Sommernacht

This type of fragrance is not what I usually wear. I have a sample from a sharing. Nevertheless, considering how well Blonde Amber is composed, how expensive Blonde Amber is, and in comparison to Pure Amber by Avapari, I must admit that this is a fantastic dupe for it. Then at such an unbeatable price and quality (note the quality!!!). It shows that with such a small capital investment in production, a lot can be achieved. Still, the order is such that niche brands create something amazing and the imitators follow suit, thus enabling those with a tight budget to make a purchase. But like with many luxury products, luxury wants to sell a "feeling," for which many pay 2-10 times more.

Pure Amber is a complex, profound, opulent, oriental fragrance, for me with a tendency towards the masculine direction, for those of us who want to stand out and are into this type of scent. I think Initio fans will also be happy here. For all who love Blessed Baraka, Side Effect, or are fans of Xerjoff Naxos, will adore this fragrance :)

PS: If anyone wants my sample, feel free to contact me - gone!

Since no review has been written for this fragrance in 8 years, I’m taking the opportunity now.

I myself am not a fan of Grand Soir by MFK. It is too sweet for me. It overwhelms me and headaches are a given. Generally, it’s not my fragrance direction.

Sentosa by Andrea Andreoli is completely different. It is smoother, not quite as intensely resinous, sweet but not disgustingly sweet. It feels perfectly unisex to me. Like Grand Soir, it’s more suitable for the cooler days of the year.

In terms of price, it’s a bargain compared to MFK. In November, the price was €100 for 100 ml, which is a statement. Currently, it’s at €150.

neither the price
nor the brand
nor the users
nor what is supposed to be special about it.

I don't know who wants to adorn themselves with this brand in wealth... The whole brand seems to me more like appearance than reality.

The notes do not indicate a masculine fragrance at any moment; the notes say white flowers with a lot of fruit. Nothing more, nothing less. And that's exactly what you get. It's interesting that men are more attracted to this brand; I hardly see a collection of women who own Roja. It must be due to the price.

The souk is flooded with offers, mainly from men, what was the hope, guys?

What it definitely is: rather feminine, reminds me in the first 10 minutes of fragrances from the 90s, opulent, striking, and extravagant. It somehow becomes slightly creamy and well-groomed. There are other ways to smell creamy and well-groomed. This is way too little for a new release from 2024.

Is it pure perfume or Eau de Parfum or can it go? Hmm.. at that price, I expect a triple extrait! Something comparable exists with The Only One Eau de Parfum Intense

Sorry for the harsh criticism, it doesn't happen often but this time it had to be said.

PS: for me, there is no fragrance that would ever justify such a price.

Off the ferry,
On the bikes, we still have quite a way to go.
No idea which direction
We follow the others
The most beautiful beach is the goal

Beneath us, a worn-out unpaved road
winds through the bushes
Full of sand and with deep narrow grooves
Our bikes get stuck
Pretty wobbly the FIRST

Our things only semi-secure
The ground so close, I don’t want to fall
My friend has everything under control, accelerates, finds joy in sliding
Scooters zoom past us..
I’m just wobbling along
Pretty wobbly the SECOND

Hello sweat, the SPF 50 is on
Looking forward instead of at the ground
A turquoise splash of color
We approach Playa de Ses Illetes
and Playa de Llevant
Sea air in my nose, the warmth of the sand and The Beach by Zarko!
Hello Formentera!

Ah yes, how long have I been searching for a coconut/coconut water perfume that smells exactly like Zarko. I wanted a fresh, woody, mineral, and molecule-like scent (that can also be well combined with a molecule scent, e.g., Molecule 01, 234.38 by Zarko, Not a Perfume by Juliette), which still reflects the creaminess of coconut and is garnished with a bit of sweetness. And that’s exactly what The Beach achieves. The performance is not a beast, the average ratings are realistic. It comes across very airy, molecule-like indeed. Neither masculine nor feminine, I can recommend it to any coconut lover - the synthetic aspect suits it exceptionally well and is part of what makes it! For me, this is not a point of criticism in this case.

Why is it rated so poorly here? No idea, but it’s a hit with me...

Rosendo Mateu influences large perfume houses, it means something. I mean, Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21 as well as "Le Vestiaire - Babycat | Yves Saint Laurent" are inspired by "5 - Floral, Amber, Sensual Musk | Rosendo Mateu - Olfactive Expressions." It feels like everyone has been enchanted by No. 5, and both Guerlain and YSL thought, "we'll jump on this horse and do it our way." Is that still creative? No, certainly not. The creativity would lie solely in distinguishing oneself, giving the fragrance a certain house signature.
Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21 has the typical French Guerlain elegance that I expected. In this case, fortunately, without coming across as outdated (not so easy with Guerlain). Given the price, the bottle, and the fragrance notes, I admittedly had high expectations and was not disappointed regarding scent, raw material quality, longevity, and the appearance of the bottle. All these points get a 10 out of 10 from me. Only the sillage is typically French; an 8 seems adequate to me.

About the scent: Calm within itself. Enveloping. Warming. Embracing. Smooth. Noble. Sublime. Elegant. Fluffy like the softest nude-colored cashmere yarn or flowing like silvery-golden silk. For me, it has a (spice/garden) clove note and perhaps a bit of cardamom that gives it a slightly more intense touch. Over time, it develops a sweet-powdery, delicately smoky aura and vaguely reminds me of sunscreen from days gone by, which were all heavily scented back then. But all within an elegant framework, of course.

About the raw material quality: You can smell the quality of the fragrance from afar. The extrait lives up to its name.

The bottle is a jewel, yes, a real treasure that is hard to find its equal. Period. Perfectly crafted, adorned with gold elements all over, simply incredibly beautiful. The golden juice contributes to this.

Who is the fragrance for? For the wealthy, snobs, for those who want to appear rich, or the average consumer who wants to "treat themselves," after all, you only live once... :p Joking aside. For me, it's unisex. It’s not so feminine that it should deter men; a man doesn’t need "courage" to wear it.

Occasions: For me, this is a statement fragrance but also one for connoisseurs. Due to the scent impression and H&S, it’s suitable for special occasions, more of an evening and going-out fragrance. However, you can enjoy it anytime. A small spray or a tiny drop accompanies you all day.

The price: Well, this is something one can discuss at length. Ultimately, it’s subjective. For most of us, it takes up a large part of a month's net income. Whether it’s worth it can only be decided by each individual. I’m sure some will lower the fragrance rating due to the price and won’t carefully differentiate between scent and price-performance ratio; otherwise, the fragrance would be rated at 8.5 or higher.
With this fragrance, Guerlain surely wanted to outdo itself, both in quality and price. Both have succeeded for the traditional house. Does it bother Guerlain that some wrinkle their noses at this? We probably won’t find out....
When I consider that Rosendo No. 5 and Babycat strike a very similar chord, then the Planifolia Extrait 21 is not an option for me, also due to the price.