Warilol

I never thought that after all these years I would feel the urge to write a comment again, but this fragrance has absolutely captivated me and drawn me in immediately.

The title describes the scent quite aptly, as it draws from both worlds, and does so with great success.

Similar to Imagination by LV, there is a citrusy tea note here, which is beautifully underlined by a wonderful green-herbaceous base. This fragrance immediately reminds me of Torino21, as it also features that fantastic mint, which harmonizes perfectly with the basil and serves as a prime example of a "green" scent association, without veering into a harsh or overly "niche" direction.

The impression of a green scene is generated in this MFK by fennel and verbena, but overall it feels very tame, simple, and pleasing, just like XerJoff's summer hit. So we don't have a herb garden here, like we know from "French Lover / Bois d'Orage | Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle."

Anyone who likes fragrances like Imagination and Torino21 should definitely give the Aqua Media Cologne Forte a try. With a rating of 7.7, it still flies under the radar in my opinion and hasn't received the attention it deserves. A real insider tip!

In search of my perfect mint fragrance, I also came across this "cool" one here, which was supposed to replace the widely popular L'Homme Idéal Cologne from the L'Homme Ideal line. I can't really understand why Guerlain made this move, as I really like the Cologne, but evidently, it was due to poor sales figures.

I tested many colleagues, such as Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca or "Love the way you Taste | Kilian," to name just a couple of examples. Both are also great fragrances where the mint was very authentically represented, but in the end, I always faced the same problem: the more realistic and straightforward the mint was conceived, the more boring I found the wearing experience of the fragrance. I have come to the conclusion that while it is exciting and refreshing to have that note in a perfume, I simply do not want to wear it. Do you know this feeling? You find a fragrance super exciting, but ultimately, it is just not really practical as a perfume.

This is exactly where L'Homme Idéal Cool comes into play, as the mint here is packaged in such a way that it provides a refreshing coolness, yet is not staged as authentically as in the other fragrances I tested. This may be a negative argument for some, keyword synthetic, but for me, it works very well here!

Alongside the well-known neroli-almond that we already found in "L'Homme Idéal Cologne | Guerlain," there is a citrusy mint that adds a zesty, almost lemonade-like, slightly sweet touch to the overall picture, without coming across as kitschy or overly synthetic. The DNA of the Ideal line, particularly the Cologne, is thus noticeably continued here.

This green freshness is rounded off by a vetiver waving from afar; I explicitly do not want to perceive Ambroxan here. H/S are not particularly strong, 5-6 hours on the skin, longer on textiles, but completely okay for me.

I am going to stick my neck out a bit and claim that this fragrance is a hybrid of L'Homme Idéal Cologne and "Guerlain Homme (Eau de Parfum) | Guerlain," with the influence of the latter being noticeably less, but in my opinion, still present.

So, if you are looking for a green and modern-wearable mint fragrance and do not expect a realistic depiction of that component, you should definitely give this one a try. For me, "Cool" is a real insider tip that completely gets overlooked in the L'Homme Ideal line.

It took me 3 years to finally muster the courage to write my first Aventus comment, as it was indeed, like for so many perfume enthusiasts, the first niche fragrance that was allowed to join my collection. But why even write a comment about this legendary scent? Everything has already been said. The smoky pineapple, we all know that by now. I would rather use this comment to share my experiences with this fragrance, address controversies, and finally draw a conclusion after 3 years of Aventus.



1: Aventus the "Pantydropper" - From Niche Fragrance to Status Symbol

I really don't know where this sexist term originated, but it probably sprang from the vulgar mouths of various influencers who presented their so-called perfume collections to their average 14-year-old followers on various social media channels with words like "Dude" and "Bro." This is probably also the reason why Aventus is now offered only behind closed display cases in many perfumeries, as the crème de la crème of the urban club scene allegedly gathers in front of the big "D" to indulge in the legendary panty remover. One status to spray on, please! Here we have probably reached the first milestone. Aventus, once a hidden gem among perfume enthusiasts, has now become a viral phenomenon and status symbol.

I personally view this controversy with a smirk. Of course, I wore Aventus on dates and let myself be guided by its charm, but what can I say, to this day I have not received a single compliment from a woman when wearing this fragrance. I think we all know that a man who is self-aware does not need a fragrance to win a woman's heart. Of course, a fragrance is a nice gimmick in the getting-to-know-you process, but in my opinion, a positive response to a perfume is primarily tied to the wearer's likability. The term "Pantydropper" is simply shabby, and the fragrance does not really deserve to be associated with such connotations, which is a shame!



2: Romance Among Men and Improved Business Relationships

While Aventus is usually not recognized by women and considered an ordinary scent, it is a true magnet among men. I could tell you countless stories of being approached on the street by strangers who then engaged me in conversation because of the fragrance and practically threw their arms around me. It creates a certain bond when someone wears an apparently "unknown" scent for which one had to pay a lot of money. Somehow interesting, and I think this happens with no other fragrance. It becomes really exciting when a fragrance helps you gain a certain advantage or reputation in your profession. As a testing engineer, I am in close contact with clients every day and usually navigate all business levels. Recently, I had to supervise a test in plant engineering at a large chemical company. On-site, numerous craftsmen were bustling about, as well as the technical director of the company. After a brief conversation, he started sniffing the air and simply said: "Who is wearing this perfume? Hey, this is AVENTUS?" The craftsmen looked visibly puzzled and annoyed, especially when he began creating a perfume cloud with his notepad so that everyone could perceive the scent. When I then said that I was wearing the fragrance, he couldn't stop raving. "Best perfume, folks, this man has taste, but it's very expensive, 100 ml costs almost €300." I find it incredibly interesting what effect a fragrance can have, even if it was used more for bragging in this case. Still, it created a certain connection between me and the technical director, and my reputation with him increased as a result, completely independent of the professional component. I am sure that this is not possible with any other fragrance! Whether I think that is good or bad, I won't evaluate at this point.


3: Batch Hysteria, Aging Processes, and Creed's Dilution Tactics

No Aventus without batch discussions! This is something that pretty much every Aventus fanboy has to endure in some form during their perfume journey. I, too, let myself be dragged down by this exhausting topic time and again, especially at the beginning of my passion. YES, the differences exist, definitely! By now, it is probably no secret that earlier batches were "smokier," while the newer ones are apparently "fruitier." But honestly, what does this realization bring you? What is the point of this eternal search for the Holy Grail or batch? Constant checks of longevity on my wrist, is it now smoky or rather fruity? Is it as good as my decant from 2015, or should I spend €1000 on a vintage batch? ERROR! It was only after I tried all the dupes out of frustration and had already annoyedly written off Aventus that I realized that I was completely losing the joy of a fragrance whose DNA I actually find absolutely wonderful and unique.

In my opinion, Aventus 2020 is still an absolutely great fragrance, which you may just need to give some time to mature, just like my bottle did. After 3 years, the longevity at 8 hours is absolutely satisfactory, while the fruity top note is still just as present as it was with the first spray.

I am sure that the fragrance has often been reformulated due to regulations, but somehow I don't care anymore as long as the scent creates magic when sprayed on and tells a story as it develops. Why does a fragrance always have to last 12 hours? I now see this quite relaxed and enjoy Aventus to the fullest, even more than ever before. A fragrance that, for me, still ranks among the best in the perfume landscape after all these years. It has often been copied, but not a single dupe comes even close to the depth and quality of the original. When I spray Aventus, I feel like squeezing fresh fruits in my hand. There’s no smell of alcohol, nothing is synthetic, simply wonderful!

In conclusion, a piece of advice to all Aventus wearers: Think less, enjoy more!

I am always fascinated when I look at the release years of my absolute favorite fragrances. When I do this, a journey into the past automatically begins in my mind, where I reflect on my situation back then and indulge in memories.

This one was probably released in 2009, my God, back then I had just started studying and my biggest problem was the recurring question of where to party on the weekend and how to get home. Interestingly, I can still remember exactly which fragrances I used back then: It was a mix of Boss Bottled, which I always stole from my father, or some €5 scents from the drugstore; I believe there was even a certain fragrance from the Playboy brand involved, shame on me.

At that time, it probably wouldn't have occurred to me to indulge in niche fragrances from a certain Maison Francis Kurkdjian. The chance that I would have dismissed it as a boring fresh laundry scent would have been quite high, and I also wouldn't have been able to understand that a fragrance could actually cost over €100.

Well, times change, now I sit in my home office and my nose constantly wanders to my sweater, which received a few spritzes of that divine liquid this morning. A clear, airy purity that is rounded off in a gentle way by a light floral touch. The citrus mentioned in the pyramid is, for me, typically MFK and results, as already described, in a generally fresh opening, without the bergamot sitting in my nose as it usually does in this genre.

I can't exactly explain why this fragrance is so perfect for me, but one might think it was destined for me. When I presented this fragrance to my mother - which I do with every new addition, she always eagerly follows my collection - she immediately gushed and said with sparkling eyes: Ohhhhh, lily of the valley! She was instantly thrilled, just like I was.

Fascinating, a fragrance from 2009 that only enchanted me in 2020. Eventually, what belongs together comes together.

Even though most of Xerjoff's fragrances don't appeal to me much due to their DNA, this one, alongside Nio, a very nice citrus scent, has caught my attention positively. While Nio didn't make it into my collection due to its hefty price, I was able to acquire this one at a good discount price.

As an owner and lover of Creed's Silver Mountain Water, which is compared to this fragrance just like its predecessor Mefisto, I want to attempt a description of the flanker Gentiluomo.

To visualize the scent, imagine the following scenario: A serious, well-dressed gentleman wears Silver Mountain Water and is getting a haircut from an Italian barber. The result is a powdery fragrance creation that indeed bears certain similarities to barbershop scents, while still retaining the well-known, silvery, and clear DNA of the Creed classic.

A wonderful and high-quality scent that leaves a nice, clean, and bright musk on the skin over time, while I can also definitely recognize green nuances here. What I particularly like is the fact that bergamot and lemon play a rather subordinate role. They do add a certain freshness to the fragrance, but do not result in that citrusy zest one usually finds in scents that have those components in the top notes.

Even though the fragrance is quite linear and simple, its quality is clearly noticeable in my opinion. I would also like to positively assess its longevity. The scent noticeably radiates in the first 4 hours, even for me as the wearer, it is distinctly perceivable during this time. Even after a typical 8-hour workday, it refuses to disappear from my wrist, lasting for days on clothing.

Lovers of the mentioned Creed fragrance should take a closer look at this Xerjoff. If the original was perhaps too scratchy and metallic for you, this powdery interpretation might just be to your liking.