ITX

The term "Old School" is often used too liberally in perfumery. Every fougère aftershave or lavender men's fragrance tends to get this label, which makes the designation lose some of its significance overall.

For this reason, I initially had concerns about labeling 17 Rosso with this tag as well. But it is what it is: If there is a fragrance that truly deserves the title Old School, it is undoubtedly this one!

17 Rosso starts off floral-fruity and very unique. I had actually never smelled anything like it before, and it was one of the few fragrances where I didn't immediately think of any other (my brain just loves to compare). Over time, the fruity accents fade away, and the profile becomes spicier. Until the very end, a subtle sweetness is perceptible, but it is not as overwhelming as in many modern men's fragrances - simply "Old School." In the drydown, a woody undertone joins the spice, and the fragrance remains on this pleasant base until the end.

Longevity and sillage are very good, without granting the fragrance the label "Beastmode." There is truly nothing brutal about this juice - that would simply not be worthy of a gentleman of the old school! Nevertheless, the scent remains perceptible on my skin for a good 8-9 hours, and the sillage - which is nearly room-filling at first - settles at a solid 30 cm.

Conclusion: Rarely has a fragrance surprised me as much as this one. Roberto Ugolini is truly a brand for real gentlemen - this applies not only to the beautiful, handcrafted shoes but also to the noble perfumes. Together with "Wood Whisper (Eau de Parfum) | Ojar," 17 Rosso is so far the most interesting fragrance from the Pafory Advent Calendar. I will definitely get it!

First of all: After purchasing Spicebomb Extreme, I had to admit that both the name and the somewhat childish-looking grenade bottle had kept me from buying this fragrance for a long time. However, when I recently saw a 50 ml bottle heavily discounted in the bargain shelf at our local DM, I thought to myself, "f*ck it - it's worth a try." And lo and behold: It is neither a bomb nor extreme! But let's take it step by step:

Spicebomb Extreme joins the ranks of classic men's winter fragrances and plays in the same league as Emporio Armani - Stronger with You Intensely, Noir Extreme Eau de Parfum, or La Nuit de L'Homme Eau de Toilette. The top note is gourmand-spicy without being intrusive. Following the peppery opening is a cinnamon heart note, where hints of vanilla and tobacco from the base note also come through. This phase lasts the longest and forms the signature of this fragrance. Strong, gourmand, warm, and amber-like, it envelops the wearer in a pleasant coat of wintry accords. In the final phase, a beautiful amber-vanilla base remains, which is detectable on the skin for about 10-12 hours and lingers on clothing for several days.

As mentioned earlier, the longevity of this fragrance is really good. For a designer scent, we are already talking about top results, especially for the more than reasonable price! The sillage is somewhat less bombastic, but at least for the first 2-3 hours, the fragrance trail is noticeably present, and you receive a compliment or two.

Conclusion: The name is not always the program. As already criticized with Silver Mountain Water or "Casamorati - Mefisto | Xerjoff", the naming of some fragrances is, in my opinion, misleading and does more harm to the image than it enhances it. Of course, the playful bottle and the premise of "spice bomb" aim to attract a younger audience. However, I believe this does not do justice to the fragrance, and unlike many other sticky sweet gourmands, it is also quite suitable for us older folks. I, for one, was more than positively surprised and can wholeheartedly recommend the grenade to all age groups!

"Shall we make a quick stop at Müller? I want to test the new Riggs perfumes!" - "Alright, okay. But after that, we’re finally going home!"

Somewhat annoyed, my wife and daughter stand with me in front of the perfume shelf. The entire Riggs line is beautifully arranged and just waiting to be tested. However, most of the scents fail to impress the critical audience. "Too leathery." - "Too citrusy." - "Eww no, that one is a no-go." But then - my wife takes a deep breath, opens her eyes wide, and takes another. "Wow, this smells amazing!! Like winter, spicy, Christmasy... I love it!! How much does it cost?" She has to swallow briefly at the price, but after the good old "Yes, but this is a dupe, the original costs 4x as much!" trick, we finally stroll to the checkout and I pay for the lovely item. At this point, I have no idea that I have just gifted this scent to my wife. Because since that day, there is no other perfume for her: Every day she douses herself with Imperial!

I have already expressed my thoughts on the classifications of fragrances elsewhere. Nevertheless, it should be mentioned again here that of course EVERY fragrance is unisex and ultimately one should wear what brings them joy. Imperial is marketed as a men's fragrance and is also found in the men's section, but due to its gourmand-sweet DNA, it is perfectly suited for the ladies. So it’s no surprise that my wife - usually the biggest critic of my fragrances and firmly rooted in the floral-sweet scent world - is drawn to this DNA.

Imperial starts off apple-like and very spicy. From a distance, I get Layton vibes, but overall the scent has little in common with the PdM. A certain booziness quickly sets in, and the woodier aspects slowly come to the forefront. The scent progression is truly beautiful and, as mentioned, not as masculine as one might initially assume. In the last third of the scent's development, a pleasant amber-musk base lingers for a very long time, while the cinnamon-apple note never completely disappears and remains as a recognizable feature throughout.

Sillage and longevity are absolutely fantastic. You really get your money's worth here: The scent lasts a good 10-12 hours on my wife, while on my skin it’s a bit shorter but still a respectable 9-10 hours. The scent trail is initially enveloping, and the bathroom still faintly smells of it even after more than an hour. After that, it noticeably retreats, but remains perceptible at a good 30 cm until the end.

Conclusion: It is rare for a fragrance to leave such an impression on my wife. However, Imperial seems to have hit exactly that point that makes her nostalgic: Cinnamon-apple sweetness and cozy warm Christmas vibes that remind her of her childhood during Advent and the beautifully decorated Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. I am very happy that after over a year, she has finally found a gourmand fragrance that she likes. Even though it was originally mine. ;-)

I must admit - like some previous reviewers, I was also a bit worried that the scent might lean too much towards "Asian market" or "Thai soup." But nothing of the sort: Asian Inspirations is exactly that - a fragrance inspired by the spice diversity of Asia, brought into liquid form and filled into a beautiful bottle.

It starts off citrusy and very green, with cardamom taking the lead right away. After a short while, it transitions into the main part, where the fragrance unfolds its impressive (and titular) variety of spices. I mainly recognize saffron, but also nutmeg, pepper, and I even think I can detect a hint of ginger and cumin. Oud is listed in the pyramid, but thankfully! - it holds back quite a bit and plays at most a supporting role.

In the drydown, the many spices slowly fade away, leaving behind a pleasant and warm woodiness. Cedar and vetiver form the finale. Unfortunately, the performance slightly tarnishes the otherwise really great overall impression: the scent lasts only 4-5 hours on my skin, which is rather meager. Especially for such a spicy and diverse fragrance, I would have wished for a bit more.

Conclusion: A fragrance that I hadn't really considered, but ultimately managed to convince me completely. Exquisite spices from the East, without being intrusive or even overpowering. Plus, a green, woody freshness that, in my opinion, leans more towards the masculine side. If the performance weren't so weak, it would have received a 10/10 rating. As it stands, it remains a solid 8.5.

The last two summer vacations I spent with my wife and daughter in Italy. The first year we went to Jesolo, this year we were drawn to Caorle. Since we Austrians are practically just a stone's throw away from the boot, we used the favorite mode of transportation of the Austrians for our journey: the automobile. So, with my wife's Kia Stonic, which was loaded far too heavily, we headed straight from the concrete hell of the Viennese suburbs to the Adriatic.

According to the description of Isola Blu Parfum on the official website of Roja Parfums, this way of traveling is hardly worthy of this fragrance. There is talk of luxury yachts and private villas, a five-star vacation captured in a bottle. But in the end, Italy remains Italy, and the sea is always the sea, whether I enter it from a tourist beach or a €50,000 private beach with an attached villa.

Isola Blu Parfum had been on my wish list for a long time, and I was very relieved when I realized that the wait was truly worth it. The very first spray of my 5 ml sample transported me straight back to the beach of Caorle. The citrus opening quickly transitions into a sea of fruity and spicy notes. Lavender, juniper, blackcurrant, and orange blossom swirl around in perfectly balanced harmony, conveying pure vacation vibes. As the scent develops, it gains woodiness and ultimately ends in a pleasantly green drydown.

Longevity and sillage are quite remarkable for a freshie - if one can even call this noble water such. I get about 7-8 hours with a moderate sillage.

Well, then there's the price. Roja Dove knows how to present his products as absolute luxury goods and justifies the use of the finest raw materials with almost adventurous prices. Isola Blu Parfum is of course no exception. Since I can neither afford a private yacht nor a villa directly on the beach, I urgently needed the Kia Stonic 3-star tourist hotel version. How fortunate that there is Avapari, who have created a dupe of this unique elixir specifically for people like me.

When I first sprayed "Blue Lime | Avapari," I was truly amazed. I immediately dug out the sample of the original and sprayed a little on the other hand to compare directly. But no matter how hard my nose tried, it could not distinguish the luxury vacation from the low-budget family trip. Because in the end, it is as mentioned at the beginning: The sea always remains the same, regardless of how you get there and where you then stay.

Conclusion: I really don't know how Avapari managed to clone this absolute hit from Roja almost 1:1. In absolute terms, I would rate the similarity at a sensational 99%, a value that even my absolute favorite dupe Liquid Brun does not reach. Here, real artists were at work, managing to transform a Kia Stonic into a luxury yacht and a 3-star family hotel into a private villa, all for just a fraction of the original price. To all those who still doubt Avapari, let it be said: Anyone who seriously buys the original now is simply to blame!