Farneon

Yes, the shape of the bottle is reminiscent of "Spicebomb Extreme | Viktor & Rolf", but primarily we're supposed to be dealing with a clone of "Noir Extreme (Eau de Parfum) | Tom Ford". I even have a mini-bottle of the latter, so I can compare the two quite well.

I'll go into a little more detail beforehand: I have a problem with most Tom Ford creations apart from the price, namely that they only appeal to me in exceptional cases. I actually like "Noir Extreme (Eau de Parfum) | Tom Ford" the best, even though I'm not a fan of overly sweet and gourmand fragrances. The name doesn't really fit at all, because "black" and "extreme" really mean something else to me. How do the marketing people come up with such ideas so often?

Anyway, the fragrance test: I spray one paper with "Noir Extreme (Eau de Parfum) | Tom Ford" and another with "Odyssey Homme | Armaf" and lo and behold, I can tell clear differences, although I think both fragrances smell good and are in the same vein. Warm and sweetish, but nicely cushioned by spicy and fresh-creamy nuances. I like that and it's so skillfully balanced that I wouldn't say it's clearly an autumn/winter fragrance here or there. Because the sweetness doesn't overwhelm me and there's a kind of playful lightness that comes across even more strongly in "Odyssey Homme | Armaf".

I spray both fragrances on my skin and, lo and behold, I hardly notice any difference. But this is about "Odyssey Homme | Armaf", so "Bye, bye, Tom Ford" ;-) The individual ingredients are not listed here and unfortunately not on the Armaf homepage either. In this respect, I can only assume that amber, iris, spices and a hint of suede set the tone here. The result is a long-lasting, airy-sweet fragrance experience with a sillage suitable for the office, a wonderful creaminess and an "I'd love to wear this again and again" DNA - and all for around 20 euros!

Yes, this fragrance is supposed to be a clone of "Le Vestiaire - Tuxedo | Yves Saint Laurent", just like "Turathi (Brown) | Afnan Perfumes" and "Moustache (Eau de Parfum) | Rochas". However, it is the only one with the same ingredients as the original and should therefore be somewhat suitable as a supposed "twin brother". The problem for me in comparison: I don't know the extremely expensive Tuxedo and have never had a sample of it to hand. So I'm concentrating entirely on "Penthouse Larvotto | Rue Broca", which I bought for an incredible 18.60 euros.

Spicy-sweet is a very good description. After a lightning-fast alcoholic opening, the fragrance unfolds in a very linear fashion. I find it difficult to pick out individual components, but a vanilla-like sweetness forms the foundation of a masculine blend of herbs, which is given a tangy but never sharp note by bergamot and pepper. As it progresses, the floral notes of rose and lily of the valley add grace and elegance.

The nice thing about it: even though the Tuxedo (as in YSL) means tuxedo, I don't necessarily think of a posh evening party when I think of Penhouse Larvotto. Larvotto is probably a district in Monaco on the Côte d'Azur. The rich and famous probably live here too, especially in the penthouse, but they are welcome to wear this fragrance for any occasion and, as far as I'm concerned, at any time of year.

"Penthouse Larvotto | Rue Broca" is dignified in every respect, and I mean that in a positive way. We are dealing here with a persistent male flatterer who, due to his class, has no need to play to the fore with outstretched elbows, as the elegant basic DNA cannot be compared with any other I know.

I can recommend this budget perfume as a blind buy for anyone who wants to surround themselves with an elegant and multi-faceted fragrance aura for all kinds of occasions.

I'll be brief! :-) When I sprayed Imagination on for the first time, I was blown away! Right from the start, there is this very unique scent that probably comes from tea. I perceive slight hints of fougère and excellent citrus notes. Imagination is so pure, clean, fresh, sparkling, airy, carefree ... and yet a little mystical. Like a light, cooling mist through which the sun breaks through from the sea. Well, something like that anyway ;-) For me as a Frische fan, Imagination is an original delight that can play in any age group, and certainly doesn't need a flanker called "Sport".

The whole feeling certainly lasts for 30 minutes, perhaps up to an hour, then the fresh feel-good aura gradually fades and with it the originality of this fragrance. After about two hours, there is no longer any sillage and what remains after 3-4 hours is a woody-warm background noise that is pleasant, but nothing special and only perceptible close to the skin. That's my experience with Imagination.

I don't even want to get into the eternal price-performance discussion here. It's just the way it is. But I have to spray it on every 2-3 hours if I don't want my "imagination" of a perfectly fragrant summer day to suffer.

I had already tested this fragrance years ago and I am now certain that my bottling at the time was tipped. So here's to a new one!

Roja serves us with a veritable abundance of ingredients, so that only a few clearly stand out. As expected, the citrusy notes dominate the top note, which is quickly overtaken by slightly floral notes and an apple that tends towards sweetness. The base, in turn, contains pretty much every base note you can imagine, each used very discreetly. At most, a slightly peppery spiciness emerges in the drydown. All in all, this creates a fragrant but unspectacular cocktail on my skin, which I would describe as fruity-warm rather than citrusy-fresh, at least after the top note fades quickly.

For a niche fragrance, Elysium is very pleasing and, unlike many others, is unlikely to cause much controversy. The fragrance can be worn on any occasion, if only because it is only likely to elicit compliments from intimate contacts due to its low radiance ;-) For me, price and performance are not in any acceptable relation to each other, as if Roja Dove had deliberately not wanted to offend anyone with his creation. In its own way, Elyxsium is nevertheless very independent and harmonious all round ... but I miss that certain something and, above all, an aura that I would like to be enveloped by in a fragrance of this price range.

Well, this fragrance is just powdery fresh! :-) Here the assessment is exceptionally true times to 100 percent! For this, the iris should be responsible, which holds out the entire course of the fragrance. Who expects a woodier and spicier note after a few hours, sees himself deceived, but somehow everything plays together top, without the fragrance sometime one-dimensional.

Since I personally like linear scent progressions very much, there is a compliment for this. The distinction between top, heart and base notes falls out yes, although one does not necessarily have anything to do with the other. Now "powdery" is absolutely not my preferred fragrance, but I can live well with it, if it comes along so balanced and "trimmed to man".

I feel similarly about the even slightly more exciting, but also much more expensive "Chanel Boy". The even more powdery "Prada Amber pour Homme" on the other hand was me in the long run then but too extreme (or too feminine?) in its expression. Here but to judge by my nose thus much was done right and nothing wrong.

From therefore I can say to "Prada L'Homme" not much more than "everyday and office-suitable harmony par excellence". Would I prefer powder, there would probably be a better rating. Still, a very good job by Daniela Andrier, who already made me happy with "Gucci Envy" and "Bottega Veneta pour Homme"! :-)