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Fragrances for personal eternity do not exist. Our olfactory preferences simply change too frequently, tempting us sooner or later to banish almost every bottle we buy from the shelves. All too often, clever marketing strategies by fragrance houses force us to our knees and urge us to buy their new flanker. Sad, but true!

I have now repeatedly reminded myself of this and have largely come to terms with how changeable a perfume collection seems to be over the years. Although this is the case, there is always one among all the fragrances doomed to move out that I believe will never leave voluntarily: Allure Homme Édition Blanche.

How can you characterize it? Casual and sporty, yet sophisticated and powerful. It embodies a lot without wanting too much. This harmonious interplay of lemon, bergamot and woody notes is irrefutable proof of how special a fragrance suitable for everyday use can be. The tonka bean and vanilla nuances that emerge over the course of the fragrance add a sweet twist, but never drag the perfume into overly sweet realms. Ginger and cedar are on hand before it can become offensive.

Perfectly balanced proportions make the flaker a soul-caressing fragrance - always present, but never overpowering. Like a creamy lemon sorbet on the skin with a license to feel good. Like a guarantee of feather-light sophistication at an affordable price. No, as mentioned at the beginning, you will probably never give such a candidate away, but will give it the respect and attention it deserves for decades!

I had read various comments about the recent Creed. About how fruity and fluffy it is supposed to be, but also how volatile it is on the skin and how simply outrageous the price is. As the individual fragrances appealed to me immensely despite all the contradictions, I had to give it a try.

With "Party in the Bay", there has been a flanker with a strong similarity on the market for years, which I was able to test by chance. Although I immediately perceived its character as pleasing, I was put off by its excessive sweetness. The advertised coconut as the main protagonist also moved too far into the background for my taste, so nothing happened beyond testing the "relative".
Days later, I decided to risk the direct purchase of Creed's "Virgin Island Water" ... the theoretically more mature version of a tropical, upbeat fragrance pyramid that simply wouldn't go out of my head for the warm summer months.

After several weeks of intensive use, I am now a die-hard fan of "VIW". A fan of its extremely balanced composition, which is dedicated to fruitiness and freshness. It skillfully masters the fine line between airiness and a citrusy sugar kick. Framed by coconut and sometimes floral traces, which provide a sophisticated touch and evoke sun cream vibes in a positive sense.

Long story short: I am giving a clear recommendation to buy for all those who are undecided! A perfume perfect for temperatures above 25 degrees? Ideal as soon as wanderlust comes knocking silently at the door again? What are you waiting for! :)

Anyone expecting a sticky affair will not find this with Azzaro from 2022. Instead, the fragrance delivers great woody notes with peppery undertones, which are also offset by the pleasant spiciness of ginger. On my skin, the fragrance unfolds very harmoniously, as it achieves this perfect balance between sweetness and spiciness without appearing vulgar. In places, I perceive a soapy note in the opening, which - contrary to my expectations in theory - makes the first few minutes even more interesting.

I also really like the presentation in the typical Azzaro bottle. Both the black details and the colored glass underline the character of the essence inside. The only point of criticism would be the sprayer, which gives a less valuable impression. Otherwise, a clear buy recommendation from me for this dark vanilla variation with a mystical aura!

Fragrances are anchored in our memory. They live from individual memories. I only realized this again recently when I noticed Pour Homme again in my circle of friends after years. This mainstream representative, which has now been on the market for over 20 years and continues to be sold.

I myself first consciously tested the sweet and fruity composition around 15 years ago. Back then, I hardly knew anything about high-quality accords and harmonious fragrance pyramids. However, it was this first impression that I relied on as a teenager. What exactly did that mean for Pour Homme? It didn't offend and I liked its simplicity. I used it very well.

And 2024? Although the perfume world is constantly reinventing itself and broadening the horizons of perfume lovers, the Lacoste bottle is still one of the "evergreens" in many people's minds. This is because it is not a highly complex masterpiece that is eager to play with countless nuances. Because it impresses with a fairly linear progression ... its mix of fruity sweetness with spicy hints and woody support.

Although there is a fair amount of synthetics in all of this, I don't see it as a problem in this case. Instead, after all these years, I see a fragrance in front of me that is allowed to keep its former place among all the diversity and complexity of other representatives. In daily use at work, on a beach vacation, etc., it cuts a fine figure as usual. The durability and price are also really appropriate for the designer.

In times of constant new releases, it is very difficult as a manufacturer not to get lost in the masses. Vanilla fragrances in particular are flooding and shaping the market, but regularly show strong similarities to each other and sometimes make you take a closer look ... a rogue who thinks evil of it!

As the fragrance sector can continue to inspire me regardless of the aforementioned flood, as long as it doesn't come across as disgustingly sweet or overly synthetic, I naturally like to keep my eyes open as usual.
I was therefore eagerly awaiting the Dior representative that was released in 2021 and is the subject of this article.

In the fall, it had almost forced itself on me. I found the fragrance notes interesting enough to finally order Vanilla Diorama from the official website ... which was a good thing!

It's mainly juicy oranges (not just the peel) and spice that hit the nose in the opening. Later, the fragrance becomes creamier, but retains the sweetness already present at the beginning without becoming unpleasant or even stale. All in all, the composition is of high quality and harmonious for the price.

Although Vanilla Diorama is spiced up with citrus and pepper, among other things, it remains one of those fragrances that should not be over-sprayed due to its relative heaviness. At least for me, wearing it all the time doesn't make sense either, unless you want to get tired of the bottle straight away. It is best to wear it every now and then in winter so that it retains its special character.