Ravn1904

...you don't look in the mouth - says the granny. She's right, but today, for once, we still want to take a closer look at the "Anticonformiste | Mizensir" sample we won.

First impression: Fresh. Green. Synthetic. Typical shower gel DNA, a kick of freshness in the bottle. A sweet cloud of mist, carried by violet leaf and delicate floral notes. Immediately after showering, in hot temperatures, the whole thing could therefore prolong the feeling of freshness. Today, at a cool 8 degrees, "Anticonformiste | Mizensir" also leaves you feeling chilled. Don't get me wrong, the scent is pleasant at times and only a little too pungent at first, but measured against the title (and price...), this olfactory product fails to impress.

This does not change later on. You have to look specifically for the peppery notes in order to perceive them and by the time you reach the base note, you can report the components as missing. And I gleefully popped half the ampoule on my astral body. It didn't help, after about 2-3 hours the fragrance left me.

Tip: If you like the scent, you should check out "Roma Uomo Green Swing | Laura Biagiotti". It's not much cheaper and there are no major differences. And now back to the stable, you old horse. You've done it for today.

I have my problems with Amouage fragrances. Too harsh, too smoky and too exhausting. That's where "Reflection Man | Amouage" came in handy, as it is classified as a clean scent suitable for the masses.

And indeed, very subtly citrusy from the start, then very soft and creamy as it progresses. The fragrance is not as obtrusive as other products on the market, even if the longevity and sillage are still decent. The whole thing reminds me of a high-quality blend of "L'Homme | Prada" and "This Is Him! | Zadig & Voltaire", whose muffled vanilla note emerges in my nose just at the end. It's not even listed, but that doesn't mean much. The "Reflection Man | Amouage" is therefore suitable as a daily companion - if you allow yourself the luxury - but also as a fine droplet at an evening event. Clean, harmonious and beautiful.

We can keep it relatively short: "Casamorati - Mefisto | XerJoff" combines almost all the strengths of a summer fragrance. The opening presents a wonderfully fresh grapefruit, surrounded by citrusy vibrations without a toilet stone vibe. Unlike other freshies, the top note lingers for a surprisingly long time and is only released after about an hour. After that, the flower store opens its doors and invites you on a little journey through the floral world.

Rose, lily, all in full bloom and enhanced by that typically moist scent that wafts towards you from freshly cut and watered flowers. A wonderfully balanced composition that combines floral and fresh elements. I personally don't notice the finish - perhaps the woody notes are masked. Be that as it may, the good 6 to 7 hours beforehand are absolutely worth the price.

There are fragrances that build bridges. People love them, people feel comfortable around them and compliments are heaped on them. And there are fragrances that build walls. "Purple Heart V.5 | Map of the Heart" places stone upon stone, in a vertical form.

The first few seconds literally jump out at you. A heavy sweetness, surrounded by exorbitant smokiness. A sour cherry in the middle, clearly recognizable. It's almost unbearable, and yet somehow awesome. A fragrance that doesn't even try to please the masses, but instead directly pushes boundaries and unapologetically presents its tough side. Once the initial shock has been digested, the following thought creeps in: "I've smelled this somewhere before!", and indeed. At times, "Purple Heart V.5 | Map of the Heart" is strongly reminiscent of one of the most hyped fragrances of all, "AddictiveArts - Jump Up and Kiss Me Hedonistic | Clive Christian". This also focuses on the tart fruit and repeatedly emits shrill clouds of smoke that make the whole thing unmistakable. The longevity and sillage can easily keep up with the €550 luxury fragrance, but for me, "Purple Heart V.5 | Map of the Heart" is even more intrusive, even more uncomfortable and even more extroverted. Why it is restricted as a fragrance for women is a mystery to me. I see it as absolutely unisex, if not more in the masculine sector, as many ladies are sure to be overwhelmed by the heaviness. It takes a really long time, about 3 or 4 hours, before it calms down and slightly more floral notes come to the fore. I think I also detect a hint of leather and/or oud, but unfortunately I miss the licorice note. If this had also made an appearance, we would be talking about a candidate for the top score. This leaves us with a "merely" very good product with an impressive performance that could certainly impress fans of "beastmode" fragrances.

There are no other reviews and/or comparisons, but for me, "XJ 1861 Zefiro | XerJoff" is the little brother, or rather the little sister, of "XJ 1861 Naxos | XerJoff". Due to their very smooth sweetness, I see both as being more in the feminine segment, with the honey note dominating everything else.

But there are also differences, especially at the beginning. Here, "XJ 1861 Zefiro | XerJoff" still convinces with a gentle incense note that caresses interested noses and gives hope that the overall construct will not end in indefinable mush - unfortunately, this is exactly what happens. The durability is remarkable, but you shouldn't expect any exciting changes. It's sweet, it stays sweet. Ultimately, "XJ 1861 Zefiro | XerJoff" is the slightly better fragrance for me, as the start is more exciting and the sweetness is at least not quite as intrusive. Otherwise, it's pretty underwhelming.