Kleopatra

It was an uncomfortable day in September, wasted in the shopping mall of another city. And although my interest in new fragrances has somewhat waned lately - 9 years of Parfumo and at least a thousand tested scents take their toll - I can’t walk past a perfumery. So I popped into one that is mainly based in the Lübeck area and sometimes offers surprises alongside mainstream options (that’s where I got the Dali back then).

I found myself in front of the shelf with Le Couvent fragrances, of which I know only a few or none at all. The very nice saleswoman, with whom I chatted for quite a while, asked about my preferences: vanilla, patchouli, cozy, soft, and warm - and she sprayed Nubica on a test strip. From the very first sniff, my eyes went wide! After another good spray on my wrist, I wandered off to see how the scent developed.

And what can I say: dreamy! Just as described above, you get what it says on the label. Vanilla and patchouli. Maybe just a tiny bit of smoke at the beginning. The patchouli is not too strong, as it is softened by the smooth, unsweetened vanilla. For me, the perfect combination! (I don’t detect anything fruity in it, nor do I find it gourmand. I also can’t recognize any similarity to Angel at all!). With four or five sprays, I can perceive the scent for many hours. The saleswoman finds it “warm and noble,” and I can only agree with her.

It’s rather rare for me to fall in love at first sniff. Or the love is only short-lived. But it fits me like a second skin, and I still love it passionately. On the way back, of course, I went in again and bought it. Since then, it has made me happy, even if it’s almost too warm for cozy scents at the moment.

I emptied at least two bottles of this fragrance in my younger years. A scent I always liked, but then somehow lost sight of-or rather, lost track of.

When I read that this fragrance was no longer being produced, the familiar hoarding instinct kicked in, and I quickly purchased another bottle. The word "discontinued" always triggers strange behaviors in me... Now, many fragrances that I liked very much back then no longer seem to suit me today. But I thought, at least I have Rush 2 for nostalgic sniffing.

However, the first spray surprised me: I still really like the scent! It is still absolutely wearable today. Fresh, floral, a bit fruity, without the otherwise indispensable sweetness that is so common today, yet not bitter, no scratching, stinging, or biting-just nice, fresh, feminine, compatible with others, and very pleasant to wear.

And they are discontinuing this? WHY? Gucci Rush 2 (which, by the way, has absolutely nothing to do with the classic Rush!) is not a scent that will take your breath away or one that you will never forget, but as I said, it is office-appropriate and will make a pleasant impression. Or you might not stand out at all, depending on the situation. Very few will feel disturbed by this fragrance; many will find this adult fruity-floral pleasantly appealing.

The only downside: The bottle (is that supposed to represent a cassette case? Who even remembers cassettes??). I remember that you could only get the rest of the fragrance out by digging the corners of this plastic thing deep into your palms. But that won't stop me from wearing this lovely scent until it's empty.

I'm back. I'm buying Chloé Absolu blind. And why? Because I read the statements and comments that describe it as much more beautiful than the original. And because it’s limited and discontinued. Immediately, I fall into the familiar Raff and hamster mode. Normally, I don't like Chloé at all. Way too soapy and sharp, even the flankers. And in general, I prefer to admire roses in a vase.

But I did it anyway. Just ordered it and let myself be surprised. And you won’t believe it: it is actually a little bit soapy. But I like it! It doesn’t completely blow me away, but that’s okay. I actually find it much more beautiful than the original. Softer and rounder, nothing jabs or bites, not even the soap. Classic, well-groomed, clean, and pure. A fragrance for many occasions, although many people probably know it.

The main theme here is also the rose, which probably contributes to the slight soapiness. And although I am very sensitive to soapiness in fragrances, I find it just pleasant in this scent. Then it becomes soft, I think due to the vanilla, which is only delicately dosed and makes the fragrance beautifully rounded. It’s not sweet, but it radiates a certain warmth. The little bottle is also pretty to look at.

Chloé Absolu is always wearable, a classic go-to that doesn’t clash anywhere. Whether in the office, at the doctor’s, at family gatherings, in a restaurant, or at a funeral: with this fragrance, you won’t stand out unpleasantly anywhere.

But that’s probably exactly what might annoy some: little development, pleasing, classic, nice, and clean, pearl necklace and twinset. I don’t care. Sometimes a woman just needs exactly such fragrances.

Hello? Patchouli?? Is anyone home? Nope, it seems to have hidden away. I really have to strain my nose to perceive this note. Overall, this scent, which I (once again!) purchased blind, is quite different from what I expected.

I expected a thick, syrupy, sweet vanilla patchouli scent. Or rather, a lush patchouli scent with vanilla. So I am all the more surprised that this fragrance opens much fresher than anticipated, and that it remains fresh-spicy. Only in the base does it softly fade into a creamy-vanilla note.

Okay, to be fair, I must say that at least the vanilla is perceptible from the start, albeit subtly. Mandarin hasn’t made an appearance at all. But there is this dominant spiciness that I couldn't name if it weren't for the fact that nutmeg is mentioned. So I assume it’s nutmeg. Not bad, but unusual. But unusual things can be quite interesting, so I wait to see what else comes.

Unfortunately, not much more comes. The spiciness remains, retreats a bit in the base, and makes way for a gentle, vanilla, unsweetened creaminess. Unfortunately, I don’t smell patchouli at all from start to finish, at least nothing that I understand as patchouli. And if VANILLA PATCHOULI is in the name, I want to smell patchouli, darn it!

Now, there is quite a range in patchouli - just like with musk - from eucalyptus mint freshness to earthy cellar mustiness. So if this spicy note is not nutmeg but actually a variant of patchouli, it’s unfortunately not for me. I’m more of the earthy faction.

I can’t say yet whether it gets to stay. My experiences with "making a scent pleasant" are rather negative. Maybe I’m just irritated because I expected something completely different.

So, another daughter of the old Shalimar has appeared, which I once disrespectfully called the "grumpy old lady." Well, it's true! How many daughters does she actually have? She must have been quite the busy one in her youth.

I briefly got to know her daughter Philtre, but after that, we never had contact again. And now, thanks to a lovely perfume, I came across this pretty daughter with the unpronounceable name, and what can I say: From the very first sniff, I found her incredibly likable!
She basically smells similar to her mother, but overall much younger and fresher! She smokes too, but not too much, and her vanilla is simply wonderful! And you don't have to wait long for it, because soon after the zesty greeting, she wraps you in her arms, making you feel truly secure.

Yes, it rarely happens that I only need to spray once and I'm immediately smitten. It seems there is indeed a Shalimar for me. The original mother is too prickly and smoky for me, the daughter from Mexico and the one from Madagascar are too similar to their mother, Eau de Shalimar was nice but ultimately too sweet-cookie-like for me, Philtre was too lavender-heavy, and this one fits like a glove.

True Shalimar lovers may hardly recognize the mother in this version, but I’m perfectly fine with that. Oh, and since we're on the topic of numerous daughters: I also really like Initial and Initial Eau Sensuelle, but they really have nothing to do with Shalimar. In my opinion.

Conclusion: Shalimar Millésime Vanilla Planifolia is beautiful, a fresh, rejuvenated version of the original mother. A wonderful scent that is actually suitable for any occasion, anywhere. I believe that most people who have undergone cosmetic surgery rarely look better afterward. However, in this case, the operation has been more than successful!