Condorpilot1

I don't know how it is for you, but usually, perfumes create a scene in my mind when I test them. A scene in which I can vividly imagine what kind of place, environment, people, nature, or weather I can see in my mind's eye when I wear a fragrance. Sometimes it's a bit like reading a book - there are scents that tell a story. I feel the same way about Pacific Rock Moss (PRM) from the Australian perfume manufacturer Goldfield & Banks. Goldfield & Banks aims to capture the authentic Australian nature in various fragrances, from the hot deserts, sparkling coasts, to the deep, fragrant forests. At least, that’s the philosophy you can read on the manufacturer's website. Just these lines promise a lot, even though I unfortunately have never visited Australia.

Goldfield & Banks manages to achieve exactly what they set out to do with Pacific Rock Moss, namely to encapsulate a landscape in Australia into a fragrance. Yes, about 2-3 years ago, there was a real hype in the "Fragcomm" community on Facebook around this scent. Someone somehow started discovering PRM, spread the word, suddenly everyone wanted it, and it felt like everyone had it after a certain time. Now, strangely, no one is talking about PRM anymore, but just wait until summer comes.

If I briefly try to convey what scene Pacific Rock Moss describes in my mind, it looks something like this: Imagine your dream beach of choice. Remote, untouched, small, idyllic, palm trees, white sand, surrounded by tall, barren, pointed, and dark rocks. Just like a typical wallpaper. You hardly expect to feel that perfect, crystal-clear, turquoise water on your skin. You take a run and dash into the warm sea with outstretched arms. This first moment is the opening of Pacific Rock Moss. Fresh yet warm aquatic notes envelop you, you can slightly taste the salt of the sea on your tongue and dive down for a moment. When you resurface, you feel like you're reborn, you sense and smell everything in your surroundings much more intensely. You smell the lemons, limes, grapefruits from the nearby area, you smell them from the plate where they are arranged next to your sun lounger under the beach umbrella. You want more of it and step out of the turquoise water. You come closer, and the many citrus fruits become increasingly noticeable, while the warm water on your skin slowly fades and dries. Suddenly, you catch the scent of coconuts in your nose - yes, indeed coconut (and synthetic apple and vanilla ice cream in between even though nothing of that is mentioned here, but I smell it), the coconut perfectly accompanies and harmonizes with the citrus fruits. On your way out of the water, you run your hand over a small rock where the green, lush moss grows. Accidentally, a piece of moss sticks to your hand, but it smells good; in combination with lemons, coconut, and turquoise water, it smells like a dream beach. You don’t want to leave this place. As it is, it is perfect in this moment.

Arriving at the beach lounger, you enjoy a cold margarita cocktail: tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, the glass decorated with a salt rim. There is no better drink for this place. Maybe a glass of coconut water to sober up. You don’t want to leave this place; as it is, it is perfect in this moment.

With Pacific Rock Moss, you get a lot, and shortly after spraying, you get almost everything at once. The individual components are so wonderfully balanced that I at least smell more than the fragrance description suggests. Each individual component plays with another in turn, making the perfume very exciting. Therefore, it is not as linear as one might think. Still, it feels to me that the scent is more citrusy than aquatic over the overall course. The aquatic notes are strongest in the first few minutes. Later, it alternates between green-mossy and citrusy. These two characteristics dominate until the end.

There have also been discussions about the longevity. Allegedly, the longevity of PRM was subpar for many. Recently, I read a rumor that the fragrance was even reformulated and now lasts better and longer! Normally, the words "reformulation" and "better" are contradictory and never present in perfumes. However, I can't say anything about a supposed reformulation. For me, it lasts a good 6 hours; I didn’t expect more. The sillage is quite strong at first and becomes noticeably fainter after about an hour and a half. Especially when the skin warms up outside and you walk in the sun, Pacific Rock Moss becomes stronger.

In conclusion, I can judge for myself that Pacific Rock Moss has completely captivated me. It definitely has the potential to be a perfect summer fragrance, as it combines fresh citrus and aquatic notes just as it should. That it also evokes such images in my mind makes it even better. It gives me immediate wanderlust.

P.S.: The scene of the fragrance corresponds roughly to what it would be like to combine Whitehaven Beach and Lucky Bay in Australia. If you want to see the two beaches, there are of course pictures on the internet ;-)

That I am reviewing Ed Hardy Luve & Luck for Men here is actually complete coincidence. Until a few days ago, I had completely banished the knowledge that I even owned the fragrance from my memory. A few years ago, I received a gift set with shower gel and the corresponding perfume from the Love & Luck series. Since then, the set has been gathering dust and has never been touched. Ed Hardy is already a very extravagant fashion brand, known for its bling-bling, extroverted, and colorful patterns. It always looks quite gaudy. You can definitely see that in the bottle as well. However, it must be said that what you see in the picture here on Parfumo only represents the outer shell. The actual bottle is, in a way, a cheap tube underneath. As a teenager, I occasionally bought fake Ed Hardy T-shirts during my holidays in Turkey; back then, I thought they were pretty cool, and they were actually trendy among some vacationers. But nowadays, you hardly see anyone wearing them.

The idea to test Love & Luck for Men, as I said, came to me by chance from one of the latest YouTube videos by Big Beard Business. The video was about "Top 10 Cheap Fragrances for Life under 35$". I was expecting many good fragrances but not Ed Hardy, which he compared to Creed Millesime Imperial in its DNA.

So, I dusted off the gift set and grabbed the fragrance for testing. Well, the opening is dreadful. Sweet-fruity, squeaky synthetic slush, to put it bluntly. I usually don't judge perfumes so harshly, but I can't think of a better description here. Sweet citrus fruits with a bit of orange in an almost disgusting way. It quickly became clear to me that this perfume could probably be the second most disgusting scent I know (after Clean Air). When this dreadful opening finally subsides a bit, salty notes come in, which remind me a bit of the perfume Vintage Rush of Unicorns, which is a clone of Millesime Imperial. I must say that I have never smelled Creed's "Original," so I lack the direct comparison. I quite like Rush of Unicorns, for example; I own that one too. But Love & Luck? No, no, no. That's not happening.

At least, after about 2 hours (the scent has long become a skin scent on my skin), the drydown is actually somewhat "pleasant." At least it's not comparable to the awful opening. The sweetness remains but harmonizes with the salty accords relatively okay. Longevity was a maximum of 5 hours. It’s clear that the scent improves over time. The fact that the drydown gets better at least leads me to not give the fragrance a rating in the range of 1-2 points, but a little more. I will stick to my fairness and not reduce Love & Luck solely to its opening.

Still, better not to buy. Even though it’s cheap, it’s an absolute waste of money. This perfume can only be worn by very young teenagers, who probably care more about the brand than what’s in the bottle. I would strongly advise even them against buying it.

Whoa! So here it is, one of the first creations by Aaron Terrance Hughes. Sure, the name could be provocative, but is that important? Not really, as we all know, it’s the content that matters. After all, names like "Putain des Palaces" by Etat Libre d'Orange are extravagant too.

I personally own two bottles. I bought my first one directly from ATH's website about a month ago and the second one recently from eBay. I've noticed that ATH has slightly adjusted the design of the bottle. The cap and sprayer are now of higher quality. Additionally, the juice is a stronger yellow color. The eBay bottle was probably from the first batches - but both smell and last the same. Just a side note.

SLUT! Yes, that really sounds intrusive and aggressive, and theoretically, the scent could be like that too. Aaron describes this as the first fragrance in his "Sex-Range." A scent that fills the room, is meant to attract attention, and is also perfect for clubbing. And I must say: yep, the perfume is strong, especially for a fresh scent. Clubbing? I don't know. Of course, due to the current situation, you can't really test it anyway. But for clubbing, it might not be sweet enough. But that's purely a hypothetical claim.

When you first smell the bottle and sprayer before spraying, I believe most will perceive the scent in a way that is not what they expected. No, this DNA was completely unfamiliar to me as well. The smell initially reminded me quite badly of medicine or cough syrup. At least at first. In the second moment, I immediately realized that I had imagined something completely different. Nevertheless, I noticed, even before I had removed the cap, that the scent was already perceptible. So it was clear - this thing has power as promised.

The sillage after spraying is strong, very strong indeed. So I ventured outside into the warmth for a walk to find out how the scent behaves. Neroli and bergamot in the opening do not come across as citrusy as one might believe or know from other fragrances. Here they really seem very natural and bring their green facets to the forefront. Unlike many mainstream designers, who come across completely synthetic with a punch in the nose, the top note of SLUT, after a short settling time, is soft and balanced. You can tell that SLUT is not a mainstream citrus perfume, but rather follows a very clear own line. The first minutes are totally pleasant, mainly green, floral, and slightly citrusy. The "Slut" in SLUT is definitely still to come. As I stroll through the park and the wind gently swirls around, I constantly perceive the sillage of the perfume. And it just smells perfect for this time of year.

As time goes on, darker floral notes of patchouli and jasmine sambac (Arabian jasmine) come through, giving the scent more depth and maturity. I think this darker progression in the heart note is exactly what Aaron describes as "Filth" and "Dirty." The "Slut" is now somewhat present and leaves its traces. With the fading nuances of the top note, a great interplay arises. You simply smell different from "the others," it gives confidence. With this scent, I feel completely comfortable outside. Even after hours, SLUT is still around me, always a "Whoa" in my head, which I did not expect. SLUT has probably captivated and seduced me. Overall, there was over 9 hours of longevity. However, I'm not quite sure how I should smell "dirt" in the base note...

Back to the topic of where one might best wear the scent: Date? No, maybe not safe enough. Fancy dinner? No, too strong. Leisure? Yes, especially outdoors when it's warmer. Club? No idea, I can't say. Office? Maybe, because I basically believe it depends on the DNA. You smell fresh, clean, but if it's the office, then be careful with the dosage. Overall, it's a scent that definitely works more casual than formal.

Aaron also suggests in a video that you can layer SLUT with Animalix to bring those dark nuances even more to the forefront. I had ordered Animalix back then to test exactly that. In itself, Animalix is an absolutely dangerous beast. Used sparingly and carefully dosed, paired with SLUT, you essentially have a completely new scent that emphasizes the animalistic character more. This creates a completely new composition that fits best in the fall. This combo is worth it. But here too, less is more!

So, I am really convinced by the perfume. Although I expected something different, I am even positively surprised by what Aaron has created here. Nevertheless, on the other hand, I am not surprised that he can implement his knowledge very well in the creation of his perfumes. Just the way SLUT has turned out, that’s exactly how it should be. I suspect that these dark tones run through his entire collection. At 55 British pounds, it is also not particularly expensive in my eyes. It essentially delivers everything you want: unique DNA and very good performance for a fresh-floral scent.

Montale is one of those niche brands that really enjoys playing with oud in all sorts of directions. However, Montale seems to be able to do gourmands as well. Ristretto Intense Cafe is the second addition from the house focused on coffee. First came Intense Cafe, and now Ristretto joins in. This could certainly become a more bitter blend, perhaps a bit more masculine. Ristretto is usually very strong in flavor, bitter, with beautiful roasted aromas.

However, what Ristretto Intense Cafe implies in its name, it does not deliver. At least not throughout the entire scent progression. In the opening, you really get a beautiful coffee scent in your nose, a slightly bitter smell, like an espresso, but this is quickly underlined by sweetness, which takes away the composition's edges and corners. After just a few minutes, this coffee magic fades, and it seems as if the barista accidentally dropped a spoonful of honey into the cup while perhaps preparing a dessert. Oops! Well, that can happen; maybe the customer likes their coffee a bit sweeter, so now one has to gamble...

Hmm. I am not satisfied with that. If I were the customer, I would have liked to order a new Ristretto and return the sweetened one because I drink all my coffee without sugar.

So back to the fragrance. As mentioned, Ristretto Intense Cafe is sweet. After a few minutes, the dominance of honey and sugar is so sweet that it becomes almost intrusive, and it is no longer just about coffee. At most, it’s about a heavily sweetened cappuccino. Therefore, Ristretto Intense Cafe is an absolute "top note blender," meaning the top note is great, but the rest... well, not much happens that one might wish for.

Overall, the scent progression is also very linear. I can only perceive rose with a bit of imagination; perhaps it was soaked or even drowned in sugar water. After the coffee, unfortunately, only honey, sugar, and in the later drydown, sweet vanilla remain. The scent is definitely unisex, especially in the drydown. As a man, I would still like to wear it. It seems very suitable as a date scent on cooler days.

A big plus also for sillage and longevity. Although it is an Extrait de Parfum, the sillage is really pleasantly strong. Even after almost 10 hours on my neck, I could still smell the fragrance. It lasts about that long. A short walk in the sun gave the perfume an additional performance boost. That’s probably the advantage of an extrait with these sweet and somewhat dark nuances simply sticking to the skin. Often they don’t project much outward, but Ristretto does that quite well and, in my opinion, not too intrusively.

During my very first testing, before I purchased the perfume, I tested Ristretto Intense Cafe and Intense Cafe in parallel, each on both wrists. However, I liked Ristretto better in every respect on my skin. Intense Cafe felt even less like coffee, was even more linear, and didn’t last as long.

Overall, I would recommend Ristretto Intense Cafe. However, it is advisable to get a sample instead of buying it blindly. Because as mentioned, the name does not reflect the entirety of the fragrance. That can quickly lead to disappointment, so one must know what they are getting :)

Yesterday, I already wrote a comment about the vintage perfume Emperor Maximus (Eau de Parfum). The title of my comment: "Club de Nuit Intense - Smoke = Emperor Maximus". So today, let's talk about the twin of the EdP as an Extrait.

Basically, I can keep this comment very short. Almost everything I wrote about the EdP applies here to the Extrait as well. The overall composition is a bit softer and rounder than the EdP and feels somewhat more luxurious. However, I cannot confirm that this is a completely new fragrance. Longevity and sillage are rather mediocre.

Conclusion: Both are practically the same and only differ in price. So, do you have to pay the extra price for the Extrait? No. In any case, I would only buy the sample from the website first.

Oh, and for those who want to know what I wrote about the Emperor Maximus EdP, it's best to check my profile and look for the comment there :) The impressions I conveyed there can be almost directly transferred to the Extrait. That's all there is to it.