Top Rated Reviews
2019
Elysium
Love All Its Perfect Imperfections
As soon as I came across the Mexico stories collection on Zara official site I was looking for assaying it. The collection as of now includes two pieces, A Day in Mexico and Mexico Soul. These new releases have been created by the perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, they smell different from one another, and both are gorgeous, allegedly for day and night wearing respectively. The package is similar to the recent summer releases of New Your stories collection by Jerome Epinette, which covers Cool Heights, Greenery, and White Soho, a subtle carbon box with flipping doors and a colored elastic band for closing them, some hints from the perfumer written inside and a description of the collection. The bottle is dark brown, chic, yet I expected a magnetic cup to complete that format as a high-end Zara's cologne, which is miserably not there.
First things first, according to the box's ingredients, the pyramid features lavender, sage, pineapple, melon, cinnamon, cedar, and vanilla other than the three main notes listed here and on the Zara official site. It's a warm, cozy, spicy cross between a gourmand and a semi-spicy oriental, a nice release by Zara that succeeds because it smells good and doesn't try to do too much. While it is familiar, I'm not automatically reminded of any other specific recent release of Zara. To my nose cedar is quite prominent from the beginning and sticks around for most of the life of this fragrance, with whiffs of pencil shaver now and then. Thankfully I adore cedar as a woody note and together with the vanilla and cashmeran, which here actually just smells like a sort of sweet amber, it creates a very soothing vibe.
Mexico Soul confirms the modern masculinity trend, and its opening is promising: sensual cardamom, sweet cinnamon and a kind of like peppercorn drenched in warm, aphrodisiac bourbon vanilla. It opens up reminds me of Azzaro Wanted. They aren’t the same, Mexico Soul is much better in my mind, and doesn’t have that same lemon note sitting there. The cardamom, however, really hits the same chord in the beginning. Again, this one smells better, it’s got a fresher vibe with the minty and peppery accord, and the oncoming warmth of the rest of the notes.
In the heart, in contrast to the intoxicating scents of spices and vanilla is a fresh and delicious pineapple blended with tropical melon. A few minutes into the wear, the sage note, struck my nose. I like it, helps to add a layer of freshness, in a warmer and sweeter type of cologne.
The next phase of this Zara's jewel, the vanilla, really begins to come through. The cardamom is stronger at first, but thereafter it’s the vanilla’s fragrance. The first thing to notice here is how well the vanilla and cardamom pairs together. When the vanilla comes in, it is a sweet/spicy blend, with a solid amount of wood at the base. Cedar with a slight amber added. The pepper, sage, and cardamom bring a warm spice that livens up that already incredible vanilla/cedar combination.
The very basis is a mixture of uncompromising masculinity embodied in cedar and cashmeran wood notes and the animalistic attraction of amber and leather, a soothing suede. As aforementioned, the amber vibe should come from the cashmeran and is not like the ambroxan we are used these days.
Projection wise, the sillage of Mexico Soul is pretty darn strong. It’s not the loudest bomb of a fragrance ever, but it’s not going to require very much. I used about three sprays, during my test run, and that got me a noticeable scent bubble around me. This cologne hits at least 8 hours or more of wear. I sort of lost track of it, during this wear, but it was there throughout the day. It’s not weak and it performs very well. You’re not going to get ripped off by the performance and you just have to try on your skin in these autumn days. Seasonally, this one is for the colder months. Its too sweet and has a certain thickness to it, that’s not going to be great, in the high heat. Outside of that though, this one can hang beautifully in the air.
In my opinion, this is the perfect "date night" scent due to its sweet, alluring vanilla base, but since there's also a degree of freshness present in there, it can be used for work and more casual situations as well, if you go light with it, and over the course of a day you appreciate it more rather than become sick of it, even though night out and clubbing are the best occasions. There are no discordant notes in the blend, nothing is out of place, and overall the ingredients feel like they're of good quality, mostly synthetic yet good (i.e. molecules from Firmenich, Givaudan, etc.). I think Mexico Soul is an excellent option for someone who kind of likes scents like Invictus, Versace Eros, and Azzaro Wanted, but ultimately finds them too crass, abused, and juvenile to wear on any kind of consistent basis. Mexico Soul takes a more elegant approach, it's a bit more refined. In the era of sweet masculines, this is an example of one that's been done the right way. Thumbs up.
Side note: I might be wrong, but compared side by side on my hands, Mexico Soul is closely akin to Emporio Armani Stronger with You, the original release not to be confused with the Intensely.
-Elysium
First things first, according to the box's ingredients, the pyramid features lavender, sage, pineapple, melon, cinnamon, cedar, and vanilla other than the three main notes listed here and on the Zara official site. It's a warm, cozy, spicy cross between a gourmand and a semi-spicy oriental, a nice release by Zara that succeeds because it smells good and doesn't try to do too much. While it is familiar, I'm not automatically reminded of any other specific recent release of Zara. To my nose cedar is quite prominent from the beginning and sticks around for most of the life of this fragrance, with whiffs of pencil shaver now and then. Thankfully I adore cedar as a woody note and together with the vanilla and cashmeran, which here actually just smells like a sort of sweet amber, it creates a very soothing vibe.
Mexico Soul confirms the modern masculinity trend, and its opening is promising: sensual cardamom, sweet cinnamon and a kind of like peppercorn drenched in warm, aphrodisiac bourbon vanilla. It opens up reminds me of Azzaro Wanted. They aren’t the same, Mexico Soul is much better in my mind, and doesn’t have that same lemon note sitting there. The cardamom, however, really hits the same chord in the beginning. Again, this one smells better, it’s got a fresher vibe with the minty and peppery accord, and the oncoming warmth of the rest of the notes.
In the heart, in contrast to the intoxicating scents of spices and vanilla is a fresh and delicious pineapple blended with tropical melon. A few minutes into the wear, the sage note, struck my nose. I like it, helps to add a layer of freshness, in a warmer and sweeter type of cologne.
The next phase of this Zara's jewel, the vanilla, really begins to come through. The cardamom is stronger at first, but thereafter it’s the vanilla’s fragrance. The first thing to notice here is how well the vanilla and cardamom pairs together. When the vanilla comes in, it is a sweet/spicy blend, with a solid amount of wood at the base. Cedar with a slight amber added. The pepper, sage, and cardamom bring a warm spice that livens up that already incredible vanilla/cedar combination.
The very basis is a mixture of uncompromising masculinity embodied in cedar and cashmeran wood notes and the animalistic attraction of amber and leather, a soothing suede. As aforementioned, the amber vibe should come from the cashmeran and is not like the ambroxan we are used these days.
Projection wise, the sillage of Mexico Soul is pretty darn strong. It’s not the loudest bomb of a fragrance ever, but it’s not going to require very much. I used about three sprays, during my test run, and that got me a noticeable scent bubble around me. This cologne hits at least 8 hours or more of wear. I sort of lost track of it, during this wear, but it was there throughout the day. It’s not weak and it performs very well. You’re not going to get ripped off by the performance and you just have to try on your skin in these autumn days. Seasonally, this one is for the colder months. Its too sweet and has a certain thickness to it, that’s not going to be great, in the high heat. Outside of that though, this one can hang beautifully in the air.
In my opinion, this is the perfect "date night" scent due to its sweet, alluring vanilla base, but since there's also a degree of freshness present in there, it can be used for work and more casual situations as well, if you go light with it, and over the course of a day you appreciate it more rather than become sick of it, even though night out and clubbing are the best occasions. There are no discordant notes in the blend, nothing is out of place, and overall the ingredients feel like they're of good quality, mostly synthetic yet good (i.e. molecules from Firmenich, Givaudan, etc.). I think Mexico Soul is an excellent option for someone who kind of likes scents like Invictus, Versace Eros, and Azzaro Wanted, but ultimately finds them too crass, abused, and juvenile to wear on any kind of consistent basis. Mexico Soul takes a more elegant approach, it's a bit more refined. In the era of sweet masculines, this is an example of one that's been done the right way. Thumbs up.
Side note: I might be wrong, but compared side by side on my hands, Mexico Soul is closely akin to Emporio Armani Stronger with You, the original release not to be confused with the Intensely.
-Elysium
1 Comment
JSpines
Ralph Lauren Safari
The fact that this smells "dated" is exactly why I love it. What is "smelling dated" anyway? To me, how something smells to someone is all about perception and what appeals to each individual. Personally, I go by the notes within the scent to decide if it's for me or not. My tastes are varied, as varied as they can be while still being governed by my wallet! HA! I never smell a fragrance and think, "wow, this smells like 1989, 1997, 2006 or 2019." I don't know what a "year" is supposed to smell like. I just know if it appeals to me or not. I think trends are a real thing though and with each decade, there are trends in fragrance, just like in fashion, hair, make-up, decor or whatever it may be. It drives me crazy when people smell a scent and say "ew, that smells like an old lady!" Most mature women I know, smell absolutely fabulous. Confidence goes a long way when sporting a fragrance.
My Grandmother used to wear Timeless by Avon and it smelled lovely on her. She didn't care that some perfume snobs looked down on Avon, she loved her perfume and her confidence in wearing it made others think that she smelled divine. Same thing with my Aunt and her Charlie by Revlon or my Mom and her Tabu by Dana. They rocked those scents because THEY loved them on themselves, all else be damned! There is a woman I work with who always wears Eternity by Calvin Klein. My goodness, she smells like a million bucks and you can tell that she loves the scent herself, just by the way she carries herself. I find people like this, impressive and inspiring. Wear what you love, even if everyone questions it! Life is too short for any other nonsense!
I suppose when people say that a fragrance smells dated, it's because what was on-trend then has now become off-trend. I, for one, prefer this. Generally speaking, I have no desire to smell like the masses. I even layer scents now and then to make up my own concoction and why not? It's fun for me to conjure up some kind of "swamp-water!" HA!
Safari, oh glorious Safari. Beautiful in every way. Blended to perfection. A little dry, a little green, a little spicy, a little florally and a lot classy! I adore it. I much prefer it over the men's version which I don't find nearly as fetching.
The bottle, a gorgeous piece of art, ensures that long after the golden liquid has disappeared, it will be kept, empty or not. I don't display my fragrance bottles (they are kept hidden away in a dark cabinet) but if I did, this one would be front and center.
Safari lasts all day on me and only really starts to fade after about 10 hours and even though it's fading out by then, I still catch whiffs.
If this fragrance is considered dated by today's standards then I will happily wear that badge with honor.
My Grandmother used to wear Timeless by Avon and it smelled lovely on her. She didn't care that some perfume snobs looked down on Avon, she loved her perfume and her confidence in wearing it made others think that she smelled divine. Same thing with my Aunt and her Charlie by Revlon or my Mom and her Tabu by Dana. They rocked those scents because THEY loved them on themselves, all else be damned! There is a woman I work with who always wears Eternity by Calvin Klein. My goodness, she smells like a million bucks and you can tell that she loves the scent herself, just by the way she carries herself. I find people like this, impressive and inspiring. Wear what you love, even if everyone questions it! Life is too short for any other nonsense!
I suppose when people say that a fragrance smells dated, it's because what was on-trend then has now become off-trend. I, for one, prefer this. Generally speaking, I have no desire to smell like the masses. I even layer scents now and then to make up my own concoction and why not? It's fun for me to conjure up some kind of "swamp-water!" HA!
Safari, oh glorious Safari. Beautiful in every way. Blended to perfection. A little dry, a little green, a little spicy, a little florally and a lot classy! I adore it. I much prefer it over the men's version which I don't find nearly as fetching.
The bottle, a gorgeous piece of art, ensures that long after the golden liquid has disappeared, it will be kept, empty or not. I don't display my fragrance bottles (they are kept hidden away in a dark cabinet) but if I did, this one would be front and center.
Safari lasts all day on me and only really starts to fade after about 10 hours and even though it's fading out by then, I still catch whiffs.
If this fragrance is considered dated by today's standards then I will happily wear that badge with honor.
Legal Strain for the Soul
Today I'd like to introduce you to Marijuana, which is another Kolmaz's scent together with Chameleon, Canabis, and Arabi Cana that I have in my collection and I already reviewed. Its name intrigued me at first, just curious to know how would the strain smell like. Of course, the scent is legal, and there is no THC in there. As the name suggests, the perfume is relatively addictive. It wears a long lasting fragrance which is to linger on for hours.
Marijuana is beautiful. It is ascetic, dark, thick, dry, sour, resinous with an intense bitter aromatic sensation. Yes, a feeling, because it is not part of the notes description. After it all settled, I immediately had this impression of a compromise between Arabi Cana and Ferrari Essence Leather. It has a strong opoponax and bitter herbs quality.
Provided that I've never smoked any derivative strain of cannabis, the scent opens with a strong smell of leafy and shady notes, and there are no citrus features, it is all about black and aromatic lavender leaves and other things that create a herbaceous and fern aura. The overall opening is sour and opulent, and there are sparks of artichoke, the distinct bitter and pungent flavor you get when you bite and artichoke leaf, and something that reminds me of rhubarb. The fresh and strong leather accord is ready to explode and announce itself in the background.
As the scent develops you get leather, leather, and again leather, the soothing scent of old leather. It is earthy, rough, with a few shades of wet woods and amber accords. To love this cologne, you must be fond of leather in any of its shapes, the smooth, the raw, the dull, the musky, and the tanned one. And the heart reveals the earthy aspect of the cannabis. Here I get an earthy and leafy note that I am not acquainted and I have never met in any other scent I own. Hence I surmise, but I am not sure it could be the strain.
The scent smells that ways for a while, it takes time to enter into the dry down phase, which releases a bittersweet amber trail with a touch of powdery notes, allegedly from vanilla, opoponax resin or some artificial mossy accord. It is not a baby powder talc smell, and slightly it has a velvety and animalic dusty accord.
My overall impression is good. Marijuana is a green, earthy and resinous cannabis, not as smoky as Arabi Cana, at least the ashtray facet is not present. It does not project too far, and the sillage is moderate. However, the longevity is above the average, all day long I would hazard to say. I recommend wearing this drug during the day in wet and cold seasons, late fall, early spring, and all winter are the best times. I see both young and mature men wearing it, at the office, and during leisure weekend, nonetheless, women who dare might wear it as well.
I wish I would not get addicted to Marijuana since the more I smell it, the more I fall in love with it. The scent persists over a day and night, you will get a raw licorice like smell that includes ‘aniseed-like’, ‘earthy’ and ‘burnt’ alongside more unusual odors: ‘sweaty’, ‘foxy’ and ‘deep-fried', dark petroleum and dirty patchouli,.
-Elysium
Marijuana is beautiful. It is ascetic, dark, thick, dry, sour, resinous with an intense bitter aromatic sensation. Yes, a feeling, because it is not part of the notes description. After it all settled, I immediately had this impression of a compromise between Arabi Cana and Ferrari Essence Leather. It has a strong opoponax and bitter herbs quality.
Provided that I've never smoked any derivative strain of cannabis, the scent opens with a strong smell of leafy and shady notes, and there are no citrus features, it is all about black and aromatic lavender leaves and other things that create a herbaceous and fern aura. The overall opening is sour and opulent, and there are sparks of artichoke, the distinct bitter and pungent flavor you get when you bite and artichoke leaf, and something that reminds me of rhubarb. The fresh and strong leather accord is ready to explode and announce itself in the background.
As the scent develops you get leather, leather, and again leather, the soothing scent of old leather. It is earthy, rough, with a few shades of wet woods and amber accords. To love this cologne, you must be fond of leather in any of its shapes, the smooth, the raw, the dull, the musky, and the tanned one. And the heart reveals the earthy aspect of the cannabis. Here I get an earthy and leafy note that I am not acquainted and I have never met in any other scent I own. Hence I surmise, but I am not sure it could be the strain.
The scent smells that ways for a while, it takes time to enter into the dry down phase, which releases a bittersweet amber trail with a touch of powdery notes, allegedly from vanilla, opoponax resin or some artificial mossy accord. It is not a baby powder talc smell, and slightly it has a velvety and animalic dusty accord.
My overall impression is good. Marijuana is a green, earthy and resinous cannabis, not as smoky as Arabi Cana, at least the ashtray facet is not present. It does not project too far, and the sillage is moderate. However, the longevity is above the average, all day long I would hazard to say. I recommend wearing this drug during the day in wet and cold seasons, late fall, early spring, and all winter are the best times. I see both young and mature men wearing it, at the office, and during leisure weekend, nonetheless, women who dare might wear it as well.
I wish I would not get addicted to Marijuana since the more I smell it, the more I fall in love with it. The scent persists over a day and night, you will get a raw licorice like smell that includes ‘aniseed-like’, ‘earthy’ and ‘burnt’ alongside more unusual odors: ‘sweaty’, ‘foxy’ and ‘deep-fried', dark petroleum and dirty patchouli,.
-Elysium
3 Comments
MrHonest
Extraordinary value.
This is my first and quite possibly only foray into the Franck Olivier line, and I have to say, I'm reasonably impressed. No, oudVanille is not a mass-appealing scent by any stretch of the imagination, but for the price I paid for this stuff, the juice is well above reproach.
Essentially, what we have here is a standard, non-animalic, rose-oud combo with a gourmand touch. The opening is a somewhat screechy, mildly medicinal, yet understated sweet and synthetic oud (despite the listed notes), with a touch of florals in the background. If you've been in the niche market sampling sweet ouds for any amount of time, you'll recognize the smell immediately.
Within minutes after the initial spray, there is a fruitiness that comes to the forefront, giving the composition a distinctly peachy overtone, but without ever becoming 'jammy'. For many men looking for a more masculine oud, this could be a deal breaker as it brings an additional feminine touch to the already present florals. As the spices settle in, the rose, sandalwood, benzoin and vanilla take over, and the fragrance quickly takes on the garb of an ashy and caramel-ish gourmand, similar in character, but not identical to Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule - one of my all-time favourite rose-based scents.
Unfortunately, the fruits and florals barely hang on as the cedar and spices quickly push through and transform oudVanille within an hour or two into a sweet and spicy cedar-vanilla. And that's about how it stays for the duration. Overall though, the fragrance is nowhere near as overbearing or loud (on my skin) as some people have made it seem. The projection is definitely excellent, especially in the mid, but the longevity is only good. Can't say much about the cheap bottle, plastic cap and crappy atomizer though.
Still, for the price, this is easily the most niche-esque juice I've encountered to date - that is to say, thoroughly underappreciated by the less experienced if you know what I mean... Completely unisex and leaning formal/night out/evening wear, oudVanille could even be a daily staple for someone living in a cool or frosty climate.
The fact of the matter is that if you're someone just getting into the oud game and don't feel like shelling out for a bottle of god-knows-what for god-knows-how much, give this one a go. If you don't like it, go home. Oud is not for you. :P If you love it, consider yourself lucky. It wasn't easy finding this stuff. Caaaause let's be franck - there are FAR stronger, more natural and interesting ouds out there. OudVanille.....is only an introduction.
Essentially, what we have here is a standard, non-animalic, rose-oud combo with a gourmand touch. The opening is a somewhat screechy, mildly medicinal, yet understated sweet and synthetic oud (despite the listed notes), with a touch of florals in the background. If you've been in the niche market sampling sweet ouds for any amount of time, you'll recognize the smell immediately.
Within minutes after the initial spray, there is a fruitiness that comes to the forefront, giving the composition a distinctly peachy overtone, but without ever becoming 'jammy'. For many men looking for a more masculine oud, this could be a deal breaker as it brings an additional feminine touch to the already present florals. As the spices settle in, the rose, sandalwood, benzoin and vanilla take over, and the fragrance quickly takes on the garb of an ashy and caramel-ish gourmand, similar in character, but not identical to Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule - one of my all-time favourite rose-based scents.
Unfortunately, the fruits and florals barely hang on as the cedar and spices quickly push through and transform oudVanille within an hour or two into a sweet and spicy cedar-vanilla. And that's about how it stays for the duration. Overall though, the fragrance is nowhere near as overbearing or loud (on my skin) as some people have made it seem. The projection is definitely excellent, especially in the mid, but the longevity is only good. Can't say much about the cheap bottle, plastic cap and crappy atomizer though.
Still, for the price, this is easily the most niche-esque juice I've encountered to date - that is to say, thoroughly underappreciated by the less experienced if you know what I mean... Completely unisex and leaning formal/night out/evening wear, oudVanille could even be a daily staple for someone living in a cool or frosty climate.
The fact of the matter is that if you're someone just getting into the oud game and don't feel like shelling out for a bottle of god-knows-what for god-knows-how much, give this one a go. If you don't like it, go home. Oud is not for you. :P If you love it, consider yourself lucky. It wasn't easy finding this stuff. Caaaause let's be franck - there are FAR stronger, more natural and interesting ouds out there. OudVanille.....is only an introduction.
1 Comment
Oleo
A new and modern masterpiece
There are things subject to opinion, but there are others that absolutely not... And much of what I have read about this perfume, is simply a lie.
First of all, I got it... So at least, I know perfectly what I am talking about: I don't write a review based on four snorts on a cardboard.
For me - without a doubt -, this perfume is at the highest level of designers quality... And in my honest opinion, one of the best recently launched: the definition of a modern masterpiece.
This perfume is deep and fresh, comforting and modern, creamy and elegant... A highly seductive fragrance. The main player here is musk, wrapped in sophistication, romanticism and mystery.
Characteristics:
- Mood: Sensual, seductive, elegant, classy.
- Projection: Moderate. At the opening, it has the length of an arm ( 10h.
This scent acts as a deep cloud of refined musky aroma around you, for a looooong time.
... So if you really know the perfume, in no way will you believe the words of someone saying that it doesn't last:
Possibilities:
- 1: The guy in question simply hasn't been tried the true perfume.
- 2: It's a simple lie.
- 3: His nose doesn't work or is broken; I have read that some people are not able to detect the smell of musk well, but I don't know if this is really true.
- 4: Maybe his body odor is so smelly that it exceeds the perfume; musk is a "bass" smell (making an analogy with sound), which can be completely masked with body odor, if it is excessive.
... But if you are a clean and neat person, this would not be a problem, right..?
NOTE:
It should be noted that this EDP version it is quite different from the EDT, which is the one that has a slight resemblance to TdH & Declaration. That doesn't happen in this EDP, although the versions still maintain some common DNA.
Between the two, I prefer the EDP: It's more elegant, more seductive and lasts longer, but the EDT hits and projects more in the opening, if you're looking for that. It's different... But a solid fragrance, too.
First of all, I got it... So at least, I know perfectly what I am talking about: I don't write a review based on four snorts on a cardboard.
For me - without a doubt -, this perfume is at the highest level of designers quality... And in my honest opinion, one of the best recently launched: the definition of a modern masterpiece.
This perfume is deep and fresh, comforting and modern, creamy and elegant... A highly seductive fragrance. The main player here is musk, wrapped in sophistication, romanticism and mystery.
Characteristics:
- Mood: Sensual, seductive, elegant, classy.
- Projection: Moderate. At the opening, it has the length of an arm ( 10h.
This scent acts as a deep cloud of refined musky aroma around you, for a looooong time.
... So if you really know the perfume, in no way will you believe the words of someone saying that it doesn't last:
Possibilities:
- 1: The guy in question simply hasn't been tried the true perfume.
- 2: It's a simple lie.
- 3: His nose doesn't work or is broken; I have read that some people are not able to detect the smell of musk well, but I don't know if this is really true.
- 4: Maybe his body odor is so smelly that it exceeds the perfume; musk is a "bass" smell (making an analogy with sound), which can be completely masked with body odor, if it is excessive.
... But if you are a clean and neat person, this would not be a problem, right..?
NOTE:
It should be noted that this EDP version it is quite different from the EDT, which is the one that has a slight resemblance to TdH & Declaration. That doesn't happen in this EDP, although the versions still maintain some common DNA.
Between the two, I prefer the EDP: It's more elegant, more seductive and lasts longer, but the EDT hits and projects more in the opening, if you're looking for that. It's different... But a solid fragrance, too.
2 Comments
The Black Soul of a Man in Black
I have been owning Capucci Anima Nera for almost three months now, waiting for a cooler season, and soon the right time has come. If you are anything like me, you'll know that lately, Roberto Capucci has been releasing colognes that remind, but are not a rip-off, the most sought-after and expensive scents like Aventus Creed (Evento), Bleu de Chanel (Blu Water), and Dior Sauvage (l' Homme Suave) just to mention a few. Right of the bat, when I noticed this latest release on the shelf, labeled Anima Nera (e.g. Black Soul) my mind thought about Black Afgano, yet I was wrong.
When I smelled it, I immediately put a scene in my head: silk shirts and dark leather couches, a good cigar and an aged Islay whiskey. I feel like there's a story with every note of this perfume. Anima Nera is miles apart from Black Afgano, it is something in the same room as V&R Spicebomb and Bvlgari Man in Black and ain't a secret that the two of them are interchangeable and closely akin one another.
By the way, let's see what sort of juice is hidden in such a black bottle with a golden cap. First things first, intrepid and charismatic, the Capucci Anima Nera EDP is a contemporary neo-Oriental fragrance that presents irresistible and contrasting masculinity, appearing as a vibrant, powerful and utterly compelling aroma. It opens with the intensity of a boozy liqueur and peppery spices, yet there is a hint of smoky and sweet tobacco that doesn't smell like cigarette smoke but a little like cinnamon to me. The spice accord doesn’t go too overboard and seems to be tempered by the leather and tobacco notes which is a smooth complement to the main notes, it is subtle and smells manly, and it has somewhat of a CH Men Prive vibe in the opening and Spicebomb as well.
The extremely seductive combination of the opening notes sparks a captivating contrast with a blooming heart of hypnotic tuberose and powdery iris. Rarely used the tuberose flower in a masculine fragrance, the flower is a magnetic ingredient traditionally used in women’s perfumes, which flawlessly shines here among the spices and resins. And the iris is powdery, dusty, without the lipstick effect. Both iris and tuberose are not dominant, play in the background, and well blend with prestigious leather.
In the base, an ambery combination of dainty resins like benzoin I guess, sweet coumarin essence from vanilla pods or maybe roasted tonka beans, and woody dark notes show their irresistible appeal. As Anima Nera dries down, the tuberose starts to fade and the iris turns its volume down to an agreeable level.
Performance is good, longevity is decent, not sure about sillage, even though the woman sitting next to me yesterday evening was pleasantly sniffing every whiff of it. As an EDP, the scent lasts almost half the day and then you can touch up just before you knock off for it to go on for the rest of the day. On what occasions will I wear it to? Parties with my friends or to meet that special person whom I want to impress, evening and dinner out and clubbing in cold weather when it’s crisp outside, fall and winter are perfect for it. It is Voluptuous, Sultry, Dark, Intoxicating, Spicy, Opulent and Mysterious. Not everyone loves it, but the ones who do, seem to go nuts for it. That’s always a plus, in addition to me, really liking to wear it.
-Elysium
When I smelled it, I immediately put a scene in my head: silk shirts and dark leather couches, a good cigar and an aged Islay whiskey. I feel like there's a story with every note of this perfume. Anima Nera is miles apart from Black Afgano, it is something in the same room as V&R Spicebomb and Bvlgari Man in Black and ain't a secret that the two of them are interchangeable and closely akin one another.
By the way, let's see what sort of juice is hidden in such a black bottle with a golden cap. First things first, intrepid and charismatic, the Capucci Anima Nera EDP is a contemporary neo-Oriental fragrance that presents irresistible and contrasting masculinity, appearing as a vibrant, powerful and utterly compelling aroma. It opens with the intensity of a boozy liqueur and peppery spices, yet there is a hint of smoky and sweet tobacco that doesn't smell like cigarette smoke but a little like cinnamon to me. The spice accord doesn’t go too overboard and seems to be tempered by the leather and tobacco notes which is a smooth complement to the main notes, it is subtle and smells manly, and it has somewhat of a CH Men Prive vibe in the opening and Spicebomb as well.
The extremely seductive combination of the opening notes sparks a captivating contrast with a blooming heart of hypnotic tuberose and powdery iris. Rarely used the tuberose flower in a masculine fragrance, the flower is a magnetic ingredient traditionally used in women’s perfumes, which flawlessly shines here among the spices and resins. And the iris is powdery, dusty, without the lipstick effect. Both iris and tuberose are not dominant, play in the background, and well blend with prestigious leather.
In the base, an ambery combination of dainty resins like benzoin I guess, sweet coumarin essence from vanilla pods or maybe roasted tonka beans, and woody dark notes show their irresistible appeal. As Anima Nera dries down, the tuberose starts to fade and the iris turns its volume down to an agreeable level.
Performance is good, longevity is decent, not sure about sillage, even though the woman sitting next to me yesterday evening was pleasantly sniffing every whiff of it. As an EDP, the scent lasts almost half the day and then you can touch up just before you knock off for it to go on for the rest of the day. On what occasions will I wear it to? Parties with my friends or to meet that special person whom I want to impress, evening and dinner out and clubbing in cold weather when it’s crisp outside, fall and winter are perfect for it. It is Voluptuous, Sultry, Dark, Intoxicating, Spicy, Opulent and Mysterious. Not everyone loves it, but the ones who do, seem to go nuts for it. That’s always a plus, in addition to me, really liking to wear it.
-Elysium
1 Comment
Aldest
Grimoire - the mysterious old book ...
It is not just a scent.
Grimoire tells you stories ...
Very spiritual incense and yet human (beware: almost body/animal odors).
You leaf through an old spell book with fever, in a Benedictine monastery, near the garden.
You ARE a cathedral.
It is a very clever, rich and uncommon perfume - like all Anatole Lebreton's.
Some notes of Grimoire reminds me of my so beloved Ebène (Balmain).
Also a little like Irié "Nota Bene", but more interesting.
(very good performance on me)
Grimoire tells you stories ...
Very spiritual incense and yet human (beware: almost body/animal odors).
You leaf through an old spell book with fever, in a Benedictine monastery, near the garden.
You ARE a cathedral.
It is a very clever, rich and uncommon perfume - like all Anatole Lebreton's.
Some notes of Grimoire reminds me of my so beloved Ebène (Balmain).
Also a little like Irié "Nota Bene", but more interesting.
(very good performance on me)
Darkbeat
A fine and elegant rose-oud that smells expensive and costs little.
I was pleasantly surprised, I expected more synthetic, but it is extraordinarily good for its price range.
It is a pretty dark rose-oud combo with a lot of incense, very beautiful and nothing strident, but, you have to like this style of perfumes, if not, do not get close. It is in line with many more expensive perfumes, such as; Armani Prive Royal Oud, By Kilian Incense Oud, etc, etc, although it is also true that it lacks the many nuances and facets of these, but for the price it has is a beautiful perfume without the need for many notes. Basically you smell a very woody dark rose, with a very tame oud, nothing medicinal or animal, here is a deep and dark wood, which fits perfectly with this precious rose. The incense is at all times, giving this combo, depth, and a very beautiful smoky air.
It is a perfect perfume for those who want to start in this world of oud, here we have it very bearable and without eschatological tones, which will be liked by many western noses.
I received it this morning, and I have not tested it well to comment on the performance, but I risk saying that it has to be very good, since, a few hours ago I put it on my wrist, a small spray, and here it is still waging, anyway, when you test it well, I will update this review.
Dark perfume for cool and temperate climates, the heat does not think it is your ideal climate, but, even so, I think that a cool summer night would also suit you.
Very elegant and refined perfume, it is not a daily perfume, it is rather formal cut and special occasions, as I said it closely resembles some niche perfumes of high price, and you do not have to envy them anything. If you like the rose-oud combo in its finest and most elegant aspect, here is a perfect candidate.
It is a pretty dark rose-oud combo with a lot of incense, very beautiful and nothing strident, but, you have to like this style of perfumes, if not, do not get close. It is in line with many more expensive perfumes, such as; Armani Prive Royal Oud, By Kilian Incense Oud, etc, etc, although it is also true that it lacks the many nuances and facets of these, but for the price it has is a beautiful perfume without the need for many notes. Basically you smell a very woody dark rose, with a very tame oud, nothing medicinal or animal, here is a deep and dark wood, which fits perfectly with this precious rose. The incense is at all times, giving this combo, depth, and a very beautiful smoky air.
It is a perfect perfume for those who want to start in this world of oud, here we have it very bearable and without eschatological tones, which will be liked by many western noses.
I received it this morning, and I have not tested it well to comment on the performance, but I risk saying that it has to be very good, since, a few hours ago I put it on my wrist, a small spray, and here it is still waging, anyway, when you test it well, I will update this review.
Dark perfume for cool and temperate climates, the heat does not think it is your ideal climate, but, even so, I think that a cool summer night would also suit you.
Very elegant and refined perfume, it is not a daily perfume, it is rather formal cut and special occasions, as I said it closely resembles some niche perfumes of high price, and you do not have to envy them anything. If you like the rose-oud combo in its finest and most elegant aspect, here is a perfect candidate.
2 Comments
AntonioPORT
MiB - Me in a Bottle
No other fragrance I can remember can be an extent of myself so perfectly as this one.
This little guy has the power of a horse and the softness of a silk clothing when dries down to a skin scent after a minimum of 8h of great performance.
There's this magic of the tobacco nuances touched by a slight floral note in a boozy, woody, leather jacket style.
This fits my body and fills my soul… what an amazing scent, so manly, so daring, so unique, gentle and dry but warm in the heart.
If I had to have a signature scent I guess it was MiB, even knowing that he could struggle with me during some warmer days but… a smile in my face and a warm heart just makes me happy.
Spicebomb is a close friend… I don't see the two as much similar… although they share a lot, but Spicebomb is much more sweet. MiB is above that. Well done Bvlgari.
This little guy has the power of a horse and the softness of a silk clothing when dries down to a skin scent after a minimum of 8h of great performance.
There's this magic of the tobacco nuances touched by a slight floral note in a boozy, woody, leather jacket style.
This fits my body and fills my soul… what an amazing scent, so manly, so daring, so unique, gentle and dry but warm in the heart.
If I had to have a signature scent I guess it was MiB, even knowing that he could struggle with me during some warmer days but… a smile in my face and a warm heart just makes me happy.
Spicebomb is a close friend… I don't see the two as much similar… although they share a lot, but Spicebomb is much more sweet. MiB is above that. Well done Bvlgari.
4 Comments
The Cursed Masterpiece
I don't give a damn if the fragrance is more than 25 years old, or if the bottle is made of cheap plastic... And I don't even care if a teenager, a housewife or an astronaut like this fragrance or not.
This is a timeless masterpiece, created by Jacques Polge and François Demachy.
... Is there anything else to say?
Indeed, this is the olfactory gem that evokes the scent of vodka and the gothic rose... The cursed one, the underground legend that has reached these days, hidden among forgotten shelves of old perfumeries.
I've read that it has been discontinued, so hurry to get it. I already have some back up bottles...
Projection & Sillage are strong and longevity is very good (7-9h), especially in cold and humid weather.
... Sometimes you read a lot of nonsense in people's reviews. There are some disrespectful guys, some ignorant babble... And some absurd ideas, too. One of them, is that Ungaro III is a fragrance "too masculine".
Really? ... Are you kidding me? Those guys have lost their sense of smell snorting so much sugar overdose. Don't make me laugh! In case you hadn't noticed, we are men, yes... Not a fruit cake.
This fragrance is sophisticated, classy and mysterious... Perfect for dusk and nights. All seasons, all year... And of course, dressed up. ;-)
This is a timeless masterpiece, created by Jacques Polge and François Demachy.
... Is there anything else to say?
Indeed, this is the olfactory gem that evokes the scent of vodka and the gothic rose... The cursed one, the underground legend that has reached these days, hidden among forgotten shelves of old perfumeries.
I've read that it has been discontinued, so hurry to get it. I already have some back up bottles...
Projection & Sillage are strong and longevity is very good (7-9h), especially in cold and humid weather.
... Sometimes you read a lot of nonsense in people's reviews. There are some disrespectful guys, some ignorant babble... And some absurd ideas, too. One of them, is that Ungaro III is a fragrance "too masculine".
Really? ... Are you kidding me? Those guys have lost their sense of smell snorting so much sugar overdose. Don't make me laugh! In case you hadn't noticed, we are men, yes... Not a fruit cake.
This fragrance is sophisticated, classy and mysterious... Perfect for dusk and nights. All seasons, all year... And of course, dressed up. ;-)
3 Comments