Farneon

So, I’ll keep it as short as possible! This scent cannot compete with the Montblancs I otherwise love: Individuel, Presence, and Starwalker "stinking" in my nose! Luckily, all three can still be ordered, but they probably won’t be produced anymore! What a shame: The good ones are being phased out, while the bad ones are kept! :-( Free after the motto "I liked the old songs, not the new ones"! What would I give to be able to smell Photo, Relax, or Bogner Man again ...

But back to LS: Not a terrible or bad scent, but I have enough options in my closet to reach for something else in case of "freshness." Why? LS has a very salty note for me, and I can’t handle that. I have no idea where it comes from, but that’s how I perceive it. Therefore, LS smells somehow "mustier" and "stricter" to me than other citrus aquatics, which I actually like very much. A bit like sweat, you know! ;-)

But of course, this is just my personal impression. So if you like it ...

I once acquired SMW because it is said to be one of David Bowie's favorite fragrances, even though he never explicitly advertised it. No question: this is an extremely individual and extraordinary scent with a high recognition value ... and yet I somehow imagine something different when I think of "silver mountain water." Obviously, my nose seems to tick differently than the olfactory organs of most others here! ;-)

The citrus freshness is unmistakable and also extremely pleasant. However, I also detect something extremely herbal in SMW that I can't quite place, as lavender, tarragon, thyme, or sage are obviously not used here. Beneath the freshness, in my eyes, there is an essence that reminds me a bit too much of my everyday life.

And here lies the "problem": I want to associate a fragrance with an experience, be it a boat trip, a walk in the woods, a wine tasting, or an evening by the fireplace. But I don't want to smell like something specific, even if I unfortunately can't give this "something" a name. I know, that sounds silly, so I'll keep it brief: SMW smells to me like the kitchen, or if you will, like fine dining! ;-)

By no means unpleasant and certainly citrusy, but somehow it feels like I’m preparing Mediterranean roasted vegetables while having a gin and tonic! Sure, I might be quite alone in this opinion, but that's just how different the impressions the olfactory universe has in store for us can be. That’s also the beauty of it, right? ;-)

In any case, after so many scent trials, I cannot mentally connect this fragrance with a "silver mountain stream," but rather with the color orange and the herb harvest in Corsica! :-)

Often, I no longer search for brands here, but for the perfumers. The good Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud is one of those, as he has created several of my favorite fresh fragrances.

When an ex-girlfriend gifted me Bulgari pour Homme in the late 90s, I was thrilled: I could have "bathed" in that scent. I should perhaps order it again, just to see how much I have developed in terms of fragrance ... or not! ;-) Long story short: Here too, the designer was Cavallier-Belletrud. He has also been active in the market for over 20 years. With Aqva Amara, he has once again created a small masterpiece, in my opinion.

About the scent itself: The dominant mandarin is quite bitter, after all, the word "bitter" is in the name. Patchouli and incense ensure in the base - although not distinctly perceivable to me individually - that the "freshness keyboard" is interpreted quite differently here, as hinted in the headline. Nevertheless, one always has a fresh sea breeze in mind, which reminds me more of a roaring surf than a long walk on the sandy beach.

In short: Bitter fruit meets oceanic freshness with an exceptionally long longevity and sillage for aquatic fragrances. All of this with a rather linear scent progression, where after an hour the question "Where has the first impression gone?" does not arise. Therefore, Aqva Amara is, for me, the best scent in this league that I have smelled so far.

Undoubtedly a fine citrus scent with an aquatic undertone and a light herbal note. That's what I smell. But musk, oud, and tonka bean? No way! You can spray it on without hesitation on warm summer days and even beyond, but in my opinion, Versace pour Homme lacks something special. Naysayers might claim: "I rub myself with lime and that's it!" ;-) Now, I personally really like citrus scents, so there's no complaint in that direction.

I still find it surprising that this so-called "classic men's perfume" from a brand like Versace comes off so citrusy. After all, this fragrance construct is only 10 years old. Elsewhere, it would probably be called "Pour Homme Sport Eau Fraiche"! ;-) Generally, I somehow miss the olfactory foundation with a few woody and spicy notes and an individual touch.

If some other fragrances were beers, this one would be a Radler with an extra splash of lemon. Perfect for enjoying on hot summer days while resting in a beer garden. However, with the setting sun, I would still prefer a Belgian Leffe or Irish Guinness! ;-)

Well, always this question of price ranges! Can a dupe be as good as the original? The good thing is that I don't know Dior Sauvage, so I can only form an opinion about Extreme Story. The scent comes across as very balanced, but I don't see it as fresh as most here (only in the opening). I perceive the sillage as more intense than that of many branded fragrances. Of course, one must like the scent blend. In my case, I do, although ES doesn't quite make it onto my list of top favorites... But that's not a question of quality, rather a matter of taste. Sauvage might not have the best cards in that regard either.

I'll make a bold comparison to the pharmaceutical industry: When you buy nasal spray or headache tablets, who still reaches for the expensive original from Bayer or Merck these days? As long as it works. The comparison may be flawed, but La Rive, here for under 15 euros for 100 ml, can truly hold its own. This applies to other fragrances from this brand as well. It's well known that the highest profit margins in the cosmetics industry can be achieved. And yet, the same question arises again and again: Can a cheap product perform the same as one that is five times as expensive?

What I would deny for sports equipment or mattresses, as they are subjected to constant high mechanical stress, may not necessarily apply to the perfume industry. I am currently conducting a self-test (haha) and have been wearing ES on my left arm and Bleu de Chanel on my right arm for several hours now. The latter actually appeals to me a bit more, but only because it comes across as more citrusy, which I like. In terms of intensity and balance, I don't think they give anything away to each other. And if I go out this evening, I might actually reach for ES instead...