LouiePacard

It has become really difficult to surprise me, at least as far as fragrances are concerned. I've already read a lot about the latest flanker from "Sculpture". "Sculpture Voyage en Orient | Nikos" is supposed to smell like "Tobacco Vanilla (Eau de Parfum) | Tom Ford"? Has nothing to do with the original DNA of "Sculpture Homme (Eau de Toilette) | Nikos"? Yes, it's all true - and somehow not.

The fragrance comes out of its brown glass bottle like a Christmas jackhammer. The "Sculpture" logo is very elegantly vaporized in gold. The fragrance would certainly need some kind of trigger warning for haters of spicy scents. And yes, there's no denying that the new release has nothing to do with the "original Sculpture". But of course: "Nikos" is doing exactly the same as Jean Paul Gaultier. Better a new flanker than having to invest in the uncertainty of a completely new line. So be it!

The fragrance starts with juicy, fresh ginger, but then immediately adds the really wonderful clove and continues with wonderful cinnamon and a maximally beautiful vanilla. The ginger then achieves what "Tobacco Vanilla" never could - it makes it Christmas even in May. This fragrance, which you would actually immediately classify as an autumn/winter fragrance, becomes a perfect companion for spring and cool summer evenings thanks to this tangy ginger. Wow! I love it!

The sillage and also the longevity are actually good for me!

Ever since "Sculpture Mykonos | Nikos", you can sense that the "Nikos" brand doesn't feel so comfortable in the drugstore environment, where you can now buy the original fragrance for a good 20 euros for 100 ml, much to the delight of broken brudis. For me, the long overdue release of the eau de parfum from "Sculpture Parfum | Nikos" in 2022 foreshadowed a massive change of course. That is good! Because "Mykonos" and now "Voyage en Orient" can hold their own 100% in the mid-price segment and that's exactly where they belong! I'm delighted that "Nikos" and her baby "Sculpture" are being given a new lease of life.

From 1994 onwards, no guy could get past this fragrance, which is still consistently upside down today. I can only give you the tip to try out these treasures. It's worth discovering "Sculpture" for yourself in a completely new way.

Scandal! Yet another new fragrance from Jean Paul Gaultier. Is this already the third release in 2024?

The flanking continues and this time "Scandal" gets its new cash cow. "Scandal pour Homme Absolu" is launched!

"Le Parfum" is not quite two years old and "Scandal Absolu" wants to take the throne. After all: it is the most beautiful of the series! The bottle is a real eye-catcher - a bit pretentious - but nicely done!

In fact, this flanker is far less sweet and therefore appears more grown-up. The mirabelle plum, honey and chestnut have a really hot affair here. "Stronger with you" really has competition here. The sandalwood and patchouli make the whole thing long-lasting and very crowdpleasing!

JPG doesn't really have the right release times - just like with "Le Male Elixier", which is just a year old, it's the wrong time for such a crusher fragrance. For me, "Scandal Absolu" is a fall and winter fragrance that is at most annoying when it's too warm - and I mean that - it's really annoying above 20 degrees!

The fragrance is officially a men's fragrance - but 100% wearable by women too.

The initial horror prices have normalized again and are now available from around 71 euros. That's what it's worth....I wouldn't have paid the original prices.

All in all: You can do it - but you don't necessarily have to.

I don't want to fall into the usual trap! I also don't want to say: Well, the bottle says it all. No, I want to be fair here! *Sweat*

Okay, tried! Sorry, the bottle and I - no! We're not going to be buddies! But hey, it's always the inner values that count in a fragrance. Let's get down to it:

"Phantom Parfum | Paco Rabanne" simply turns the values of the already known EdT to "To infinity and much further"! Anyone who had hoped that the perfumers would correct or eradicate possible "mistakes" from the EdT will be disappointed. "Phantom | Paco Rabanne" has always been roaring. In the case of "Phantom Parfum | Paco Rabanne", the famous Scooter megaphone from H.P. Baxxter was stapled firmly in front of the little robot. Which means that you have to really like the "Phantom" DNA not to go completely insane here.

"Phantom Parfum | Paco Rabanne" is MORE of everything. This fragrance screams at you. Loudest right after you spray it on, but it doesn't quiet down until the end. And that brings us to the next reason why you have to like DNA: the fragrance doesn't change. I know of few fragrances that are so blatantly linear. "Phantom" wants to rock unchanged for 10 hours - roar like Scooter. Hyper, hyper!

The mixture of rhubarb and vanilla outshines everything. In the first hour, it is very similar to the impression of a plastic mango. I don't notice the patchouli or the cedar listed in the fragrance notes.

I really, really tried! But as a conclusion to this test, I'm afraid I have to say that "Phantom Parfum | Paco Rabanne" and I probably don't go together. I can stand it, yes, but only in very small doses. For those who like synthetic fruit bombs - this fragrance is sure to trigger a sugar shock joy hop. I think on the right Dude this fragrance can certainly come good. I'm definitely not the right Dude!

Almost classic for a Paco Rabanne fragrance: overspraying is just as unforgivable with this fragrance as it is with "1 Million (Eau de Toilette) | Paco Rabanne".

I really don't like it when people bash designer fragrances. But this fragrance won't win me over. I'm probably also too old for this overall package. But for brothers who are just discovering their olfactory nose, who are just putting the Lego stuff away in the attic and who are about to shave for the first time - "Phantom Parfum | Paco Rabanne" certainly has added value for them.

Let's just look at this fragrance for what it is: a link between childhood and gentle adulthood. If you look at it that way, the playful little robot bottle doesn't seem so silly anymore. This fragrance will roar loudly over the stink of many puberty-induced teenage children's rooms. Many mothers and fathers will thank Paco Rabanne!

And...I still finished on a positive note. Phew...that's the way I like it!

Etrango is beautiful.

He has everything that fascinates a woman/man in a man. A smile to kneel down to, humor that is really funny and on point, full, dark hair, a beautiful beard and gleaming white teeth. In short - a real woman/man magnet! The nice thing is - he doesn't know it. And this fact means that Etrango doesn't spread lover boy vibes - but natural attraction. No posing! No messing around! Just a natural, sexy guy! Sure, he's a southerner - an oriental brudi. He has a temper. But he knows that you can and must control it. You really have to dose it sparingly if you want to stay in the everyday game. And "Etrango | J.F. Schwarzlose Berlin" loves to be in the game! At every opportunity!

Etrango is successful and performs well.

It's rare that someone sells roses so successfully without being totally annoyed by rose overkill - no. His roses underline his other strengths. The top is full of saffrony, racy caraway, a heart of the aforementioned flattering rose and subtle carnation and finally a base that finishes with such masculine oakmoss and patchouli that it is very difficult to imagine this fragrance as unisex. I find it difficult to think of "Etrango" as a woman...

Etrango has come to stay.

Once you have fallen in love with the southern heartbreaker, he is faithful and wants to be with you. Etrango behaves perfectly if you treat yourself to it discreetly on your skin. You have to try him out. He actually has so much temperament that it can quickly become difficult. Even hoodies rarely come out of the machine after a wash without "Etrango". No. Once it's there - it wants to be seen - and it wants to stay.

Etrango is an all-round party animal.

Everyday life is not just his thing. "Etrango | J.F. Schwarzlose Berlin" loves special occasions where you can stand out. He feels comfortable in company, but also likes to dominate. He loves to attract attention, to flirt and then to beguile. It knows that it is in everyone's nose when its wearer is sweating. "Etrango" is an attractant and ideally suited for when you are on the prowl. A little more generously dosed here and you are bigger, stronger, broader and maximally masculine. Crazy - this fragrance is convincing in everyday life in small doses, but also cuts a mega good figure as a night-out bomb.

Etrango is beautiful - and probably permanent in my collection.

Don't we boys all want to be a bit like "Etrango"? Not always, but more and more often!

Clichés can be so beautiful....

Oh, it really isn't easy being a queen.

When Queen Baccarat ascended the throne of candy floss in 2016, she had no idea that her reign would begin as opulently and popularly as that of Elizabeth II. Well, the worldwide television broadcast of the accession to the throne was canceled and presumably no one at the fragrance house Maison Francis Kurkdjian, founded in 2009, had the slightest idea of the impact the "Queen" would have. Because, it is not wrong to say that "Baccarat Rouge 540 (Eau de Parfum) | Maison Francis Kurkdjian" became THE signature fragrance of the house within a very short time. Curse and blessing presumably....

I would be bold enough to say that the "Queen of the Fair" more or less forced Mr. Kurkdjian to make millions.

The Queen has come to stay. First an insider tip, then the content of a lot of content in the influencer bubble - then came the dupes. And yes - the dupes probably ruined it. Because cotton candy was suddenly everywhere, affordable and not always really well copied.

The fair was probably in every classroom from 2019 and I have it on good authority from a teacher that he actually had to ban his kids from wearing "Baccarat Rouge 540 (Eau de Parfum) | Maison Francis Kurkdjian". The fateful year of a queen!

This extremely sweet, saffron-colored aristocrat - who is also often mistaken for a dentist on the side - shares the fate of so many hype veterans: "Sauvage (Eau de Toilette) | Dior" , "Joop! Homme (Eau de Toilette) | Joop!" or "Erba Pura | XerJoff" . Hypes often leave little of the radiance they deserve. Hypes - actually proof of the genius of a composition - are the natural enemy of today's individual zeitgeist. It is now almost normal to develop an inner aversion to a fragrance as soon as you smell it more than once on other contemporaries. What used to perhaps create a "hey, you too?" Feeling of togetherness, gives today's hipsters and trendsetters a migraine.

What a shame! The "Queen of cotton candy" doesn't really deserve that. Because she is a real beauty. Her ingredients have been so bold and extravagant - so different and innovative. Her dental, wonderfully clean appearance has probably taken saffron to unimagined heights as a fragrance note. No. That is simply unfair.

Even if you can no longer smell or like this perfect interplay of saffron, wood and sugar - this composition is art. Perfection. A masterpiece. And, I'm sorry - I simply have to insist on this respect for Francis Kurkdjian's work. Because everyone, really everyone, who knows anything about perfume must recognize that this work is art. There was nothing comparable before "Baccarat Rouge 540 (Eau de Parfum) | Maison Francis Kurkdjian". Despite all the hate for this queen - I will always insist on this fact and fact.

I love my queen and it pains me that this tribute is not paid to her. I will always have this fragrance in my collection, bring my wrist reverently to my impressed olfactory organ and ask for an audience in Candylandkingdom.

It is a queen! Please bow down! :-)