Tortenheber2

As a self-confessed IPA fan, I went looking for something along the lines of "citrusy and hoppy" just for fun. The result was a Murphy & Mcneil, which is advertised with the characteristics "Beer, Citrus, Pine, Sweet Florals, Hops".

Now then. How would I describe it?

The India Pale Ale basically seems citrusy-fresh to me. When I put it on, I initially think of a freshly cut lemon. However, the citrusiness then develops gradually and slowly shifts from initially strongly acidic notes with associations of grapefruit and ginger to sweetness, whereby "sugared pineapple" would probably be the best description. This impression is framed by softer notes of honey and vanilla. The whole thing finally leads to a base that I would describe as green, earthy, malty and somewhat resinous. I can't really pinpoint these more precisely because they clearly recede behind the basic citrus characteristics.

Based on a "real" IPA, I have to say that this perfume comes quite close to the sweet and sour pineapple notes of a craft beer. However, I'm a bit split here. One part of me thought "Eww, toilet stone" at first. The other part took some time and let the perfume work on my skin and in the room for a while. This led to the above associations. The fragrance is therefore "complex" in the sense that you have to give it some time to take in the individual layers/components.

As far as the typical characteristics of "beer, hops and malt" are concerned, I have to say that these are really very restrained here. The maltiness is most likely to come out through the sweetness. The hoppiness, on the other hand, is probably represented by the bitter citrus notes. The aromatic green parts of a hoppy beer, which would probably be best described as "pine", can be sensed but are not clearly present. Incidentally, I don't get the impression of pure beer at all - which is probably a good thing.

What remains is a refreshingly citrusy aroma that moves back and forth between acidity and sweetness (with a tendency towards sourness) and is rounded off by an unobtrusive green to resinous-malty base.

I would classify the H/S in the midfield.

The bottle is - let's keep it short - just a cheap bottle with a self-printed sticker.

The price performance is otherwise really solid.

The Bosphorus is a really beautiful and well-rounded fragrance.

To me, it smells like the essence of aqua and floral. The rose is clearly recognizable and actually has a very authentic effect. The impression of salty sea is actually quite good for what a perfume can do synthetically. However, I struggle with the pine. There is perhaps something slightly resinous, but only a hint of it.

Apart from that, this perfume has a certain barber store flair for me. It is reminiscent of a fresh, elegant men's shave. But without being too synthetic and clinical.

What distinguishes the fragrance in my opinion: It doesn't take on too much. It is neither unnecessarily complex nor playful. The olfactory notes are well organized and, as such, remain in the air for a surprisingly long time without changing their characteristics. This makes it a really uncomplicated, long-lasting companion for everyday wear.

For me, Intense Pepper is a fragrance that I will always remember. On the one hand, it is very present and invigorating due to its spicy, sharp sillage. On the other hand, the floral, woody base creates a feeling of warmth and maturity. An underrated combination in my opinion!

The strong pepperiness in the opening is really bold, but somehow also unique. It actually creates a noticeable impression of spiciness, almost astringent, pungent. However, I would say: positively astringent, because it is simply something different and is rounded off well by the heart and base, without serving the pure end in itself of "pepper in your face".

I can't help but find this fragrance exciting. It's one of the few fragrances that I really enjoy having on my skin for a long time. But maybe that also makes me a kind of "special snowflake".

Where do I start?
I was actually expecting a counterpart to Mandarino di Sicilia that would give the impression of freshly cut bergamot. I had already tried the Mandarino once and was quite taken with how fresh and authentic the citrusy note came across there, without seeming particularly artificial, as is the case with many fruity perfumes.

So now the bergamot.

I'll try to describe it in phases:
The opening is very fresh and sparkling, with a clear citrusy note. However, I cannot clearly identify the fruit. On the one hand, there is an impression of lemon, a little orange. On the other hand, there is something synthetic, alcoholic, which reminds me more of the pungent smell of artificial lemon cleaner. This is quickly followed by a floral, sweetish note that follows without any clear edges. The whole thing is embedded in a soft musky base, which for me is typically perceived as vanilla-powdery.

On the whole, not an overly complex scent, without any surprises. It's a shame that the effervescence disappears relatively quickly. After just a few minutes, the bergamotto is only moderately citrusy for me. After an hour at the latest, the softer notes clearly predominate, which don't smell too special to me either.

I find the Mandarino more interesting and, above all, more authentic, albeit with similar problems in terms of longevity.