Klischee

We are calendar-wise in autumn, times are changing - everywhere there is advertising for "transition," whether for clothes, food, or cosmetics. But what should one wear fragrance-wise during this period? By mid-August, I was already eagerly anticipating my favorites for the colder days, including Black Orchid, Chanel's N°5 Eau Première, or L'Eau de Tarocco by Diptyque. When it's freezing cold outside and thoughts revolve around the next mulled wine, I don't make a distinction with such amazing scents whether it's day or night. My craving for Black Orchid was so intense a few days ago that I sprayed it on for a study day at university - a big mistake. I love the gem from Tom Ford, but to truly appreciate it, all the circumstances must align perfectly. Perhaps it was just the unromantic library of cultural studies that threw a wrench in my olfactory plans, as our first date this year turned out to be rather sobering. So what does a perfume lover reach for when neither the weather nor their own mood can make a decision?

Ichnusa! The Italian traditional house Profumum Roma, founded by Celestino Durante and his wife Luisa, has been on my radar for a long time. It must have been about three years ago when a sample of Battito D'Ali landed in my hands. With charming label backgrounds, I can always be won over, and when a lovely and very knowledgeable saleswoman in a stunning perfumery told me that each perfume from Profumum Roma has a little story behind it, I was hooked. As a child, I loved it when my parents read to me in the evenings before bed; it was a real ritual for us. Even today, I associate so many scents with memories, experiences, and travels, which made this company's approach incredibly appealing to me! My first full-size bottle from Rome is named Ichnusa. The Sardinian inhabitants call their island Ichnusa (and there is also a beer by the same name), and immediately the story came back to my mind. I spent three weeks of summer vacation on Sardinia at ages 15 and 16 with my best friend, and to this day, the thought of that time brings me immense joy, and a broad smile crosses my lips. But how does this Mediterranean piece of land smell? Sardinia is my absolute favorite island in the Mediterranean; I fell in love with the crystal-clear and light turquoise water on the very first day. The barren mountain slopes are full of dry laurel bushes and huge cacti, and above it all hangs the salty scent of the sea. It smells of ripe tomatoes, sunscreen on tanned skin, grilled sardines, and Fior di Latte ice cream. Sardinia is a paradise for the senses, and in all its facets, it is so incredibly natural that I find myself wondering why I didn't just stay there? Time ticks differently there; people grow their own vegetables and milk their own sheep, from whose milk delicious Pecorino is later made. When I set foot on this island, it felt as if I had experienced it all before. Wonderfully familiar and so natural, and even today, I feel the warm summer night breeze on my face as we stepped out of the plane and embraced each other so honestly in our enthusiastic youth upon our long-awaited arrival that a warm thrill of joy runs down my back. I smell the spicy olive groves stretching for miles along country roads and feel the gentle afternoon sun on my cheeks. Ichnusa imitates this feeling almost perfectly. Essences of fig, myrtle, herbs, and a hint of strawberry blend into an adventurous symbiosis that couldn't smell any clearer. It is the beach, it is the air, the sand, and the crashing waves.
My sixteen-year-old self and the leather espadrilles bought at the market. Loads of fresh basil with a slight touch of white wine acidity, and the fig leaf balances all components on the scale of love for balance towards the center. I would love to bathe in Ichnusa and wish this perfume had accompanied me on my journey back then. Because it was one of my most beautiful trips, but the matching scent, I had left standing in Germany. For those longing for refreshing warmth, warm woody accords, and herbaceous indulgences, I wholeheartedly recommend this memory-laden little bottle.
The puristic glass bottle fits perfectly with the ideal mood inside, allowing so much room for interpretation and filling in one's own world of thoughts. A perfume like a vacation - light and agile but so heartwarming that it will never let the wearer go.

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is the result of an intense journey to China by Ellena, which taught him the olfactory secrets of this enchanting country. A garden between reality and fantasy, a place for meditation and reflection. The same can be said for the perfume itself - for Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is a bit more extravagant than the usual bouquets. The composition seems quite simple, yet upon closer smelling, it reveals its true essence. Bitter kumquat and sweet jasmine balance each other out, while a hint of mint adds a spritz that is meant to evoke the cooling dampness after a monsoon. Initially, my nose felt somewhat underwhelmed by the few ingredients. One searches in vain for a fragrance pyramid consisting of top, heart, and base notes, which is actually a European tradition. A subtle citrus veil envelops the wearer (who, in my opinion, can easily be of a masculine nature) and surrounds them with a confusing aura. The surroundings will not inevitably think of perfume when the bitter kumquat notes waft into their noses, yet this creation is certainly striking. Refreshing like a summer rain, calm like a white linen dress, and always fitting like a striped Breton shirt. An androgynous homage to summer lightness, made for minimalists and lovers of a discreet sillage.

I lie on the beach, hour after hour passes unnoticed, completely content with what the sea naturally provides. Gentle waves breaking, an aquatic breeze, salt on my skin that lightly tickles with every movement, the wind in my curly hair. Offline and free from any daily obligations, I enjoy life, the peace within myself, and couldn't be happier. Now and then, the scent of my favorite sunscreen lightly wafts into my nose as I turn from my back to my stomach while reading - or vice versa. A life in slow motion and in the realm of the senses, yet so much more intense than the hectic work world could ever be.

This is exactly how Tom Ford's Mandarino Di Amalfi smells to me. Released in the exclusive Private Blend series, the light blue glass bottle alone screams luxury vacation at its best. I love holding this little design object against the sunlight and watching the fantastic play of light that results from it. It reminds me of Calabrian lagoons and the expanses of the oceans, making me sentimental and dream of the sea time and again. However, Mandarino Di Amalfi is by no means one of those typical summer fragrances that you find in abundance on the shelves of large perfumeries. Tom Ford aimed to capture the flair of whitewashed villas on the chic Amalfi Coast, transforming their purity into an olfactory message and bringing it to life with the zest of ripe citrus fruits. He has succeeded - the citrus notes in the top note are clearly perceptible, not sharp but very invigorating. What makes this precious fragrance particularly appealing to me are the heart and base notes of thyme, mint, and wildflowers. An unusual combination that harmonizes so wonderfully with the individual accords that it is a delight for the senses. Mandarino Di Amalfi is a clean scent, but not one of those fabric softener types. It smells of fulfilled dreams, freedom, endless wind in the sails, and pure zest for life. Citrus scents often have something of simple colognes, but this one is much more complex, and the sillage can certainly compete with that of a heavier perfume. If you are looking for the ultimate Italian way of life and desperately need a spritz of La Dolce Vita - this is where you'll find it!

Although I am generally a niche lover in olfactory terms, there are still some well-known fragrances that can pleasantly surprise me. This recently happened with Chloé's relaunch of Love Story. I love the classic from the house and know very few women who do not appreciate the powdery scent. When I first saw the beautiful advertisement featuring the wonderfully authentic Clémence Poesy, I knew: this is going to be a love story. The way she strolls so effortlessly and French along the Seine, with that romantic bottle in hand, oh..! Floral essences of orange blossom and neroli paired with soft cedarwood may not sound like the most groundbreaking composition at first glance. And I suppose that’s not what Love Story aims to be. It is an incredibly clear fragrance, gentle and girlish, very pure and elegant. In the past few days, as I step out of the shower, the thought immediately crosses my mind: today I will wear Love Story! The perfume is so wonderfully uncomplicated and fresh, just the right amount of scent that one would like to wear during the day and still find exciting while dancing in the evening. I would really love to know where my liaison with this bottle comes from, was it perhaps the beautiful Clémence? Or the almost kitschy setting of the perfect commercial? I don't know, but one thing is clear: for my next date, I want to smell just like this! Like delicate, freshly bloomed flowers that subtly settle in the nose and evoke a cozy smile the whole time. A perfume made for falling in love and perhaps the beginning of a truly great love story?

“Solaris was inspired by the midnight sun, which never sets during the summer in the north. Fresh, warm, and with a spherical roundness in the transition of the notes, this fragrance is as magical as the never-ending sunsets." Out of love for fragrance, it has found the most beautiful words for this peculiar yet wonderful perfume. The top notes impress with zesty accords of petitgrain, pink grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, black currant, and pepper, creating an incredibly vibrant opening. I feel invigorated, optimistic, and I just want to jump in the car and drive north to witness one of those wonderful plays of sunlight. The heart note comes a bit softer, almost balsamic. Peach, ginger, and galbanum radiate a comforting gentleness that lets me dream and calms my thoughts internally. The base note is contrasting and woody; patchouli, amber, tonka bean, and benzoin resin bring the fragrance to a close, making it almost dry, but in a very pleasant way. However, what I appreciate most about Solaris is the top note. This cheerful mood makes me want to jump up full of energy and truly smells like vacation - that is what true perfume artistry means to me. Capturing memories in complex creations that trigger an emotional flood of images for the wearer time and time again. For me, Solaris is the incarnation of Swedish Midsummer; this is exactly how I imagine the Scandinavian lightness around the solstice. And I have sworn one thing: on my next visit to Sweden, this fragrance will be my companion. Then I will connect even more with this wonderful label and feel like one of the Nordic beauties! I will dance around in my white, knee-length linen dress with a lush flower crown on my head, devouring liters of lingonberry juice with kanelbullar before I nestle into my soft moss bed in one of the countless fairy-tale archipelago gardens late at night. This is exactly how Solaris smells. Like Scandinavian art of living, full of carefree joy with a hint of childhood. Fresh and cozy, like the wool blanket that wraps us after a long swim in the lake in the rain and smells so familiar. The fragrance is not made up of essences that artificially lay on the wearer. They are molecules that trigger individual memories and positively influence the feeling.