Endorphine

Do you know that feeling? You have a favorite fragrance that you've loved for years (well, probably many favorite fragrances as members of this forum). You appreciate it and use it often. Then, at some point, your receptors for that scent become a bit dulled, and you start searching for something that smells like your favorite fragrance but challenges your olfactory receptors anew.

That's what happened to me with the Eau de Toilette of Dior's masterpiece Eau Sauvage, until I learned to appreciate and love its parfum variant, which boosts the original in presence and projection but possesses more or less the same fragrance DNA.

Now, during the Christmas holidays, I stumbled upon Eau Sauvage Extrême in a large airport duty-free shop. A fragrance I had long had on my wishlist but had yet to find on the shelf of any perfumery. Right after the first spray on the test strip, I knew: "This is the one"! An impression that was immediately confirmed when applied to the skin.
The fragrance opens with a wonderful citrus note, elegantly rounded off by lavender and probably elm resin, never piercing sharply. From the very beginning, the mint creates a kind of unobtrusive background freshness. The whole is embedded in a beautifully harmonizing, spicy-woody base that appears classic yet modern at the same time. Even though the scents are completely different, Eau Sauvage Extrême evokes a similar image in me as Green Irish Tweed - namely that of perfect freshness! And although Eau Sauvage Extrême is a completely independent fragrance, the DNA of Eau Sauvage Eau de Toilette subtly resonates in the background.

In my opinion, François Demachy has created a small masterpiece with Eau Sauvage Extrême. He takes the classic and skillfully wraps it in a new independent guise, all without denying its roots. Unfortunately, Eau Sauvage Extrême lives the life of a wallflower in this country - and completely unjustly so. Anyone who appreciates the original Eau Sauvage should definitely give it a try.

Dear perfume community,

as a previously "anonymous" reader, you have not only provided me with many inspirations in recent weeks but have also entertained me wonderfully with your comments and descriptions. I fondly remember the unique homage by "Reiser" to Kouros - Eau de Toilette or the extremely sensitive little novella "Edmond" by community member "Siebenkäs" about Dior's Eau Sauvage. The latter could hardly be written more skillfully.

So: Perhaps it is time for me to contribute something to your entertainment.

Since everything from the usual suspects in my collection has already been written about by well-read authors, I will dedicate my first comment to a manufacturer that is less in the spotlight here. Perhaps because it is not or only rarely found in brick-and-mortar retail in Germany. I am talking about Reminiscence and specifically about their "Oud Glacial".

I was first confronted with Reminiscence during a visit to Geneva when I was looking for a little something for my better half. In a side street of the pedestrian zone in Geneva, there is a boutique that offers very pretty and high-quality fashion jewelry from this company. Both the jewelry and accessories, as well as their fragrance range, were completely unknown to me until then. After quickly finding a suitable souvenir, I turned my attention to the fragrance offerings of the boutique, which were presented to me with great passion by the shop owner. At that time, I already found several things from Reminiscence's fragrance range remarkable, although my nose was quickly overwhelmed on that warm summer day, and I couldn't bring myself to purchase anything specific.

Back in Germany, I quickly realized that the fragrances from Reminiscence were not to be found, even in well-stocked specialty stores. I then had my purchasing premiere, so to speak, with Reminiscence Oud, which I happily rediscovered at Globus in Zurich and immediately bought. I personally consider Reminiscence Oud to be one of the best-composed oud fragrances, and I might indulge it with a few more lines here.
I was even more pleased when "Oud Glacial" appeared on my radar in 2019. Ordered online at a true bargain price, I was curious about what to expect from the combination of mint, lily of the valley, and oud.

Indeed, it is precisely this triad that primarily characterizes this agarwood representative. Immediately after spraying, it is the mint that almost comes across as too dominant at first, but its intensity quickly fades. At this point, the lily of the valley comes into play, showing a noticeable presence throughout the entire fragrance journey, accompanied by a skillfully composed base of oud, patchouli, and musk. Each of the last three representatives can decide the "victory or defeat" on their own, as can an excess of lily of the valley. However, this combination is cleverly balanced here and, particularly in the dry down, along with a refined rose, feels extremely pleasant to me. After a few hours, a relatively unique combination of lily of the valley, oud, musk, and patchouli is primarily perceptible. Notably, the agarwood only "knocks gently at the door" and "never enters," as one might know from many other oud fragrances.

The sillage is generally above average and, like the longevity, depends heavily on the dosage with this Eau de Parfum. I would not recommend too much; otherwise, the fragrance can easily become "strenuous" for both the wearer and the environment. 2 to 3 sprays are fine and are still distinctly noticeable on my skin after 7 to 8 hours.

Who is the fragrance suitable for? For all lovers of oud who want to try a new interpretation of this ingredient and are not put off by the floral elements of the composition. Additionally, I would tend to place it slightly more towards the ladies, who have often responded with "Oh, you smell good." A blind purchase? Almost, considering the prices that are being asked online for this Eau de Parfum.