Lilitu

Found - in love - lost - searched and searched and searched....

I had been searching for this fragrance for several years. Almost 10 years ago, I first smelled "Santal Blush," if I remember correctly, in a duty-free shop. What can I say? I was allowed to sniff!

As I have mentioned in other reviews, I love to indulge in the perfume department at the airport before my departure. And "indulge" is putting it mildly. I try everything that can somehow be sprayed on my arms and wrists. Sometimes completely randomly, sometimes I have one or two scents in mind. To be honest, I don't know, or rather, I don't want to know, what my poor seat neighbors on the plane think of me when they have to deal with the overwhelming, completely mixed-up sillage cloud of my testing. My husband is already used to it. Poor guy. Well, he just has to deal with it. Hehe.

I tested "Santal Blush" unexpectedly. There was a shelf with a ton of Tom Ford fragrances - a brand I had never heard of until then. So I just casually headed over. After a glance at the price tags, fully aware that I wouldn't buy any of these fragrances. But sniffing - that's always allowed.

I don't remember how many and which perfumes I examined closely. But suddenly, it was in the air - that unique warm, cozy sandalwood scent. I cautiously sniffed the test strip. A golden, woody, slightly sweet-spicy scent wafted towards me.

Back then, I didn't know much about the individual fragrance notes. Well, I still don't today. But I'm working on it. However, this scent was different from all the other fragrances I had smelled before. It hit me like a bomb. WOW and shattered my heart. This scent was so beautiful - it was unaffordable for me. The price shocked me back then. But the seed was sown, and time was too short. I had to force myself to tear away to not miss boarding. So, with a heavy heart and trembling hands, I carefully put my new love back on the shelf. Sniff. A tragedy.

Tom Ford fragrances were far too expensive for me back then. By the way, they still are. So I didn't pursue them any further. Unfortunately, I even forgot the name of the fragrance and the brand over time. Or did I suppress them? Hmm. Probably suppressed.

Until one fine day, I happened to stop by the turquoise drugstore again and....

Yes, that one fragrance just stuck in my nose. Sandalwood, beautifully spicy like a golden autumn day. Velvety-warm and soft like golden sunbeams flashing through the branches to showcase the full splendor of the leaves on the trees in all their yellow-red-brown earth shades.

A few years later, I was still searching for that one perfect sandalwood scent - but at an affordable price. I once again wandered into a newly opened turquoise store, which by now resembled more of a temple, spread over several floors, guarded by two heavily built men in dark suits and populated by beautifully made-up ladies who addressed the equally well-styled saleswomen. And I was right in the middle of it. A foreign body.

And again, there was a shelf full of Tom Ford fragrances displayed. Seductively presented for one purpose only. It seemed familiar to me - the style of presentation, the packaging, and especially the price. My synapses in my brain started firing excited impulses back and forth. Ping-ping-ping. Slowly, the memory returned. It must have been a Tom Ford fragrance.

So I tested all sorts of Tom Ford creations again, which I found quite appealing. But I couldn't find the one. It wasn't there. No idea. Maybe it was sold out at that time? It wasn't there.

Since I couldn't find it, I asked a nice saleswoman for a nice sandalwood fragrance. She showed me a few cheaper perfumes, whose names I also forgot, but for different reasons, and also a more expensive fragrance from Etro. I liked it. For my taste, it was a bit too masculine, even though it was marketed as unisex. But still nice. So I bought "Sandalo" from Etro for a hefty price. Not as expensive as a Tom Ford, but still pricey for my modest means. At first, I was quite happy with "Sandalo," even though it somehow didn't smell anything like "Santal Blush."

By chance, I ended up with a sample from a renowned fragrance twin manufacturer years later. I stand by it. I like fragrance twins. Go ahead, come at me.... I certainly appreciated the three samples that this fragrance twin house included with my order. As always, I was as excited about the samples as a little snow king or snow queen and sniffed at the unknown scent. Hmm delicious, I liked the test strip. So I sprayed the unknown fragrance twin on my skin and then WOW.

There it was again, the scent from long, long ago. Or at least its DNA. The memory awakened - the synapses and impulses in my brain reacted extremely actively. Of course, this fragrance twin was not 100% identical. But close enough that I could recognize my lost beloved scent in it. It wasn't hard to find the original fragrance. Thanks to the fragrance notes and a well-known search engine, I found "Santal Blush."

The joy turned to shock when I saw the prices online. One thing I can definitely say, it hasn't gotten cheaper. Damn it!

First, I tried it here on Profumo. But SB bottles were offered quite rarely and also here at horrendous prices. On top of that, I unfortunately wasn't quick enough. Because I don't hang out on the internet every hour or constantly check my emails like some might think. Out of frustration, I bought a few other fragrance twins. All quite good - but.... just not the one.

So there was only one thing left: to grit my teeth and buy the smallest size online during a discount promotion. Voilà.

This unique composition of spices, like cumin, cinnamon, fenugreek, and carrot seeds softens the floral heart notes of ylang-ylang, jasmine, and rose. More than the flowers, this spice comes through in the opening. From that, I can only really pick out the cumin and the cinnamon. I assume that the sweet scent is spread by the carrot seeds.
The floral heart note is hardly noticeable - let alone individual notes from it. Quickly, the base note spreads.
This wonderfully creamy-golden smelling sandalwood embedded in the melting-soft balsamic benzoin resin note dominates the mélange. The Virginia cedar and the agarwood only support the dominant sandalwood. For me, the sandalwood simply overshadows everything. And the musk gives the whole mixture a sweet, clear purity as a special kick.

"Santal Blush" like golden sunbeams that unfold warmly in the cold autumn air and let the beauty of the colorful autumn leaves shine. I have found you again - my once lost love. Finally.

Je t'ai retrouvé mon amour perdu. Efin.

I am a big fan of "Musc Noir for her." It’s no wonder this fragrance has secured a spot on my favorites list. So, it was only natural that I had to buy "Musc Noir Rose." Or should I say, I wanted to test it first? Of course, not without watching all possible YouTube videos beforehand. After all, I wanted to know if it would be worth it. As so often, opinions on the internet ranged from "no, unnecessary" to "absolutely recommended." So, a woman has to form her own opinion.

The opportunity arose again during my summer vacation in Crete. In other reviews, I had already mentioned that before Corona, I usually indulged my perfume passion in the duty-free shops at various airports. Here, I had the chance to test many fragrances again. Perhaps "test" is too strong a word; it’s better to say I sniffed at unfamiliar scents. On the outbound flight, however, it was much too early for that. Our flight was one of the first to depart. And I was simply too tired, too sleep-deprived, and not in the right mood.

But before the return flight, I really let loose in the duty-free shop in Heraklion. I felt like I tested 100 fragrances. I had only intended to make a quick trip to the restroom. But the way there led through the perfume department. On the way there - I swear - I was still steadfast. I bravely walked through with my head down. No, that’s a lie. I cautiously peeked around, looked left and right. I noted the positions of interesting perfumes that caught my eye, the shelves with discounted perfumes - very important, in case I could strike later. Only possibly, maybe, we’ll see.

And it happened as it had to. I was weak - so weak. I forgot my waiting husband. Forgot that boarding would soon take place. I simply lost track of time and started testing. I sprayed, sprayed, and sprayed. I sprayed so many fragrances on my arms that I had trouble remembering all the spots. Just as I was about to leave, because unfortunately, I had left my money in my backpack with my husband, I discovered IT.

The perfume that had been swirling in my mind the whole time. The perfume that had awakened my secret desire. A friendly Cretan saleswoman was advising a well-to-do-looking couple. The man, significantly older than his young wife, was grateful that a competent consultant had taken care of his excited wife. The saleswoman introduced the pretty brunette to "Musc Noir Rose." Elegant, exclusive, seductive, sensual were her keywords in perfect German. How could I resist? Yes, seriously? How could I resist? I couldn’t.

The airport was extremely crowded compared to the previous year. So, I awkwardly weaved through the crowd. I waited for the right moment when the lady set the test bottle back and then snatched the tester. YAY!! Finally. But "damn it," where should I spray the fragrance next? My arms and hands were full. Somehow, I found a tiny little free spot among all the fragrance samples. Wow. I took a deep breath and took off. Quickly, as fast as I could manage, to get the money. Back to my slowly growing anxious husband. He was already waiting for me and sniffing from a distance. He knew exactly what was going on. I recognized this by his - how should I put it - "not again" look. I still hadn’t realized how late it was. Too late. No time to go back. Boarding was starting. Damn.

My hope now rested on the in-flight sales. But I was disappointed. I sat on a plane of a formerly renowned airline, had paid a lot of money for the seat, and had to find out that there was no in-flight sales. What? This couldn’t be true? I was deeply disappointed. Little did I know that this would ultimately turn out to be a stroke of luck. Because at home, I found "Musc Noir Rose" on sale for a significantly lower price on a well-known perfumery website. No, it wasn’t the turquoise one. Had I been able to indulge my perfume addiction without restraint, my purchase would have been significantly more expensive. Maybe my subconscious protected me? I left my money in my backpack for my own protection so that I wouldn’t be tempted. Yes, maybe. In fact, I just postponed my addiction and then indulged it at home.

Why did I absolutely have to buy "Musc Noir Rose"? That’s easy to answer. Of all the fragrances I tested on my arms and hands - including Weekend by Burberry, Paco and Fame by PR, Soleil by Nina Ricci, Ma Vie by Hugo Boss, L'Impératrice by D&G, and Blue Jeans by Versace - "Musc Noir Rose" stood out in the most pleasant way.

The top note starts lightly and fresh with beautiful bergamot. The red pepper adds a bit of sparkle. Followed by a dark sweet-powdery plum note. It gradually gives the top note more depth.

The heart note breaks up the deep darkness and makes it smoother and softer. The fusion of musk and rose creates a beautifully bright mélange. I hardly perceive the tuberose as a separate note. But it acts enchantingly and seductively in the background, enveloping the clear musk-rose. The dark deep plum is not completely pushed aside. In interplay with the top note, the rose does not stand out brightly but elegantly merges with the other elements.

In the dry down, the vanilla adds a hint of additional warmth and sweetness, making the composition even more sensual. Even though the fragrance is described as sweet-floral, to me, the sweetness appears rather subtle in the background.

Everything in "Musc Noir Rose" is intertwined - nothing pushes itself to the forefront. Sweet
& Powdery, Bright & Dark combined with Coolness & Warmth - in perfect harmony. As the saleswoman described it, elegant, exclusive, seductive, and sensual.

The longevity on my dry skin is unfortunately moderate. However, the sillage is quite good. After all, "Musc Noir Rose" overpowered all the other fragrances mentioned above on my skin.

By the way, my husband also likes the scent very much. I do not regret having bought it.

Do you have to own both "Musc Noir"? That’s something everyone has to decide for themselves. I love both very much and will keep both variations.

Both are suitable for everyday wear and resemble each other. Hard to believe - on the test strips, both are even more beautiful, I think. Oh, my cursed dry skin! The fine, delicate, seductive musk notes unfortunately do not come into their own as they deserve.

For me, "Musc Noir Rose" is the deeper scent and is therefore well-suited for the evening, while I like to wear "Musc Noir" during the day. It is a bit softer, probably due to the wild leather note. The rose seems a tad more reserved here. But in the evening when going out, I simply spray it with "Musc Noir Rose." They harmonize perfectly together - even on my skin.

Yes, I've been asking myself this question for quite a while.

What can I say, maybe because it makes me drool and swoon as I watch my husband wear it. I can't get enough of this scent when my husband wears it. His skin chemistry makes this fragrance blend incredibly sexy with his skin. Oh, swoon. Melt away.

How did it come to this? I actually just wanted to lure my husband out of his fragrance comfort zone with a Christmas gift. It should be something different from his previous scents. Also not "niche," so he wouldn't be put off (I'll slowly introduce him to niche fragrances), but pleasant and still unique. Not cheap - it could cost a bit. However, of course not as expensive as a niche fragrance.

So I started researching - online, on YT, and at Parfumo. And that's how I stumbled upon L'Homme Idéal by Guerlain. I was skeptical about the many good, sometimes euphoric reviews. After all, I had tested a men's fragrance by Guerlain a very, very long time ago in my youth, also known as my Sturm und Drang period. To be honest, I can't remember what it was. However, I found that scent terribly old-fashioned and too typically masculine. I mean that Cologne-like masculinity. It was never really my thing.

With L'Homme Idéal, it sounded different. Somehow, that name reminded me of something. Thinking. Ah, yes, a YouTuber had once introduced it. I remember how she raved about it and praised it as a beautiful sandalwood scent that was definitely suitable for women as well.
Okay, I thought. A men's fragrance for women, could that be the right choice for my husband?

So I continued my research. But somehow I kept coming back to this fragrance. The magic word was sandalwood. Of all the woods, I love sandalwood the most. It can be so beautifully soft and delicate. My first conscious experience with sandalwood was the infamous "Santal Blush" by Tom Ford. I believe during my studies, the fragrance still cost just over 100 EUR. That seemed like way too much money back then. So I only longingly sniffed at the sample bottle in the big turquoise store and then bought something cheaper. I could never forget that scent.

Back to the main point: With my decision for L'Homme Idéal, the next hurdle arose. There are several variants to choose from. Which one should I take? Searching for perfumes can sometimes be really difficult for a perfume addict. All these different fragrance concentrations and flankers are annoying.

I decided on the Eau de Parfum variant - so to speak, the golden mean. You can always switch to "Intense" later. So I took the full risk and made the blind purchase. Man, oh man, I was trembling when I handed it to my husband for Christmas. Of course, I didn't tear off the plastic wrap. That was really hard for me. Then finally the moment came. My husband unwrapped it. Way too slowly for my inner tension. And then... He sprayed it on, and it was all over for me.

I couldn't detect the slightly citrusy opening from the almond-bergamot mix on my skin. My husband could. I only sensed the spices on my skin. On my husband's skin, however, they radiate a pleasant warmth. The heart note of rose, incense, and vanilla is not individually identifiable on my skin. But it is on my husband. It leaves a smoky sexiness. Oh, I'm afraid I'm starting to drool again. But the completion comes with the base. The sandalwood playfully envelops the leather while the tonka bean gives the drydown a certain depth. Swoon away. The sandalwood is so beautifully soft, caressing yet accented by the incense, the spicy vanilla, and the leather.

Willfully, I sniff like a well-trained truffle pig following the trail of my husband as he walks past me. I follow the sweet cherry, embedded in a woody, spicy, and smoky vanilla, making me forget everything around me. Until I can't hold back anymore and I throw my arms around him (my husband, of course) just to sniff along him. I sniff, sniff, and sniff some more until....... Stop. Oh dear, this is going too far. Up to here and no further. Puhhhhhhhh. Just managed to take a turn.

Back to me. On my skin, everything feels even softer - simply more feminine and yet beautiful. The scent cuddles up to me. Even though I can't really pick out the individual notes on myself, the fragrance is still not boring or one-dimensional. The blending gives it this softness, underscored by a powdery spice and the sweet, slightly cherry-like vanilla vibe. I don't know where it comes from. Of course, I mean the cherry that isn't listed.

Conclusion:
A wonderful fragrance that can be worn by everyone. Seductive and elegant at the same time. With a very special effect on me.

And that's why I'm still asking myself: Why did I only gift it to my husband?
I want it back!!!!! Yessssss.

Or I'll occasionally swipe it for myself to wear.

Once again, the numerous reviews on Parfumo have tempted me to test a fragrance. Sometimes, the general consensus on Parfumo does not match my taste at all.
I was particularly curious about ANI, as I find it difficult to find a good green fragrance. Often, green scents are too harsh for me and thus too masculine. So what can I expect here?

That doesn’t mean I don’t like harsh and/or masculine scents. From time to time, I enjoy rummaging through my husband’s perfume cabinet. And not just on vacation do I sometimes reach for a men’s fragrance, for example, when I’ve forgotten my own perfume - oops, that’s happened before - or when I simply don’t feel like the fragrances offered at the Duty Free shop. I am particularly drawn to sweet men’s perfumes. My favorite men’s fragrance is Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin. Who would have thought?

Additionally, I share an oud fragrance with my husband. Yes, you read that right, an oud fragrance. Okay, to be fair, it’s unisex with a subtle touch of masculinity. In my other reviews about oud fragrances, I was searching for MY oud fragrance. And yes, I have finally found MY oud fragrance, but it is not listed here on Parfumo.

Enough digression, now it’s time to test ANI:

Upon the first spray, the question immediately comes to mind: Wow, what is this? Confusion, disbelief - no idea. Did I pick the wrong perfume?

I can’t recognize any individual scent note at first. Instead, I only perceive a strong medicinal start. This is probably the infamous green opening.
Phew. Quite intense and to be honest, I can’t make sense of it at all right now.
With ANI, the medicinal, almost menthol-like opening note also has a sharp green undertone - probably the mix of ginger and pink pepper embedded in the green notes. Could the menthol element come from cardamom? It doesn’t smell unpleasant. But do I really want to smell like a doctor’s office? This has already been discussed enough with BR 540.
After a while, a citrus-berry-floral accord joins in - really just a hint. I can’t pick out the rose and the currants. Instead, the medicinal scent fades away.

Voilá. Now it gets really exciting. Because the vanilla sneaks up quietly from behind (really mean - sulk, sulk) and gently taps me on the shoulder, whispering sweet nothings in my ear. At least that’s what I thought. But this vanilla is not cloyingly sweet. She is a noble Grande Dame de Vanille. I am fascinated and even more confused. No idea why, but I can’t help but think of Miss Fisher - the clever detective from the Australian crime series who solves her cases with charm, chutzpah, and know-how. Did she hide at the beginning on a secret mission?

Madame Vanille - Miss Fisher - gradually becomes stronger, and the tête-à-tête with Monsieur Vert - Inspector Jack - enriches the composition with an exotic touch. Madame Vanille is by no means a young, sweet lady. No, small and sweet she is truly not. Rather, she knows what she wants and how to get it. Always dressed in her extravagant gowns, suitable for any occasion. And the little silver pistol is elegantly hidden in the garter under her sexy dress when necessary. What does she have planned?

And before I can fully grasp the situation, the composition slowly softens, and other components join in. I think I catch a hint of the benzoin note, which gently wraps around my shoulders like a feather boa. It caresses my delicate white skin. It’s getting cozy. I keep sniffing at my wrist. This can’t be the scent from the beginning, can it? Miss Fisher throws me seductive glances. A wink. A flutter of the eyelashes.

Noble and delicate, the scent flatters my nose - soft patchouli embedded in a woody amber-musk bed. I awaken from a seductive dream; reality begins to take shape again. The veil over my eyes disappears, and I see in disbelief how Madame casually and elegantly strides away on her high heels. The feather boa sways in time with her steps, trailing a tail of unique vanilla behind her. She leaves me behind. Confused. What was that unexpectedly seductive appearance? A distraction?

I still desperately try to hold on to the remaining hint of the unique scent trail. The fragrance settles on my skin - becoming more and more intimate and then slowly fading away - gone - out and over!

Conclusion:
For me, a charming fragrance, once I’ve overcome the shock at the beginning. It is refreshingly different to be able to sniff a not-so-sweet vanilla.
Unfortunately, for me, the sillage and longevity are not as good as described here and do not match the extravagant vanilla. This beautiful scent fades away far too quickly on my skin.
What a pity. I can only dream of it and binge-watch a Miss Fisher episode or simply reapply!

I was skeptical. A sweet cake scent with lavender. The absolute lemon cake sensation. Somehow, I couldn't imagine what that would be like. I only liked lemon cake with chocolate icing, instead of the usual powdered sugar-lemon juice glaze. I just really love chocolate. Sigh.

But time and again, I came across this fragrance, whether here at Parfumo or on YouTube. I heard that "Lolita-Land" by Lempicka is a scent twin. However, in my opinion, this comparison doesn't hold up. "Lira" is much finer and more elegant to my nose.

At first, I only wanted to write a statement since I have no personal story or associations with this Eau de Parfum. But a simple statement just isn't enough for me. So I deleted the statement and got to the review.

Right from the start, I can say that when I first spray it, no inner images of steaming lemon cake arise. My "Lira" sample doesn't strike me as a bombshell either.

Instead, "Lira" starts off cheerfully and lightly with a citrus accord, where bergamot dominates, the blood orange adds warmth, and the lavender contributes a fine, subtle note in the background. I must admit I was really afraid of the lavender.

I find lavender to be critical in perfumes. I somewhat like "Libre" and "Mon Guerlain," but I find the lavender in them disturbing.
But the lavender in "Lira" is really just a nuance that doesn't interfere with the fragrance but rather refines it with a light herbal spiciness.

Shortly after, I already perceive a powdery transformation. I suspect that the vanilla-musk blend from the base is already influencing the top and heart notes in the background.

I can't distinguish the individual floral heart notes. But I like jasmine as well as rose in fragrances. I perceive them here as a sweet-floral bouquet with a spicy twist. The cinnamon and licorice prevent the floral notes from becoming too boring and old-fashioned. The licorice is well-balanced and not too "licorice-like."

Simply a beautiful composition that is intense but not too heavy on my skin.
I feel that the sillage is not as strong as I would expect from a XerJoff. Lira quickly becomes close to my skin compared to Opera. But that could be due to my very dry skin.

In the drydown, the sweet note of caramel - beautifully embedded in the vanilla-musk mélange - overtakes the citrus and floral hints. This smells delicious, but no longer as unique as the initial composition of the top and heart notes.

Overall, a beautifully enchanting fragrance. Something to dream about. So definitely worth considering buying it. Let's see.