Sequoia

I recently found a sample with a familiar label in my shopping bag. I was looking forward to it, because my last bottle of Alien Eau de Parfum had tipped over this winter. Then I read "Extraintense" in bewilderment and wondered who could have come up with the idea of developing a strong fragrance like Alien into an olfactory killer.

I decided that the test was not for the faint-hearted and should therefore be postponed for a while. Then Alien Extraintense was used on a quiet spring day in my home office... and I wondered whether I had got the right sample.

Yes, the alien DNA with the unmistakable sweet jasmine note was there. But where was the olfactory killer?

Nothing here is particularly intense. My fragrance impression is rather weaker. For my taste, Extraintense is not quite as sweet, but a little more floral and spicy. I can't detect any individual fragrance notes beyond the alien DNA.

The fragrance itself is good. I just imagined something different under an extra-intense in times of many an oud or patchouli-enhanced intense. I prefer the classic Alien Eau de Parfum - after all, I can't complain about too little intensity there either.

"Hmm... what are you wearing today?"
Awkward silence. Nah, I'm not putting the name Ménage à Trois in the room.

However, this fragrance is also not a candidate for overly frequent requests. It is close to a hug, not a room filler.

Although most Zarkos have their own special features, Ménage à Trois is the most beautiful fragrance in the range for me. The woody musk base is a little denser here and the skin scent is not so clean. The watermelon is not fresh, chilled and smells slightly like cucumber. With this scent, you have to imagine the ripe deep red flesh of the fruit, sweet, juicy and heavy. I almost didn't recognize it, but since I've known it, watermelon is constantly perceptible to me.

Personally, I find the scent very pleasant, but not particularly sexy. Perhaps this certain density, which is only perceived in close proximity, led to its name.

Like most molecular fragrances, this one is also unpredictable. Its radiance depends on your mood. But so does the perception of the other person. While I mainly like the woody-synthetic base, my daughter, for example, finds the fragrance very sweet. So if I want to be sure of how I come across, I take Ménage à Trois out of the equation.

Now in spring, this fragrance can play to its strengths, directly on the skin, not hidden under thick sweaters. For summer, I can imagine that I would miss the freshness. But that remains to be seen.

In any case, the tactic for dealing with the next demand is: "That remains my secret."

Somehow, Toni is a niche perfume: somewhere in the niche between the cheap star waters and the mainstream designer fragrances behind the closed glass doors.

The packaging doesn't immediately scream for attention either, but rather holds back. But after sniffing through the other Toni Garn fragrances from time to time to pass the waiting time, this time it was Toni's turn.

I don't know if it was just the test bottle, but the first spray was very heavy, not a fine mist. As a result, it took a while before I could perceive anything other than the alcohol. But then the fragrance became very pleasant, a woody, subtle skin scent without a lot of frills. There is a similarity to other molecular fragrances. Compared to Not a Perfume Eau de Parfum, this fragrance is softer and less woody. The fragrance is synthetic in a positive sense: no sticky sweetness, no annoying artificial fragrance notes.

I could not recognize a fragrance progression, but unfortunately the fragrance was gone very quickly. For me max. 2-3 hours.

Apart from the short shelf life, Toni is a good everyday fragrance. You smell well-groomed and nothing is annoying. However, you should not attach any importance to a recognition factor. For me, however, it is not a candidate for purchase.

Without Angel Fantasm I would not have come across A*Men Fantasm. I was so curious about the coconut note in combination with the Angel DNA and then disappointed because I didn't perceive either as I would have wished.

So, what does the disappointed nose do? Try to find out if Mugler has done better with the boys.

And, to ease the tension: Yes, I think A*Men Fantasm is more successful, if not perfect.

The opening is intense and sweet. Bergamot and chocolate hit me, underpinned by a synthetic note that reminds me a little of plastic. At first, the fragrance is a little unpleasant, but after a little patience, the plastic disappears. The fragrance becomes softer, creamier and more pleasing. Coconut remains subtle. Now the angel DNA comes through, sweet patchouli, but spicy and balanced.

The Fantasm lasts all day on me and remains clearly perceptible. Apart from the plastic, I like it and find it wearable for (more daring) women. I still left it on for now. Now in spring is not its season, despite coconut.

I suspect this wasn't my last A*Men test...

Until now, Zadig & Voltaire has been completely under my radar. Despite the eye-catching bottle, it would probably have passed me by this time too, but I really wanted to test a new everyday fragrance for spring.

And I thought the opening was really beautiful. The sesame was clear, but integrated into a creamy-floral accord and accompanied by a subtle sweetness.

It was actually my favorite, but it disappeared on my skin after just a few minutes. I'm guessing a musk base, which I can't detect. Some time later - on the way back - I could sense a soft creamy vanilla note at times.

And so it flew away this time too. Too bad about the beautiful sesame.