Naomagic

This fragrance inevitably plays a film in my mind. From the very first spray, the image of the legendary beautiful Romy Schneider in the late sixties classic "The Swimming Pool" appears in my head, lying by the sun-glistening pool; half bored, almost lethargic from the heavy heat, but with a wild inner fire.
For me, the scent is also an interesting mix of warmth, heavy and - if overdone - headache-inducing like the southern French midday sun, and lively, sparkling freshness. According to the fragrance pyramid, I would attribute this to the combination of benzoin/vanilla & pepper/citrus fruits. However, the heavy, sweet, warm aspect clearly stands out for me, with only occasional fresh, cooling sparks flashing here and there. I don't notice a great evolution in the scent; it simply weakens (unfortunately relatively quickly) over time. It's a shame that the longevity and sillage don't have a bit more power. The opulent bottle with the glamorous crown, in which the perfume shimmers like liquid gold, is in my view perfectly chosen for this somewhat decadent fragrance.

Jeanne is not just a perfume for me, but a scent that will forever remind me of a certain period in my life, during which it not only accompanied me but also guided me. At that time, I was at a clinic in a new city for my doctoral thesis, and just the thought of the upcoming demands of this job had me feeling anxious and uneasy for weeks beforehand. Somehow, during the preparation period, I instinctively sought out a new fragrance that would accompany me into this uncertain future, giving me confidence, support, and reassurance. I know it sounds more like I was looking for a psychologist than a perfume, but I also know that there are certainly some like-minded individuals here who understand me. For me, Jeanne was exactly that; like a big sister, a mentor who supported me on my first day at work and through the major challenges. Whenever I sprayed it on, I always felt calm and confident. I find this composition of fresh, early-summer berries (the raspberry is definitely the most intense scent for me) with lemon drizzle, bright woods, and delicate flowers simply makes me happy and radiates a fresh, cheerful dynamism. But not a loud, over-the-top "Tchaka-Tchaka, you can do it, cowboy," rather this deeply relaxed, self-assured inner contentment. The fragrance was also very present for me throughout the day, so I would absolutely praise not only the pretty bottle but also the longevity and sillage.

The fragrance made its way into my virtual shopping cart as a blind buy, due to the current situation. I had not been a great fan of good Paco until now, but the descriptions here on parfumo piqued my curiosity, so I took the plunge - and I must say, I do not regret it! You all know the feeling, the first skeptical spritz with a new blind buy accompanied by the prayer "Please, pleeease let it not be a dud" (I have unfortunately had my share of painful experiences despite beautifully sounding fragrance pyramids).
I expected something along the lines of "Salted Caramel" ice cream or those incredibly addictive pretzel popcorn things with a sugary coating. However, with the first spritz, I was hit with a really good dose of pepper - wow, what a spectacular start. Personally, I love such vibrant power fragrances that kickstart your morning like a double espresso. It brings life into the room and energy into the spirit. But for delicate flower girls, the peppery punch might be a bit overwhelming. Alongside it comes salt and vanilla, which give the fragrance the warm undertone already described here without drifting it into sweet cuddly scent territory. I find this blend extremely successful and am very happy with this purchase. With this, you feel transported to the coast of Crete amidst the roaring ocean, even in the depths of February snow, or directly to Olympus. Unconditional recommendation - also regarding longevity and sillage - especially for the price.

Every eager tabloid reader knows the pretty, and famous just because of their melodious names, daughters of the rich and beautiful. Optical masterpieces that face expectations, which all too often cannot be met. One such candidate for me is Alien Fusion. A beautifully designed bottle, a work of art - like a red diamond. Along with these expectations due to the famous mother - Alien. Some love Alien, others hate Alien, but everyone knows Alien. It is unique. Unfortunately, Alien Fusion is not. The scent is beautiful, no question, it also carries the Alien DNA within it. But otherwise, it is nothing particularly outstanding for me. I ordered the fragrance blindly based on the top notes: cinnamon and ginger. But neither of these notes is present in the room at any time for me. It feels more like a small, quiet Alien with a lovely vanilla note. But it is not a big star that fills the room for me. The longevity and projection of the fragrance are also rather medium-moderate for me. But at least, purely visually, it is a beautiful piece of jewelry.

Whenever I see this bottle, I can't help but think of a stormy office war in which I was no angel either. A long time ago, I had the dubious honor of sharing an office with a dreadful colleague with whom I had a deep mutual dislike. Without going into the endless episodes of this annoying catfight that caused me discomfort every morning back then, eventually all the nastiness had been exchanged, and it was time for more subtle variations on the catty keyboard.
That's when an innocently looking sample named "Angel," which came with my perfume order, came in extraordinarily handy. When testing it, I immediately recognized its potential and generously sprayed myself with it the next morning before heading to the office building. The colleague, who had switched to "I will punish you with icy silence" mode for some time, came into the office that morning and couldn't help but break her self-imposed vow of silence, greeting me with a disgusted "Ugh, do you have a new perfume or what?" Like a little angel, I looked up from my files and innocently chirped, "Hmm, no, why?" "Then someone must have forgotten to take out the trash! Something is rotting here!" she hissed.
Despite all the differences with this lady, I can't completely disagree with her on this point. The opening of the scent actually reminds me, at least on my skin, of a provocative mix of fermented citrus fruits, overripe melons, animalic notes, and decaying earth. A liquid compost heap in the sun with tremendous impact and potential to trigger headaches and more in sensitive individuals. At this stage, it is utterly pointless to try to free oneself from this scent; even showering does little to diminish its presence, and it has incredible staying power. After some time, it then miraculously transforms and reveals its gourmand creamy side when vanilla and chocolate come to the forefront. Nevertheless, it remains a bulky, hefty fragrance that makes a statement and - at least if one doesn't really, really dose carefully - keeps others at a distance. Today, after ages, I had an Angel sample in my order again, and I stand by it. This is not for blonde, cake-baking angels of innocence, but a beast with claws, even if the bottle and the name suggest otherwise.