Matthiolo

Korres is a well-known Greek cosmetics brand, whose products are sold in pharmacies only in Greece. The perfumes in the line are quite affordable, so it's worth taking a little trip to the pharmacy (or the duty-free shop) during your vacation to test the new scents. Among the new products from 2022, I have now discovered Avgoustos, and I am thrilled.

The scent: Here I find the fig scent that I have been searching for a long time. The fig is present throughout the entire scent progression. The beginning gives a freshness boost with orange blossom and mandarin/bergamot. Shortly after, these components weaken, and the fig comes to the forefront. Lavender ensures that the heart note does not become too sweet, a hint of citrus scent remains to be detected. After about an hour, the fragrance becomes more intimate, with the base note of fig, cedar, clean musk, and a hint of ... iron ... (?!?). The balance between sweet, fresh, and bitter remains just right.
It is simply a great Eau de Toilette that reminds me of summer holidays by the Mediterranean.

The scent can hold its own against its great counterparts: it is somewhat fresher compared to "Philosykos (Eau de Toilette) | Diptyque," less harsh than "Fath's Essentials - Vers Le Sud | Jacques Fath," and less complex than "Ichnusa | Profumum Roma." Longevity and sillage are weaker than those of the prestigious niche fragrances, but I do not perceive this as a disadvantage for a summer scent in hot temperatures.

The bottle: no tassels, no pom-poms, no gold, no gemstones, no bling-bling. Just a simple bottle in amber-colored glass with a white cap and simple labeling - including a list of the scent components. The packaging reminds one of the simple style of a pharmacy.

The price: Compared to niche perfumes, it is extremely affordable, even cheaper in Greece than here.

Korres has found an uncomplicated summer scent for both men and women with Avgoustos, which perfectly fits the brand's image. The ideal souvenir from Greece.

The company Aether is dedicated to synthetic fragrances. Carboneum is part of the first series from the company, and the early scents are very special (they smell, for example, like a space station such as "Methaldone | Aether" or like celluloid such as "Celluloid | Aether").
Since these are "conceptual fragrances," there is a little backstory for each scent.
For Carboneum, a girl tells of a confusing dream in which a diver is propelled from the sea into space by magnetic forces...
The marketing department has certainly gone a bit overboard here, but it captures the mood of the scent quite well.

The composition of synthetic fragrance materials, which according to the pyramid should smell of hay, fruit, wood, leather, and musk, results in something entirely new and distinctive.
Aside from coumarin/hay, I can't identify any individual notes. The scent is warm, creamy, slightly woody, and a bit sweet.
To me, Carboneum smells like neoprene and Lycra, like newly purchased sneakers, like pool, sunscreen, and sun-kissed skin. Carboneum has a sporty scent (without lemon or Calone - finally!) and smells like skin (without animalic notes). So absolutely artificial and yet somehow sexy.
There is no scent progression; from the first spray to the soft fade after many hours, the notes remain consistently good. Sillage and projection are strong without being intrusive.

In my opinion, the scent is suitable for many occasions - it makes a good impression at pool parties, the gym, outings, and work. In nature, at formal events, and during fine dining, I would prefer not to smell it.

As a fan of synthetic fragrances, I find Carboneum absolutely successful and look forward to future scents from the company Aether.

Aunt Iris was at a spa in Dr. Schön's clinic, and the treatment was a complete success. Since her return, she looks as young, fresh, and full of energy as she hasn't in a long time.
Her sisters do gossip that she looks a bit artificial; they whisper behind her back about Hedion infusions and Iso E Super implants. Some wicked tongues even say she suddenly has a five o'clock shadow and you can vaguely see an Adam's apple.
But Aunt Iris enjoys her new appearance, and her nieces and nephews suddenly think she's really great.

I once read that iris scent has a pheromone-like effect and gives the wearer a sympathetic aura (whether it's true...?). In any case, I love the scent of iris root, and thanks to parfumo, I now have the opportunity to discover and try various iris perfumes.

Molecule 01 + Iris presents the iris scent just right for my taste. At the center is the scent of real iris butter (expensive!) accompanied by Iso E Super and Hedion (!?), which give the fragrance a boost of freshness, intensity, and longevity. There is nothing here that overpowers the iris; there are no associations with boudoir or nursing homes.

The scent is floral, woody, fresh, and slightly synthetic - simply unexciting, tidy, and perfect.

Sillage and projection are civilized and office-appropriate - a plus for me. Since my nose tends to fade out Iso E Super quite quickly, I can't judge the longevity very well; after a workday, the magic is unfortunately surely over.

For me, Molecule 01 + Iris is a fragrance that fits many situations and always gives a polished and relaxed aura without ever being intrusive.

I hope Aunt Iris will make many acquaintances; she is really stylish.

orb_ital was one of the first fragrances from the brand nomenclature, and it revolves around Orbitone, better known as Iso E Super. Many of you are probably already familiar with this fragrance ingredient from molecule 01, the stroke of genius by Geza Schön. And many of you have likely experienced that pure Iso E Super is hard to grasp and can be easily overlooked.

With orb_ital, perfumer Patricia Choux aims to emphasize and expand the various facets of Orbitone. For me, this has the interesting effect that I don’t always perceive the center of the fragrance - Iso E Super - very well, but I do notice the surrounding scents that orbit this “emptiness.” The name orb_ital could well allude to this.

The fragrance starts fresh and woody and then quickly transitions to the main theme, where it remains for several hours. I primarily smell a trio of sandalwood, violet, and pepper, held together by the woody-synthetic Iso E Super with a slightly smoky/leathery undertone. The scent remains very linear for hours but becomes a bit softer over time as the pepper component is the first to fade. The overall impression for me oscillates between cool/modern and powdery/old-fashioned, depending on my mood and the time of day. The pepper adds a bit of spice to the creamy sandalwood base, making the fragrance feel somewhat rough and unconventional.

Sillage and projection are present but not overwhelming; the fragrance remains transparent and “well-mannered.”
The longevity is deceptive; on the skin, the scent is definitely gone after a workday, but it lingers on clothing for days.

I find orb_ital very suitable for work and formal occasions. The fragrance is somewhat cool, distant, and unsexy, yet still pleasing. It’s not a scent that makes your heart soar. Nonetheless, I enjoy wearing it often, as it gives me a pleasant aura in everyday life and conveys a certain distance and seriousness. By my standards, orb_ital is clearly unisex.

The bottle is reminiscent of an Erlenmeyer flask from the chemistry lab, making my pharmacist heart skip a beat. The spray head looks great but isn’t very easy to use. The packaging is an origami masterpiece, but the logo with the so-called “impossible molecule” makes my hair stand on end (give the designer a basic course in “organic chemistry”). In my opinion, the price is reasonable for a small company with an original concept and professional presentation.

I am captivated by the brand nomenclature because the founders place synthetic fragrance ingredients at the center of their perfumes and have managed to collaborate with esteemed perfumers. The nerd in me seeks exactly that!
Unfortunately, it seems the concept is not working - perhaps nerds don’t spend as much money on niche fragrances - and the newly released scents are moving away from the clear presentation that makes the line so attractive to me.
Sadly, orb_ital will likely soon disappear into orbit...