Sequoia

She had been working towards this moment all her career: Now she was allowed to be present at a press conference of the Queen. In the front row, for the most popular women's magazine in the country. We should be underway in 10 minutes. The security check had already been passed, now just visit the ceramic department of Buckingham Palace and freshen up. Thank God she had quickly found a small golden tester on her way out of the house, which she had now taken out of her handbag. Two dashes... and go.

10 minutes later: the Queen enters the room, wrinkles her nose, fans air to herself and goes down. So much for the interview - but at least now she could take photos in peace of mind. She had room enough for it in the room. Why is it that no one dared to go near her?

For me, this fragrance is as ambiguous as its name:
I have no clear opinion on any royals or oud. Nomen est omen: The smell almost killed me when I had a splash. It is roomy, sweet and soft. In the first moment: Wow! What is that? After: Does it ever stop?

I kind of like "Oud save the Queen." It is very individual and exciting. I really like the start with bergamot - no matter if the Earl Grey is in between or not. I also find the jasmine-oud combination successful. But the intensity is not only knocking Lizzy's socks off. And it holds and holds and holds

It will not be an everyday scent with me, otherwise I will need personal protection myself. But he's already cool.

Do you know these fashion phrases, which always extend over the whole republic - from political talks to office talks to the dealer on the weekly market? At the moment I could twist my eyes every time at "the end of the day".

But now I have developed such a phrase: "He doesn't hurt anyone" does not only stand for good dogs. I am happy to give this comment to all things that are pleasing, do not split or attract attention unpleasantly.

Femme is one of the things I can only comment on. In contrast to some other Boss fragrances, I don't find "Femme" totally boring or unpleasant. I like the rose fragrance and the soft amber/wood base. The Sillage is present, but still discreet. Also the sweetness holds back after the beginning.

The fragrance is suitable for everyday use - except perhaps in midsummer. No matter whether Polittalk, office or weekly market: One does not attract attention unpleasantly with it. And the shelf life's okay, too. You survive the working day, but don't take it through the night.

Unfortunately, "he doesn't hurt anybody" usually means that it's not a buying candidate for me. At the end of the day there is a wide range of pleasing scents. Oops, I've said it before...

Although it's almost summery warm outside today, I'm sitting in my sofa corner - a bit battered and frustrated - trying to chill. Today is the right day for "Vanilla Vibes".

Mixtures of vanilla and sandalwood almost always work for me. The sweet-warm charisma lifts my mood and relaxes me.

"Vanilla Vibes" interprets this combination of vanilla and tonka notes with a sandalwood base as relatively dark - especially for a summer fragrance. The fragrance does not have the radiance of Jilsander's "Sun", not the sophistication of Bottega Veneta's "Essence Aromtique". That's why it's just right today.

From my point of view the flacon in the colours of a day at the sea irritates: no sea scent, no sun cream and no coconuts. "Vanilla Vibes" is rather the evening after the day at the sea: The hair is still a little matt from the salt. Exhausted from a warm day you can enjoy the warmth of the evening sun on the balcony. A damn good feeling.

Unfortunately the smell is not perceptible with me particularly long. Already after one hour it is at most close to the body. It is not suitable for a long holiday - but it is enough for a nice end of the day. Or to feel better in between

she said mockingly and twisted her eyes. Then she turned around and left the room.

What was this guy thinking? With a tight-fitting shirt and Ronaldo hairstyle he turned the macho around, brought out sayings that women could only find embarrassing and found himself casual at the same time.

"Sorry," she thought with a sarcastic smile, "you're neither Superman nor Hercules... not even James Bond." But inside she had to admit to herself that all this superimposed fuss was somehow sweet, even though that was certainly not what he wanted.

I don't know how my husband got the sample of Invictus. Anyway, the scent lies quite far outside his baggage scheme... and I'm glad I did. I can't say that I don't like the smell. From my point of view, however, neither name nor marketing fit.

At first the scent is fresh on me, slightly citric, a bit maritime. Then it turns into woody-sweet, but still remains fresh and discreet. Pleasant, but unagitated. Clean, sporty, casual. Nothing to rub it with. After half an hour, it is even relatively close to the body, but then loosely lasts half a day.

For an invincible superhero I lack the spice, for a superagent the elegance and for an invincible sports star it could be fresher. If invincible, it's more like a university rowing team than a superhero.

For myself, I will gladly steal the sample. As a signed scent for a man? Shania Twain's the only person I can think of. "That don't impress me much."

My relationship to sample bottles is - probably due to education - like the relationship of the old Westphalian countrywoman to food: Just don't let anything go to waste!

And so I hoard sample bottles - as long as the contents are not really bad - expecting to be able to take them along as a space-saving fragrance in my handbag or luggage at some point. Goldea had already passed the first test last year and now it was my turn to accompany me on a journey.

Especially in the transition period from winter to spring I find fragrances with a warm charisma very pleasant. Goldea smells warm. Although I know that heat itself does not smell, I imagine the smell of heat. Not humid-warm, not winter-room-warm, but rather sunbeam-warm. This warmth drowned out all other scents for me:

- Flowery? After jasmine and ylang-ylang? Maybe I don't notice anything.
- Fruity with raspberry? No chance.

The fragrance is more of an overall composition than the interplay of several individual components. Goldea is quite perceptible and holds out quite well.

Something, however, gives the fragrance a good portion of sweetness. This remains from beginning to end and is very annoying for me. The sweetness takes away the lightness of the fragrance. Therefore: no purchase candidate!

Nevertheless, the sample now lies open and becomes more and more empty. Then the Westphalian in me comes forward again - it would be a disgrace.