Stulle

Once again, a fascinating fragrance, but completely different from what I would expect from MGO. Blood orange - yes, that fits well, and neroli with its certain bitterness creates a very unusual citrus experience in the top note.
Then the development: it becomes subtly oudy and rosy, with a geranium-like green touch. For me, rose geranium always has something fruity, so I suspect that the strawberry association arises from this tension.

The development with this brand's fragrances often takes a bit longer, and I find that great. Can we attribute that to natural ingredients? In any case, the difference to linear designer fragrances, which cost no less, is quite noticeable.

Now to the base. First, I catch a lovely vanilla note, very naturally appealing. Then it becomes ambery and soft, warm labdanum caresses my olfactory center. I suspect that a green and somehow floral note is attributed to the angelica; I should smell that one pure, but the special character has always positively stood out to me in the corresponding fragrances.

There is only one party pooper. When all the other notes are already very quiet, a sour-woody something remains on my skin. Goodness, that is certainly not natural, but it explains the bitter top note. Therefore, the otherwise cool fragrance loses a bit for me in the final stretch.

Definitely: this fragrance is once again very special. This time no oud (lucky you, @ergoproxy, right?), but the rosy-fruity-bitter twist is also not everyone's cup of tea. However, it certainly makes an impression, and probably not a bad one.

Subdued mandarin creamy tones, somewhat floral, a bit tender and buttery soft musk in the base. Along with this, there is an almost tender cinnamon-nutmeg spice that slightly reminds me of the legendary HONOS; very subtly executed.

A highly likeable and unobtrusive fragrance that reflects the lightness of the turn of the millennium: BOSS BOTTLED by the same perfumer can be recognized at least from a distance; Jil Sander SUN MEN, EAU DE CARTIER, ALLURE HOMME also hint at the direction.

This is a beautiful and relaxed men's fragrance of its time that does not feel outdated at all and with which one can still excellently socialize today (and also remain!).

I am referring to the rare and not listed EdT here.

@Parfumaholic, what have you done to me? You mercilessly catapult me back into the past with this fragrance.

She was 17, I was slightly older. My meager apprentice salary was shamelessly exchanged for this scent (the first one for her was Byzance), and I must say: I have made many much worse purchases later in life for significantly more money.

***
- laced leather pants in black and red, cowboy boots, denim vest
- an ancient Opel Kadett C with a tape deck: Metallica, Queensrÿche, Whitesnake, etc.
- Twix = Raider; smokers in the pub; Germany with a wall; the chancellor preferred to eat Saumagen
- Northern Lights on icy January nights
- cruising through Italy and southern France on summer vacation, completely without a GPS, but in the old Daimler, whose fuel consumption nearly ruined me - I haven't really recovered from that to this day ;)
*

The 80s in the most wonderful expression, without becoming overly chypre or floral; FENDI offers a wonderfully expansive palette of fragrance notes and details that is more than impressive and remains memorable.

I perceive the beginning more as green than citrusy, bright, soft, and woody-dry at the same time. The customary heart notes of clove, rose, jasmine, and ylang-ylang I believe I can recognize; however, they are all very finely blended, so nothing dominates for me. So, no fear of cloves!

As the scent develops, there it is, the truly extraordinary leathery yet soft and supple base: sandalwood, delicate vanilla, oak moss, and a present spiciness that cannot solely be patchouli, but rather a potpourri of distinctive yet gentle fullness. By this point, I would no longer consider the fragrance just a leather chypre. Musk is not overly present but connects all elements with its warmth.

By the way, FENDI is one of the very few fragrances where I can accept the rosewood. I know it as pure wood and believe I can occasionally identify it in perfumes - rare enough, you little perfumer tricksters!

Thank you @Parfumaholic for this exciting and also moving journey!

Aside from a few fragrances, I don't want anything else from the past back. Almost nothing.

Tar-like, leathery oud, wherever it may come from. Bright, fresh top notes, slightly lemony, garnish the beautiful cardamom. A floral, sweet, and soft bouquet in the heart, which, however, remains quite subdued on fabric.

At some point, the citrus notes marry with the smoky, medicinal-animalic tones; all paired with a strong and almost earthy spiciness. This is somehow brilliant and also somewhat demanding. I believe that fans of strong ouds will truly enjoy this.

MGO fragrances generally don't seem to be made for every perfume lover, and certainly not for quick, thoughtless use ("Everyday Wear", "No Brainer", "Daily Driver").
Here, it requires attention, deeper interest, a desire for an olfactory journey, and sometimes a bit of courage.
The fragrances - and Arabian Oudh in particular - reward this with a truly great and exciting scent experience.
I can only thank the dispenser for these truly wonderful experiences!

Masculine depth and warmth: extensively green with lavender and a hint of petitgrain, paired with a figgy-resinous patchouli spiciness. Nutmeg, cloves, and allspice quickly make their presence known.
Then cedar-like and woody, simultaneously moss-soft, almost a bit juicy, yet held in check by vetiver and galbanum. Geranium also adds an extra green accent. And then there’s a touch of dry bitter green: bay leaf? Or just the listed oregano?
On fabric, a peppery freshness dominates the scent impression, less so on my skin.

The development progresses very slowly, and over the course of the next hour, I discover new facets of the fragrance; in the middle, I even feel slightly reminded of "Agua Brava (Eau de Cologne) | Puig" (I need to add that to my watchlist again), which, from my memory, cannot compete with this warmth and fullness.

What really becomes noticeable for me only after a good hour is the beautiful warm smoky note - like cigarette smoke in its most pleasant form (even for a non-smoker like me).
Finally, the perfume heads into the final stretch with wonderful oak moss and the already mentioned warm and slightly spicy cinnamon note.
The impression of allspice runs through the entire progression, and what remains is an surprisingly strong, almost massive, ambery sweetness - the perfumer's connection to oriental fragrances becomes clear here. This type of base should be liked; less of it would have been better for my taste, and thus the fragrance unfortunately loses half a point in the final meters.

Nevertheless: MGO POUR HOMME impresses with complexity, fullness, three-dimensionality, and a development that never gets boring. One tends to underestimate the strong drydown - it makes sense to apply the fragrances from the label sparingly in general. Two sprays are more than enough for me, but that’s the same with Xerjoff or other current bestsellers.

I thank the sample provider very much for the discovery of this formidable fragrance!