Blauemaus

I was looking for a vacation scent for this summer. For the last two years, I had Omnia Crystalline with me, but it's so weak that I unfortunately don't associate any vacation memories with it at all.

It should be gentle, unobtrusive, a bit creamy-fresh, while also being warming, maybe softly floral or slightly fruity... And something new that isn't tied to any memories. So no returners. And the bottle should be easy to carry.

Sunrise fulfills all of that, in my opinion. It is gentle, creamy, a bit fruity (but really just a hint of fruit). I also detected a slight banana note during the first test, but not afterward. It becomes warmer and a bit sweeter towards the end, which is not bothersome and can still be worn in warmth, I think. It doesn't impose itself and has no nerve potential.

The bottle is handy and can be easily stored in a backpack. For me, a successful flanker of the classic Sun.

Cheap and Chic - I Love Love gifted me a lovely perfume a few years ago. I liked the scent immediately. It is fresh, delicately floral, and citrusy-fruity, without being sweet or artificial. At first, it reminded me strongly of Light Blue, but now less so. Yes, it is similar, but only similar - if you like Light Blue, you will surely like this one too.

Cheap and Chic - I Love Love starts off very fruity-citrusy, without reminding me of dish soap. It feels juicy and natural and becomes more floral over time. I don’t smell any cinnamon. On warm summer days, it fades away before reaching the lovely woody base, which is why I like to wear it on mild spring days, although it works great in summer too and can accompany me on certain days. I just find it more beautiful in spring, but that’s just my personal feeling. In spring, it feels cleaner, in summer fruity-fresh.

Since Cheap and Chic - I Love Love is very affordable - without feeling cheap, it’s definitely worth a try.

I bought Rain last Tuesday. A hot day - and the following ones were supposed to be even hotter. I actually just wanted to quickly pop into Douglas to take a look, but since Rain was on sale at a bargain price, I decided to take it home on a whim. At 29€/100ml, I didn't have to think long, as I remembered the scent from before. For a long time, I had used Summer Rain by Essence as a substitute because Rain was too expensive for me back then. And eventually, it was no longer available.

Rain was re-released some time ago, and I think it smells a bit different. The old version smelled more like rain; this one is more floral, somewhat like Sunflowers, but fresher, lighter, and more aquatic. Of course, I could be mistaken; perhaps my nose perceived the notes differently back then. Sometimes, even with the same fragrance, one can perceive it differently on one day compared to another. When I was surprised by the similarity to Sunflowers, I compared the fragrance notes. I particularly noticed sunflower. Do sunflowers smell like anything? I don't know myself. I can't pinpoint individual notes in Rain. It simply smells pleasantly fresh, floral, aquatic, and at times has a somewhat detergent-like quality. The 100 ml is not a coincidence, nor is the designation Splash. Here, one can really spray and mist generously. I haven't been able to notice any overdosage so far.

The longevity is quite short; after about 2 hours, a reapplication is necessary, at least in the current heat. However, nothing really lasts on me, except for Air di Gioia. Moreover, in the heat, it's quite pleasant to have a fresh scent in the air, so I like to spray again. At this price, it doesn't hurt. For me, Rain is a lovely scent for hot days, as I don't like citrusy colognes. But I think I will also enjoy wearing it on cooler days.

The German traditional house 4711 continually brings beautiful new fragrances to the market, scents that can truly be seen or smelled, far removed from mustiness and the old-fashioned. I find the classic infinitely soothing in heat - and by the way: The significantly more expensive "Les Colognes - Néroli" by Annick Goutal actually doesn't smell much different. Unfortunately, 4711 Echt kölnisch Wasser has a grandma-and-nursing-home image here and thus leads a somewhat unjustified existence in the corner.

A few years ago, Nouveau Cologne was launched, which I liked. Apparently, it is still available, but I haven't been able to spot a bottle in a store for a long time. Then I discovered the Acqua Colonia range, from which the beautiful Lime & Nutmeg joined my collection three years ago. I received Wunder*Wasser für Sie last year for Easter from a dear friend and still enjoy wearing it. I particularly like the intense pomelo note in it, which reminds me of lovely winter days when we ate pomelo after skiing with our then little son. *gg* Last year, the turquoise-gold classic was reissued. I only discovered it towards the end of summer, when it was still warm, but not for long. So my bottle should last me at least this summer, probably longer.

Now to the scent: Anyone who wants to appreciate the reissue must also be able to appreciate the classic. ;) Because the two are very similar, especially in the opening. Here, the new one smells like the old one - of a hefty dose of bergamot. And I distinctly smell orange blossoms, sunny and reminiscent of sunscreen, even though it is not listed here. However, the old 4711 contains orange blossom oil or neroli. "Neroli, derived from the blossom of the bitter orange, has a calming effect in the base note and promotes a positive mood" http://www.4711.com/index.php/de/echt-koelnisch-wasser2.html#der-duft. And the reissue is oriented towards that:

"4711 Remix Cologne

How would a Cologne smell today?
Our reinterpretation unfolds new facets using traditional raw materials.
4711 Cologne in 2017 - recognizable yet innovative! The scent is fresh & soft, lively & gentle, as well as timeless & modern. Created for the intense moment and of lasting duration. Limited and only available from selected retail partners." http://www.4711.com/index.php/de/echt-koelnisch-wasser2.html#remix-cologne

I suppose traditional raw materials also include neroli. ;))) The scent is well described by 4711, but the claim of lasting duration is nonsense. It is and remains a Cologne with a correspondingly short longevity of 2-3 hours. Ideal in heat, as the spraying itself refreshes the most, the fresh notes merely extend this feeling of freshness. The orange blossom or neroli makes the scent soft, floral, and sunscreen-like, while lavender also contributes to freshness and creaminess. I find that lavender in fragrances can make a scent beautifully soft, not always, but very often. Petitgrain adds a delicate floral note, while I don't directly smell orange and lemon, but rather a truly tiny hint of rosemary.

What I don't quite understand is the issue of the limitation. Allegedly, only 24,000 pieces were produced - and that was last year. They should have been sold out by now. Or did it sell so poorly? Müller hadn't had it since the end of last summer; back then, it was on clearance for €10, and it wasn't available online anymore. And suddenly, there's a whole shelf full of it again, and it's available in the online shop. And 4711 still lists it on their website. Well, it would certainly be nice if it were included in the regular assortment of 4711 - I think the scent deserves that.

The last few weeks have already been very summery for us, so my fresh fragrances came into play early. In summer, I prefer colognes or similar scents, like the Green Teas from Arden - both the original and the flankers. Last year, I added "Remix Cologne Anniversary Edition" to my collection, but unfortunately, it was limited. However, I discovered a whole freshly stocked shelf of it at Müller, right next to this year's LM. It is still available online as well, and on the 4711 website, it still appears as limited even after a year http://www.4711.com/index.php/de/echt-koelnisch-wasser2.html#remix-cologne

Here you get what the bottle and advertising promise: lots of orange. Very natural, not sweet, and fresh. The scent becomes warmer and softer/creamier over time, making it easy to wear even on gloomy days. At the beginning, I hardly smell any tea. To me, it smells like lemons and oranges, with a very slight floral note developing later on, resting on a soft cedarwood base.

The longevity is typical for a cologne, lasting between two and three hours. I can't understand why anyone would lament this. The purpose of a cologne is to provide refreshment on hot days, which you mainly achieve through spraying, even if the fresh, light notes extend the feeling of freshness a bit. And you can reapply without having to check your wallet first. With 100ml, you should get through the summer, especially if you have other fragrances as well. Next year, a new limited edition will be released anyway - quote: "In 2018, the starting signal will be given for a new fragrance series: Each of the seven main ingredients of 4711 Echt Kölnisch Wasser will be newly 'remixed' in a limited edition." http://www.4711.com/index.php/de/#remix-cologne

4711 continues to surprise me. The fragrances are quality and affordable, but by no means do they seem cheap. Against this orange scent, my much more expensive Caprese oranges from Parma don't stand a chance. While this scent is so citrusy that it starts to annoy me in the heat, Remix Cologne Edition 2018 is simply soothing and relaxing. And my Italian luxury cologne doesn't last that much longer to justify the price. ;) It also doesn't smell significantly more high-quality, and with the intense citrus note combined with caramel, it feels more like a pick-me-up on dreary late winter days. That's when I bought it, and it fits well into that time for me.

Summer can come!