PleinSud

So dear fragrance people,

I recently started the more or less ultimate comparison test
Aqcua di Giò versus Polo Blue
The similarity is quite striking...

Can someone perhaps tell me if the same manufacturer is not at work here?

Well, I don't know what some people here are imagining... how can I compare a Cologne with EdTs in terms of longevity? Folks, this is a Cologne, and a Cologne is primarily meant to "refresh" with citrus fruits and not to have longevity! Moreover, it lasts surprisingly long for a Cologne. So much for that.

The thing is: I am currently a passionate wearer of Dior Homme, but the "normal" Homme, not the Intense, because in my opinion, it doesn't have that subtle... And I think it will remain my number one winter fragrance in the long run...
Well, anyway, now I'm considering getting the Dior Homme Sport again for the summer; I had purchased it shortly after its first launch. And so last week, I found myself in the local perfumery, spraying the Homme Cologne from the sensationally slim, simple, and straightforward bottle, thinking to myself, "I know this from somewhere... this (penetrating?) lemon... it feels damn familiar..."
And then, in bed that evening, it hit me like a ton of bricks. This is the same citrus bouquet as that of the Chanel Allure Eau de Blanche and/or Allure Cologne Sport...
And to my knowledge, the two fragrance houses Dior and Chanel are under one parent company, namely LVMH, and if you consider the indifference of a Bernard Arnault (the CEO), they simply put one fragrance in two (three?) different bottles, following the motto: "No one will notice anyway!" and/or "Nothing is too difficult for the disillusionist!"
Well, that's how it is, dear folks...
The question remains: what are they actually thinking when they throw something like this on the market? Or do they even think?

By the way, I then decided on the (what I believe to be) sensational Dior Fahrenheit 32. You can tell that a creative mind like Hedi Slimane was involved, and one is well-prepared for summer... but shhhh, don't tell anyone ;)

Recently on your autumn holiday in Gran Canaria ...

... and in between a beautiful day at the sea, at Costa Canaria ...


>A beach is actually the most democratic place there is. All people are somehow equal, or rather equalized. People are naked except for their swimwear, and at first glance, no differences in social background can be discerned...
And this here, this is the beach of a thousand faces. Never the same, always different. Every day. And that is one of the peculiarities of the beach. It is always in the same place, but never the same.

Well, anyway, a day at the sea is on the agenda. You love the sea and are already eagerly looking forward to jumping into the waves. But first, you want to warm up for the cool bath in the fresh Atlantic and lay down on your, or whoever it belongs to, towel in the sun...

... Sunbeams dance on your bare skin, the sound of the sea sounds like a symphony in your ears and touches you gently. Sweet winds blow and gently brush through your hair... now and then you blink up at the bright blue sky and indulge in melancholy...

At some point, you are really warmed up by the hot sun rays and proudly rise and stretch yourself in the heavenly spotlight.
Almost dignified, yet not without suspicion of how warm or cold the sea might be, you stomp through the hot, fine sand and approach the sea.
The Atlantic was only about eighteen degrees at this time, despite the Gulf Stream. Here and there, someone is surfing, some even with a kite. A cargo ship passes on the horizon.
The sea is omnipresent here and always present, and you give yourself as a longing summer visitor now also to the waves and boldly jump in...
You splash and swim boldly and joyfully like a little boy through the wonderfully cool and clear waves and enjoy the freedom in the sea for some long minutes...
As you emerge from the waves again and the hot sun rays make the Atlantic seawater evaporate on your skin, you are increasingly enveloped by an incredibly subtle and beautiful scent. The saltiness has mixed with your scent Dior Homme Sport, which you applied this morning, and a whole new fragrance direction emerges... it seems as if the fragrance, the salty seawater, and the warm sun rays have united to create a unique, new fragrance elixir... and while you lie there in the sun, with every sea breeze that comes your way, this wonderful scent mix also rises to your nostrils...
... and so your soul drew even closer to the sun.<

Dior Homme Sport and salt on the skin... hmmmmmmm... ;-)

Well, with all due respect... this fragrance only reflects the fact that the great master is increasingly withdrawing from active business, and it’s not like he doesn’t deserve it...
I even go a step further and claim that Giorgio Armani was not present during the creation of Armani Code Sport. Otherwise, this homogeneous mush cannot be interpreted any other way. It should actually be called “Armani Mainstream Code”... ;-)
But who knows... maybe that’s exactly what the “creators” of this fragrance wanted: simply to create a high-priced scent that can be marketed and sold well among the masses with a respectable name.

With fragrances like “Lalique White,” “Guerlain Homme,” “Dior Homme Sport” & “Chanel Allure Homme Sport Cologne,” in my opinion, one is significantly better equipped for warm & hot days, as they appear more subtle and still possess a certain naturalness.

For me, however, with this “creation,” the name GIORGIO ARMANI is somewhat bidding farewell from the top tier of the perfume industry. But the classics “Eau pour Homme,” “Aqua di Gio,” and “Attitude” always keep the flag flying high...

Then he comes strolling around the corner, or rather, strutting in the best Chevalier manner:
Dr. Pierre Le Beau.
The self-proclaimed narcissist bears a striking resemblance to that James Bond actor Daniel Craig, only with dark, slightly curly hair, almost like a little southern boy... and he is just as old or young, considering how well he has aged... dressed in black Chelsea boots, a lightly and neatly distressed bootcut jeans, a fine, tailored white shirt with sleeves casually but perfectly rolled up, and a Calibre de Cartier loosely on his right wrist, he is looking damn good. Just like Stefano Gabbana - the one from Dolce&Gabbana - used to say when asked how a man should ideally look, and he seemed to be right...

Stephan introduces you, and you get to know each other...
As you briefly and painlessly hug, you immediately catch a whiff of his fragrance... it smells fascinating and seems to enhance his sensually masculine impression. It smells incredibly of vetiver, of a very fine vetiver, but there’s more, it practically pulsates. It is definitely an impressive strong and sexy scent that fits him perfectly... and it would actually suit you too...

“What is that fragrance, Pierre? I was thinking of Terre d'Hermes...”
“No, Hermes is out of the question for me by principle. The brand is not unconventional enough for me... and with this Terre d'Hermes, every late-blooming mama's boy is strutting around pretending to be a hobby dandy... I prefer the extraordinary, without any mainstream... it’s Grey Vetiver by Tom Ford. It has something, doesn’t it?!”

“Aaah yes... right... I’ve heard of it... and yes, it has something... it even has something grand that I haven’t encountered before... how long have you been wearing it?”
“Well, maybe for about two hours... what’s extraordinary about this fragrance is that when you first apply it, it comes off a bit rough and... yes, you could almost say too classic... but already in the first hour, it articulates into a rounded bouquet and gradually becomes more intense... in the heart of the fragrance, iris root extract unfolds an unexpected sensuality. Spicy accents of nutmeg and pepper further emphasize this and give the prevailing vetiver note a new, exciting energy with a creamy musk note... yes, I must admit, I really enjoy smelling myself... I mean, I already smell pretty good and like myself, but this scent enhances that... it almost captivates me... I then crave, in a nearly dizzying way, passionate closeness to an attractive person I could fall in love with on the spot... preferably a well-put-together and sensual shemale, who, just like the fragrance, playfully wanders between masculine and feminine, if you know what I mean, HEHE.”
Pierre laughs mischievously and takes a big sip of red wine that Louis has meanwhile served him as if it were the most natural thing...
“Yes, yes, I understand... for me, a fragrance is also something very poetic...”
Finn nods and smiles with a hint of embarrassment and seems to immediately be on the same wavelength as Pierre.
This casually elegant scent is indeed extraordinary, interesting, and transcendent...