keep your bottle with you is my advice.
With Classic 5.0 being all but a date night powerhouse, it reminds me of a frivolous bar chat: You exchange some flirty looks, get to talking, the conversation seems interesting and evolves, but all of a sudden there doesn't seem to be any chemistry. Wishing there would have been more, you part ways with a smile, apply a new spray and carry on.
From a sparkling and fruity opening with berries and lemon, we land on one of those sweeter red-and-yellow apples. After a short while the apple gets covered with a drizzle of honey and I even detect some cinnamon notes in the background. This all merges into a softer, powdery leather accord where it stays during the dry down. So progression is surely there, it's far from linear which is quite entertaining.
Enjoy it while it lasts though, because it sure doesn't. Sillage is mediocre at best, and it will turn into a skin scent within the hour, maybe two. Keep your bottle with you is my advice.
With Classic 5.0 being all but a date night powerhouse, it reminds me of a frivolous bar chat: You exchange some flirty looks, get to talking, the conversation seems interesting and evolves, but all of a sudden there doesn't seem to be any chemistry. Wishing there would have been more, you part ways with a smile, apply a new spray and carry on.
