Fulidu

First of all: how extensive is this fragrance pyramid...? Spoiler: you (at least I) don't perceive all the notes. Not even close. But first things first. On the first spray I smell - nothing. So I sprayed it again, a few times to be on the safe side. But now! Ok... Quite nice, rose with tart blackcurrant speckles in the background. Fortunately, it doesn't come across as sweaty; unfortunately, I often have this problem with this note. A little neroli, I don't notice any pepper. I actually have to put my nose very close to the back of my hand to detect the scent. A bit meagre for what is supposed to be an extrait de parfum.

From the notes given, you might expect a woody drydown here. And yes, it does become a little more woody, but 95% of the fragrance remains floral and also quite sweet. The peach blossom in particular stands out for me. Unfortunately, the durability and sillage remain below average, my husband didn't notice the fragrance at all (!), despite 5 to 6 sprays. Overall, certainly not a bad fragrance, but somewhat arbitrary and very linear. The latter does not necessarily have to be negative, but I had expected a little more progression here. It reminded me a little of Carmina, its sweet but somewhat annoying little sister. I see the fragrance more on ladies, but of course, as always, whatever you like is allowed.

Many thanks to Parfumo for the testing opportunity :)

The name ("garden") and the concept of a botanical fragrance journey sounded promising. What's more, I had never tried a fragrance from Giardino Benessere before. So I was all the more pleased to be able to test the sample. However, for me, Hortus has little to do with a garden.

After spraying it on, I first notice the citrusy notes, interspersed with green, a bit like freshly cut flower stems. I don't know whether it's (just) the lavender or whether the oakmoss is already peeking through a little - but the whole thing then unfortunately drifts quite quickly into an aftershave. Or perhaps in the direction of hand soap? Not totally unpleasant, but has nothing to do with how I imagined the fragrance (note also the design of the bottle...). As for the floral notes, I can only really identify violet and jasmine. However, these disappeared again immediately. The base is slightly woody and consistently builds on the aftershave from the beginning. All in all, I would see the fragrance as more suitable for men from middle age onwards, i.e. not 20-year-olds. I place H/S in the mid-range, although the fragrance quickly became skin-deep on me.

Conclusion: no garden, but at least the gardener is freshly shaved ;-)

Last November, I ordered an Advent calendar from a well-known niche perfume online shop. Behind one of the doors was a miniature of Quelques Fleurs Royale Eau de Parfum. Given the name, I expected an opulent, heavy - yes, perhaps even somewhat pretentious - floral scent. But the name is misleading :)

Quelques Fleurs Royale Eau de Parfum actually starts off lightly citrusy and tart, which is mainly due to the grapefruit. In the heart note, the fragrance becomes very caressing, soft... I can clearly perceive the rose and jasmine; the beeswax beautifully underlines the whole composition. The tuberose, on the other hand, remains elegantly reserved. Although many categorize the scent as powdery, I find it rather creamy - a bit like a luxury body lotion. This impression, along with the slightly waxy quality, persists until the end, leaving behind the violet and a hint of vanilla.

Overall, it’s an everyday cuddle scent, a bit like a cozy blanket, yet with a certain elegance. I like it very much and prefer to use it in spring and autumn. The sillage and longevity are appropriate, and the bottle (because of course a full size had to join my collection ;)) looks quite nice.

Unusual fragrances, possibly even in "beast mode," are indeed something special. But for me personally, a scent must also work in everyday life, and a large part of my life consists of just that (yes, yes - sooo boring, I know ;)). Therefore, I have parted ways with some niche fragrances. Not because I didn't like them. There were simply too few occasions to wear them.

Now here comes dear Jette with her fragrance. Jette Eau de Parfum is neither particularly complex nor does it boast strong longevity or sillage. But it doesn't have to. For a small price, you get a lovely light, slightly powdery lilac scent that not only fits perfectly into the upcoming spring but also into everyday life. How - lilac...? Yes, you read that right: I mainly perceive lilac here. I sense rose more than I can actually smell it. Among the other notes, the iris is the most present. Then Jette Eau de Parfum is unfortunately already gone again, and it's time to reapply, which is bearable given the mentioned low price, just like the unsightly cap that always comes off along with the decorative ribbon when opened. On the other hand, I find the bottle itself quite cute. So, anyone looking for a floral, delicate everyday companion should definitely give Jette Eau de Parfum a try.

So, do you still know Facebook...? Exactly - that social media platform where everyone used to be registered and now only your mother-in-law posts pictures of her rose beds ;) Anyway, there used to be (is there still...?) the relationship status "It's complicated." And that describes my relationship with this fragrance quite accurately. First of all: I don't know the original Alien. The first time I had a sample was around 2015. Back then, I found the scent simply terrible - too loud, too penetrating, too intrusive (interestingly, I loved Black Opium Eau de Parfum - but that's another story). Well, maybe I just shouldn't have sprayed half a sample at once :-D Definitely not a candidate for purchase for me.

After a long time, I was already active here on Parfumo, I then smelled it finely dosed (!!!) on a woman who was standing in line in front of me. I asked her if she happened to be wearing "Alien (Eau de Parfum) | Mugler," she confirmed and was pleased that I recognized the scent. And what can I say - it smelled great! Warm, sensual, full jasmine blast, slight woodiness. Yes, it is sweet, but with an edge. You definitely recognize it again, and aside from various dupes, I can't think of any fragrance that resembles it.

So, I got myself a bottle to give Alien Eau de Parfum a new chance. I already had various flankers at that time. Just to be safe, I chose a day when I was mostly outside, plus it was winter. I took two sprays, and that was almost too much. I really noticed the scent all day; on my scarf even longer. Please don't get the idea to spray Alien Eau de Parfum in warm weather, this scent needs cold. Plus: at too high a concentration, especially in combination with warmth, it can definitely cause headaches and even nausea.

For what occasions does Alien Eau de Parfum fit? Well, there are fragrances that want to seduce subtly, are discreetly cuddly, and so on. Alien Eau de Parfum is more like the sledgehammer, if you understand. So I would recommend the scent more for going out than for the office (unless you have your eye on someone there ;)). Since this option is off the table for me, my Alien Eau de Parfum usually sits in the closet. Let's see when I let it out again :)