Floh

I wanted this scent so badly! The reason it didn't work out between us is that this perfume simply didn't want to settle in with me. On my first attempt, I actually accidentally ordered the Mancera Black Line (yes, one shouldn't just look at the picture when ordering...). So I ordered it again - this time correctly. The bottle arrived intact, but it only stayed that way for about five minutes; then it "slipped" from my hand and shattered on the stone floor. That was it for us!

However, I had several days to sniff the scent throughout the apartment. By the way, the impetus for this comment came from a perfumista who said I could now extensively test Lemon Line. True. Of course, I had already tested the perfume on my skin several times before purchasing. That's why I wanted to own it so much.

Now to the scent: It starts with a very strong and intense lemon. Just lemon and nothing else. Later, it becomes slightly creamy. This phase is my favorite. After a short time, it then turns slightly bitter/spicy and also sweet. I perceive the scent as a bit powdery - powdery sweetness, so to speak. I can't detect the white flowers at all. Lavender is listed, but in my opinion, it's just "background noise." The musk shows itself to me rather shyly. Ultimately, it remains a sweet fizzy lemon scent with a hint of herbs. This sugary fizzy lemon can indeed become a bit annoying over time. And here we are at the longevity: It is enormous for a citrus scent; on the skin, it easily lasts eight hours. The sillage is also not to be underestimated and, in contrast to many other perfumes in this category, is extremely good.

Although I wanted the scent so much, I had to admit that it is not the right one for me. I am a rather small person and also a woman. This perfume, however, seems to prefer to be with a "real man." In my opinion, it is a men's fragrance that can certainly also be worn by bold women. Just not by me.

EDIT: 30.12.2019: After thinking about this scent repeatedly in 2019, I tested it again in December and immediately fell completely in love with Lemon Line, raising my rating to a solid 10.

By now, I definitely find the perfume wonderfully suitable for women as well - even for smaller ones like me. Perhaps precisely because of its strong presence. I feel strong, energized, and full of drive: "Thank you, Lemon Line, for this second chance. You are very welcome to settle in with me now."

So, Floh is on vacation and has plenty of time to indulge in fragrances. Unfortunately, that also means plenty of time to spend money on perfume. While others are busy with Christmas shopping, Floh hops from perfume shop to perfume shop, sniffing away. Of course, mainly to buy a Christmas gift for herself. Floh is that selfish when it comes to perfume. Well, Floh did end up buying two bottles for her loved ones as well. There was a three-for-two deal, so Floh thought: "Good opportunity, let’s grab something for the girlfriends too. One for each friend and the third one for me." Indeed, when it comes to fragrances, Floh shows no mercy. First comes Floh and then the others. Just to clarify, Floh isn’t like this in general. No, otherwise she is very generous, helpful, and actually quite sweet. Really :)!

Now to Néroli Amara: The opening phase is almost unbearable for me. A sweet, screaming orange blossom that I don’t like at all (usually I love orange blossoms). It all starts off very loud, piercing, and the pepper tickles my nose intensely. This floral-peppery candy mixture lingers for several hours until the base reveals itself; it is beautiful. I smell musk - even though it’s not listed. This clean musk mixed with a light, now pleasant sweetness and a slight woody hint is gorgeous. I would describe the dry down as sweet, woody, musky, and fresh with a slight masculine touch.

The longevity is surprisingly good for such a fragrance. On clothing, it remains relatively strong even days later. I find the sillage to be too extreme at first, but after a while, it becomes pleasant.

My conclusion: The base would have been enough for me. Everything before that was too loud, too sweet, too piercing, and too prickly. For those who enjoy orange blossoms very sweet and peppery, Néroli Amara is worth a try.

PS: It has certain similarities for me to Oranges Bigarades...

I am so excited about this wonderful fragrance that I just have to write a comment again.

It rarely happens that I love a perfume continuously from the very first second. Le Parfum Poudré is such a scent. From the first spray, I knew this is how I want to smell. I have had this initial thought with many other fragrances as well. However, it often happens that after the initial euphoria, a bitter disappointment follows. Either an unpleasant note develops over time, or the excitement simply fades quickly, and boredom sets in. Not so with Le Parfum Poudré.

This Eau de Parfum starts powerfully with a powdery vanilla-smoke-wood-musk cloud. This fluffy cloud really envelops you. I can't detect much development in the scent. Something sweet joins in as well. However, it never becomes sticky. The vanilla shows itself a bit stronger in the base, but I don't think it is a typical vanilla scent.

In my opinion, Le Parfum Poudré is a perfume for the colder seasons. In summer, it would probably overwhelm me (and likely my surroundings as well). In winter, it is one of the most dreamy companions I have ever encountered. I believe you can wear it on any occasion, except for sports and probably not for a job interview either.

Le Parfum Poudré is enchanting, comforting, strengthening, illuminating, soothing, and at the same time exciting as well as erotic like innocence: Simply - heavenly!

PS: Not really for men (except for the very bold), but probably enjoyed by many men on a woman.

Psychedelic Love starts loud, yes, even very loud. Once the brief flicker of an oud-like note passes, I feel great, amazing, sexy, strong, and I could hug the whole world. I’m floating on cloud nine surrounded by cotton candy, incense sticks, vanilla, and a few flowers. The scent knocks me off my feet, it’s that powerful. I’m not really one for sweetness, and soon I find myself back on the ground of reality. The fragrance becomes sweeter and sweeter until I can barely stand it. This stickiness lingers for a long time until the balsamic, smoky, slightly spicy, and lightly vanillic base reveals itself to me. This base then reconnects with the top note and is simply irresistibly fine.

I find Psychedelic Love very well executed in terms of theme: First the intoxication of love, the soaring heights, then the phase where everything is great, but sometimes everything is too much and too bright. After that, the calm after the (love) storm, the arrival, the homecoming, and the familiar. This final phase lasts a very, very long time - on clothing even days (on the cuff of my jacket, even weeks).

Conclusion: A perfect start that drifts into slightly annoying territory and then rewards you for what you’ve endured with warmth and security. Despite the sweetness, I find it somehow also masculine. Definitely wearable for (brave) men.

Vittoria Apuana - I would like to dedicate a positive comment to this fragrance. Because - it is truly a beautiful scent (I think). The crux of this perfume, however, is that it really only works when it is beautifully hot in summer. Best if it is also humid. The air should be really warm and moist. That is the time for Vittoria Apuana to show itself from its most beautiful side!

I have used the perfume several times now, and each time, when the climate was not like in a tropical country, it could not develop. It was pleasant to wear, but when I sniffed directly at the skin, it actually smelled somewhat charred. I could never make out the often-mentioned burnt plastic. Maybe I just haven't smelled burnt plastic in a long time - you don't come across that every day. However, there was always something smoky, ashy to perceive. I don't find it unpleasant - it just doesn't fit at all. On all those days when the air is completely still and no one really feels like working because sweat is dripping from every pore, Vittoria Apuana smells of Tiaré, coconut, vanilla, sweet, slightly powdery, and beautifully reminiscent of the Caribbean and South Seas. Amber likely contributes to the scent of the skin in connection with the other essences, like on a day at the beach, kissed by the sun, lots of sunscreen, bathed in the sea: warm, sweet, salty, floral. I also perceive a slightly smoky, sultry touch. I like that; it distinguishes this summer scent from so many others because, alongside all the beautiful cheerful notes, it also has something dirty.

As a teenager, I used to apply a sunscreen that smelled of coconut and banana during summer vacations. And with Vittoria Apuana, I can - admittedly a bit expensively - transport myself back to that time. So, anyone who also slathered on coconut-banana oil in abundance as a teen will love Vittoria.

Hopefully, it will be humid again soon.

Edit: 01.03.2022

I got the scent again. I even find it super great in winter at minus temperatures now. It has now received a smooth 10 from me (previously 8). To all the "winter grumps," definitely test it in winter. It brings delicious "banana-summer-hula-feeling."