Chrisssbbeee

A beautiful day, dear guild.
Joking aside
Hello!

First of all: I do not know the original, Black Saffron Eau de Parfum.

I got Black Symphony at a bargain price about a year ago and was initially a bit disappointed. It smelled too dry, too medicinal, and too much like saffron for my taste. The fruit was very shy, which is a pity: I love raspberry!

Yesterday afternoon, I stood in front of my wardrobe and once again didn’t know what to wear for the afternoon/evening.
After grabbing my Aventus and my Kuma (the combo is simply divine), I sprayed Black Symphony on a test strip. As usual, saffron and the juniper berry have become a bit more prominent. The raspberry is now also a bit more noticeable. It definitely smells better than it did about a year ago.
Well, okay.
I left the house and returned late in the evening. Took the test strip and was surprised. Raspberry, light leather, amber, and saffron. Really good!
After getting ready for bed, I sprayed a bit on my inner elbow.
On the skin, it smells better from the start. More balanced and no longer so dry. Juniper berry is still present, and the lemon is hardly noticeable.
The leather is a bit more dominant for me, which I like. The raspberry, which gains dominance over time but never becomes too sweet, is very well balanced.


Now, after over 12 hours, the scent is still perceptible up close.

Conclusion:
Leather/raspberry in the xth presentation. But somehow still different. I really like it now.
Autumn, winter, spring are all doable. Summer evenings as well.
For the price, a real steal and at least worth a test.

Take care

Chris

Hello, tricksters

I acquired this scent here in the souk. I actually don't know the original and can only refer to this one here.

In terms of quality, I believe the OG smells a bit finer. However, the Lattafa is by no means bad. I'm currently enjoying wearing it very much, even though there are other treasures in my small collection.

The Kingdom starts off quite fresh on my skin. Not a classic freshie, but still unexpectedly fresh.
Mint, a bit of lavender, and orange blossom are very present on my skin.
After about half an hour, it does get sweeter, though.
The vanilla starts to rise to the surface more and more, while the orange slowly but surely says goodbye.
In the next moment, tobacco joins in, and that's when it starts to become mine. Spicy, vanillic, sweet - it works really well in this weather.

The drydown remains relatively consistent, only enhanced by a bit of woodiness and a nicely fitting tonka bean. I like that.

Longevity is decent for the price. It doesn't project that strongly, but the longevity is good. I get 6-7 hours, with the last 2-3 hours being close to the skin.
At this price and with the not-so-long-lasting top note, I like to spray again.

Take care, stay strong!

Best regards
Chris

I am one of the lucky ones who knows someone who knows someone.
Thus, I was able to buy the Kuma at an extremely interesting price.
Anyone can take a look at the bottle; I won’t go into that. One thing maybe: the craftsmanship is more than sufficient ;)

Now to the scent.
My first fragrance of this kind.
The fruit salad at the beginning, with its very subtle creaminess, is simply phenomenal.
The citrus fruits naturally set the tone. Just barely behind them, the rest falls into line. It seems as if the fruits, each on their own, are competing for the favor of the nose. Sounds like chaos and confusion. But it is not. Everything harmonizes absolutely excellently with each other.
The passion fruit is definitely noticeable on my skin the whole time. Excellent!
The sweetness of the raspberry and the peach rounds it off very well at the beginning.
After a few minutes, a bit more creaminess comes through due to the vanilla. The scent now reminds me a little of an ice cream from my childhood.
Sandalwood and musk join in. Soft, noble… truly dreamy.

The scent does come off as sweet, but aren’t fruits always a bit sweet?
A light, relaxed sweetness, with a wonderful creaminess that carries the sweetness on its white velvet gloves.

The fruit basket never gets lost in the scent and flatters the nose the entire time. Wonderful.
10/10 summer fragrance, and you definitely smell unique.

My association would be the following:
Vacation, palm trees, hotel motto that evening: white night. Dress code, of course, white clothing.
After dinner, you gather for a nightcap at the beach bar. You are wearing a white shirt (of course, the first 3 or 4 buttons are open), beige linen pants, and white slip-ons. Around you, this scent.
On the other side sits the unknown beauty in a white dress. Her brown curls shimmer in the red sun, which is gradually setting behind her.
The rest is open to interpretation.

If someone finds the scent a bit too unisex, it layers very well with Aventus.
I use the 2013 batch for that, which is still a bit smokier than today’s versions.
The pineapple plus this woody smokiness fits excellently with the Kuma.

Unfortunately, I’m not a full professional when it comes to reviews, but I hope I could provide a little insight here.

Take care.

Chris

The time just after the turn of the millennium.
We were young, a bit wild, though not rock stars.
Monday to Friday in school, learning nothing for life. But we were supposed to learn for life on the weekends. It was party time. The little one (me) gets ready in the parents' bathroom. Shower, get dressed, hair styling to perfection. Somehow something is still missing…
Slowly opening the bathroom cabinet door and like a gold bar illuminated by a spotlight in the dark, there stands this Joop.
Sniffed it: sweet and strong -> very good! Sprayed it on and off to my buddy. That went on for a few weeks.
I had no idea about longevity or sillage, but you notice what you like. Others did too:
It's Saturday, I'm standing in the stairwell of a friend's place. Of course, completely doused.
"Close the door! It stinks up the whole apartment again." The father was not amused.
An aha moment.

Now, many years later, I've received this fragrance as a gift.
A few weeks ago, I talked to my dad about fragrances and everyone knows this one. I told him it's going to make a comeback soon. Probably more wishful thinking, but why not?
Well dosed, the fragrance is already a little weapon. The girls like it, it lasts damn long, and P/L is just great.
In the office or at work -> No!
In the summer, starting from 20 degrees -> also rather no.
Public transport? Phew, maybe one spray.
But in leisure time, for going out/partying, it's absolutely fine.
Many know it and many will think: oh no! But the opposite is true as well. It simply evokes memories. So well-known that no one wants to wear it. But doesn’t that make it absolutely unique again? ;)
A true classic and unfortunately rated too poorly.
But I give it a recommendation.

Best, Chris

Not too long ago, I was able to own an older batch.
This fragrance was something very special to me. Soft oud, cinnamon, spice, sweetness - I could have bathed in it daily. There are parallels to "Layton | Parfums de Marly," but the Exclusif smells so much better to my nose. Incredible.

I got a decant here yesterday. Thanks to Tim for that, delivery in less than 24 hours!
The scent definitely smells different, and not just a little. Less spicy, less intense, longevity not as good anymore… damn!
The oud note seems to be completely missing, which is a total shame.
It no longer has that special quality for me; it has completely vanished. I need to look for a new signature scent.

Apparently, another victim, unfortunately.
Whether the houses intentionally make the fragrances so much worse or if the raw materials simply have poorer quality, I cannot judge.
Probably a mix of both.

Take care

Chris