Catchmynose

Since I often like to question the background to the naming of fragrances and manufactories, here is something from the category "useless knowledge".

"The Merchant of Venice" is an extraordinary brand, with extraordinary fragrances and an extraordinary name. Named (probably) after a play by William Shakespeare about a poor Venetian merchant who signs a promissory bill with a shady loan shark. If the merchant fails to repay the money on time, the sympathetic creditor is entitled to "a pound of human flesh" from the debtor's body...stories that life writes...
If anyone has a different background to the naming of TMOV, please correct me; perhaps the founders of this brand did not know this insignificant British writer... (Zlatko sends his regards... "Big Brother" insider from the very beginning)... and they simply thought that they themselves were a merchant from Venice...

As a dancer, I initially associate the name "Arabesque" with the ballet position of the same name. But also, of course, a pattern consisting of intertwined flowers. And this is exactly where the connection to the fragrance in question begins. The high-quality, bright blue bottle features a golden pattern reminiscent of flower tendrils. Beautifully implemented!
As has often been described in detail, the fragrance falls into the "oriental" category. Similar to some Penhaligon fragrances, it immediately evokes spice souk associations for me.
The sweet opening is underpinned by a subtle spiciness, which is probably due to the ginger. Nevertheless, the fragrance is warm and pleasant right from the start. However, it does not give me that X-Mas feeling. Although the gourmand character is clearly recognizable, I think of sweet incense sticks rather than cinnamony baked goods. This impression intensifies over the next few hours. A woody note slowly emerges and intensifies until the drydown. The use of musk and vetiver in particular makes the fragrance rounder and prevents it from becoming gourmand and one-dimensional, as sticky baklava bombers do. Nevertheless, it always remains sensitively sweet and cozy. The sillage is good, but does not get on the nerves of those around it. After almost 9 hours, "Arabesque | The Merchant Of Venice" slowly but steadily fades away; nevertheless, even the next day I still notice it very subtly.
What remains is a great sweet-spicy fragrance experience, which (at least for me) is not limited to any season and therefore knows how to inspire both in a summer street café and in a ski hut.

Many of us have probably thought about launching our own fragrance. Since most of us (objectively) lack the know-how to compose such a project (although there are thousands of self-proclaimed perfumery talents slumbering here), you need a person who can really do it. If I ever wanted to realize such a project, Cécile Zarokian would be my first choice! A glance at the lady's fragrance CV reveals that she knows exactly what she's doing. Someone who has worked for houses like Amouage, Nishane and Xerjoff simply has to "have it" .... I'm assuming. And: Whether or not the Parfumo ratings prove infinite relevance, it is remarkable that you hardly ever discover a fragrance that has been rated poorly by fans.
"Sublime / Aura Sublime | Aura Perfume / Bijon" is of course also such a fragrance. If I just look at the ingredients, it doesn't seem that exciting at first. But...the important thing is what "comes out at the end" (famous quote from a well-known person ;-))
As soon as I tested it, I knew that something extraordinary would be created here in the next few hours. I only really notice clear citrus accords at the beginning. I can't detect a lemon tart from the bottle (as with "Lemon Tart | Theodoros Kalotinis" or "Bake | Akro"), it's not "sticky" enough for me. After a short time, a carpet of sweet spices spreads out. I imagine I can even detect some sweet pipe tobacco (although it's not in the description). The freshness disappears almost completely after a few hours and what remains is a shallow veil of balsamic-creamy spiciness under a slightly cinnamony-vanilla olfactory bell.... is the only way I can describe it, but I think it's the most understandable. I don't know of any other fragrance that evokes these impressions in me. In this respect, this fragrance - despite its humility and sensitive passivity - is something very special. By the way....The shelf life is a good 7 hours...
In short: Cécile, please continue to give us these experiences!

Today is KOKOS time again! As a real fan of this stone fruit, I therefore like to wear this note often.
What I like in this case is that the fragrance is quite linear. It reaches its final parking position after just over 5 minutes and remains pleasantly perceptible for a good 6 hours. In this respect, "Regal White | Zara" is not a miracle bag that only reveals its beauty after several turns of the small hand.
Coconut is the dominant note here. Vetiver...hmmm...if I know it, I can smell it...otherwise? The fragrance is also a little creamy and less fresh. There's something slightly tropical-sweet peeking around the corner; this will probably be the fig. I don't want to play smart and explain that I can distinguish a subtle splash of fig from a splash of guava or a splash of mango within a composition; nevertheless, this light fruitiness rounds off the image of a day at the beach in the Caribbean.
RW is not a "crusher". As a convinced frequent sprayer, I take a good 7-8 sprays every time and don't bother the environment with them; "he" performs so discreetly and defensively. In contrast to "Malibù - Party in the Bay | Simone Andreoli" or "Virgin Island Water | Creed", the Zara fragrance has considerably less power here. But the low price easily compensates for this!
But I'm not wearing the fragrance alone today! As I've been layering a lot recently, I've treated myself to a citrus boost of 2 spritzes of "Falling Into The Sea | Imaginary Authors" (reviewed yesterday). This adds a little freshness, which I find quite successful in this combination. This will also work with other citrus bombs...I'm sure of it.
Conclusion: If you like to differentiate between seasons, then this is of course a summer fragrance. Pleasant on the nose and easy on the wallet, it is an uncomplicated companion for the wearer without being overpowering.

Help...now I've bought a fragrance without reading the reviews and ratings first. How could I have done that? Without the planed swarm intelligence, I'm actually lost and can't decide for myself whether I like something or not...
Last weekend we were visiting Berlin...the weather was great. Naturally, we explored the world of fragrances there, which """is of course very different """""" from the one in Hamburg...at least if you/woman/diverse gallop up and down the Ku-Damm.
But we did want to treat ourselves to a detour to a small underground perfumery near Hackesche Höfe. A friendly and knowledgeable waitress guided us through the range. The motto that day was: I don't want to read reviews about the fragrances before I buy them. After testing them, my first choice was "ennui_noir | Filippo Sorcinelli" ...., which unfortunately sold out the moment I put my nose to the cardboard strip. OK...onwards.
I was already familiar with the fragrances from Imaginary Authors, but of course I didn't know them all. Perhaps it was the weather that made me feel like something fresh.
Yes, "it" is fresh. Citrusy with a little warmth; citrusy with a little sweetness. It's not the hit I was looking for when I entered the store, but it's still a pleasant rendezvous of the simple kind. I may be criticized for this, but I stand by the motto: "Blunt is blunt!". It doesn't always have to be 5-star cuisine to fill the stomach. The fragrance developed slightly balsamic over the next few minutes without losing the citrus note from the nose.
The sillage is OK...and with the best wife of all nodding her head too, this couldn't be a bad buy. AND IT ISN'T! With 5 hours of clear perceptibility, the durability is certainly not a world wonder, but sufficient for a summer fragrance. The price is also really okay for a niche brand at u 100€!
When I arrived at the hotel, I read through the reviews in this online refuge and was really surprised. I didn't want to understand why it scored a measly 5.9 on the open-ended "loser scale". Synthetic, chemical, pungent, toilet stone, toilet duck, scented tree...what did I have to read (here and there). So: I like "Falling Into The Sea | Imaginary Authors". Not a masterpiece, but not a concoction from the poison kitchen either. My favorite fragrance is still "Allure Homme Édition Blanche (Eau de Parfum) | Chanel", but the lychee charm of this fragrance is still very appealing to me.

And...this is of course also very important...I like the small, naive pictures on the bottles of Imaginary Authors... How easy I am to please today....

Hello all seawater sailors and sailors. If you don't want to feel like Captain Blueberry after a long journey or a sea berry after half an hour of keel neck, then that's just a fragrance.

Whenever I go on board, I make an aquatic freshness that awakens my spirits and makes me feel good for the outdoors. Woody, carnal and masculine (although there are also woody and carnal fruits), the scent spreads over my hat in a sturdy breeze, but without taking the wind out of my sails. The surroundings are amazing, even though you can only see the land on the horizon. After a few hours in the spray and thin air, I feel refreshed and strong. if you're looking for a small harbor tour that takes in the locks and canals, you're in the wrong place. That's what my hat tastes like and all that's missing is a sandy coastline to make it even more authentic.

This water is not a Caribbean coconut bomb with space and lots of exoticism; here MAN moves to the Skagerrak and Kattegat; the North Sea and not the Mediterranean. As a young man from the (Elbe) coast, I can always enjoy this scent and would love to discover more.
Blots de Holtborkeit is not so strong. Nevertheless a true niche fragrance at a fair price and good wearability.