Repoman

April 1991. I land at the then domestic airport Domodjedowo coming from Perm, together with my future wife (now for 31 years). Time is tight. The embassy of the former GDR closes at 4:00 PM. I, a Trassniki, need a visa for my Russian girlfriend. I want to introduce her to my parents in Dresden. In all the hustle, I forgot my entire hygiene kit in Perm. Damn, and there’s nothing in the shops in Moscow.
Upon arriving at the hotel, a Valutki Magasin (Russian Intershop) has everything you might need. I quickly do some shopping. Among other things, I buy a perfume I don’t know. Some Jacomo. Sounds a bit gay, but in an emergency... we freshen up at the hotel and then it hits me. From the cute-sounding Jacomo emerges a loud, massively dark-smelling guy. Great.
Now, quickly to the embassy. As usual, and as I would encounter in the following years, the visa officer greets us with a slightly arrogant and condescending attitude. We sit across from each other. He doesn’t acknowledge my (to this day) exceptionally attractive girlfriend with a single glance. But he keeps looking at me. Suddenly he asks, “What are you wearing? You can’t buy something like that where you just came from.” I write the name down for him, and he then completes the paperwork friendlier than expected.
The next day we leave the hotel at 10:30 AM. In front of the building, there’s an Audi with diplomatic plates. Behind us, the large revolving door opens, and a staff member from the embassy comes out. In his hand, a full bag with the labels from the Valutki Magasin.
I wonder what he had in there?
For me, this scent is associated with many memories. Mostly, and fortunately, very good ones. Today, I wear the fragrance, which is only available online, mostly in the evening when we go out.
And even today, people occasionally ask me about the name of the perfume. Usually, no one knows it.

I tested the new Joop on the left and the Prada L´homme on the right today at Drogerie Müller. At 2:30 PM, I sprayed both. The scent is almost entirely similar to the Prada. Very clean, like fresh laundry. Only the intensity is at least one level below that of Prada. Personally, I like it a lot. At a retailer N...o, it is currently available for €42.00 minus 20% discount minus my 5% customer discount, so for €31.50. A real bargain for 120 ml. Fragrance comparison now at 8:00 PM. Prada is still noticeable, Joop can only be smelled very close to the skin. You just have to spray it again. It is still good and recommendable.

Yes, that's how it is. I let myself be persuaded to make a blind purchase. Usually, I am quite satisfied with the result, but this time not so much. I find the scent very one-dimensional. When sprayed, it smells somewhat fresh, stays fresh for about 2 hours, and then poof, it's gone. The bottle does not help either. Keeping it simple is fine, but the label is made of cheap paper, crookedly glued on, and has bubbles. So far, I have never had a bottle that didn't have a quantity indication, concentration, etc. on the bottom. That is also missing. The cap is not impressive either, and I hope the sprayer holds up. It doesn't give the most solid impression. This is the 200 ml bottle. I have received better for significantly less money. It's a shame, but not a disaster.

Until the Wende, I received Brut 33 or Denim Original from my father. Quite decent during GDR times. And affordable. In 1990, I treated myself to Cool Water. I was on vacation from the gas pipeline in Russia, visiting my parents in Dresden. With pockets full of money, as one could earn good money on the pipeline. The first perfumery in Dresden had just opened in the then central department store. And I seized the opportunity without mercy. For 49.99 DM each, I bought 2 bottles of AS and 2 bottles of EdT and gifted a set to my dad for the holiday. For me, the scent is a milestone. It heralded an era of fresh men’s fragrances and has been copied countless times. I wore this fragrance until 1994. Then my wife became pregnant and had to vomit every time I wore it. Now, 25 years later, I encountered the bottles again in the Aida onboard shop. 125ml for 19.99 €. So I bought another set of AS and EdT. Since I am still married to the same woman, I hoped that her stomach wouldn’t rebel after all this time since the pregnancy. Got lucky. She tolerates it, and I smell like I did in my mid-20s.

Today I saw it brand new at Rossmann for €19.99 minus 10% and picked it up. Since we are just about to embark on our trip from Hamburg to New York, I found the name very fitting. The bottle looks quite nice. The cap is very secure on the bottle, nothing wobbles or has any play. However, the bottle is a bit too feminine due to the orange plastic.
The scent starts off fresh. A bit of mandarin (Mandarina?) and a bit of aqua. Over time, some wood and warmth come into play. It doesn't knock you off your feet, but it is a good everyday scent. And so it will accompany me on the ship and be my daytime fragrance. What I will take for the evening can't be said today.