RaoulDuke

Chanel fragrances are always a bit of a thing... They usually don't shout loudly, rarely stand out, or dance out of line. They often carry a certain cool aura, referred to by many as the Chanel DNA. Modern? Less so! Classic? More like it! Timeless? Yes, timeless would be a fitting adjective for many Chanel fragrances. This is especially true for the men's fragrances of the fashion house.

The Platinum Égoïste is not far behind its namesake Égoïste, if not completely identical. While the original was more spicy and perhaps a bit outdated today (rumor has it that gray hair is a MUST for wearing the original), the Platinum version does quite a few things differently. Here, the adjective timeless definitely comes to mind, as the scent would have smelled fresh, green, yet elegant on men's skin even in the 90s. No sweetness whatsoever, but rather a light floral green mixed with the barbershop/aftershave feeling from a good men's salon. There’s also a slight metallic undertone that resonates in the base, clearly highlighting the clean razor blade.

The scent cuts through every season, just like that razor blade; you can't go wrong in heat or cold, it's a Chanel all-rounder. And it masters the three adjectives mentioned at the beginning with flying colors: Modern? Check, still! Classic? Absolutely! Timeless? It will remain so!

One single point of criticism remains, as with many Chanel fragrances, the longevity or sillage. While the former lasts about 5-6 hours, the sillage is noticed by only a few people. But what does an Égoïste care about other people?

I’ll start with a provocative statement:
"Show me a fragrance that captures the essence of summer as well as LV Afternoon Swim?"

Because I am now convinced that no other scent does this as well. What do you want in summer, in the sultry heat? Surely, I don’t want a toilet bowl lemon around me, but rather a fresh cool cocktail with citrus and zest. That’s exactly what this fragrance delivers with its wonderful orange and top-notch freshness. It never gets boring, unlike some well-known designers, and it doesn’t smell artificial in the slightest. With a light sweetness, it also makes its presence known on summer evenings and can truly score points despite the Cologne label with good and pleasant longevity plus sillage.

In the end, people of all genders want just one thing in the summer months: to relax and let their souls dangle. Afternoon Swim is exactly that: a genuine feel-good fragrance.

Those looking for particularly complex notes won’t find them here, but I also don’t believe that the average fragrance enthusiast is searching for a grand adventure in summer, rather than a beach vacation. Therefore, it must be noted: Nothing beats Afternoon Swim in the summer!

How I used to despise this scent...

During my exploration of Louis Vuitton fragrances, I stumbled upon the proverbial storm cloud Orage right from the start, due to its appealing notes. Delightfully different, great patchouli, dark, bitter, yet with a hint of fresh summer rain. The truly perfect (somewhat different) office scent. Clean, yet special. Not intrusive, but still a statement. If only it weren't for the initially noted, terrible longevity. The scent astonishingly lasted less than two hours on skin and clothes from the official sample! My better half also couldn't detect the scent on me after multiple tests for even an hour. What a shame.

I mourned this scent for almost a year! I liked it so much that I even got another decant. I'm just not a fan of everyday freshies. Foolish as I sometimes am, the thought of the scent wouldn't leave me, so a few weeks ago, I finally bought the fragrance in a bottle. "Even if I only wear it for myself and it quickly fades!" must have been my train of thought.

Now for the big surprise: The scent suddenly lasts on me. 6 hours, lightly. That's more than enough for the office! Sprayed from the bottle, the scent seems to act completely differently/distribute itself, it's a dream!

Thus, in the end, the truly irrational purchase of a scent that doesn't last turned into a little happy ending for the storm cloud!

Xerjoff Homme, a name with a program!
The Italian fragrance manufacturer is indeed known for not giving classic perfume names like "Homme" and instead coming up with unique names like Pikovaya Dama. So why the classic name "Homme" here?

For me, this scent is the epitome of the masculine man: The Appearance of Power!
It opens citrusy, but rather sour and scratchy than rounded and zesty. It then moves towards a leather dipped in soap (shoutout to the oud enthusiasts), which winds through strong woods.

At first sniff, everything felt unharmonious and almost provocative to me. Inappropriate, edgy, and harsh. Initially, I only liked what this scent brings in terms of attitude...
namely the IDGAF mentality mentioned in the title.

It doesn't have to suit the nose that the unharmonious prevails here; the wearer determines the scent. The wearer radiates self-confidence, and anyone who literally hits the brakes loses against Xerjoff Homme.

For me, the scent has come to stay and has now become my signature for the office and everyday life. And even the fragrance pyramid now pleases me, because the lack of harmony in the fragrance notes reflects a wonderful synergy of the masculine self-image...

The edges that the scent shows give the man who wears it his own edges. The scent provides self-confidence, the scent needs self-confidence! With conviction, this scent carries itself!

No one has to understand all of this, but it is important to me to dedicate a review to this statement scent.

Xerjoff Homme, elbows out!

I have started writing this review three times already and discarded it just as often. I have tried to dedicate a poem to this fragrance, to incorporate media that can convey the feeling of the scent... Nothing does justice to what I want to say...

Little can describe what this fragrance expresses. Is it more the graceful scent cloud that you carry with you all day, or the actual compliments you have received for it that should be mentioned?

Is it the dominant, albeit not oriental rose, that fills an entire room, or rather the soft "aftertaste" that lingers on jackets and sweaters for days, which deserves a mention?

All of this and none of it makes this fragrance particularly recommendable. Because Portrait Of A Lady transforms the young girl into a lady, the youthful boy into a man. This fragrance makes people age, but in a positive way: it helps to view things calmly and rationally, grants self-confidence, and brings security. The scent does not sketch a drawing on paper with pencil and eraser, but paints an opulent oil painting.

If all of this sounds or seems incomprehensible, I apologize for that; however, it was more important for me to express something about this fragrance than to remain silent, no matter how confusing it may sound.

Portrait Of A Lady - The image of the adult self!