Shepilein

Oh Tom, I'm actually not very fond of you. So many fragrances that cost a small fortune and are only mediocre. So if there's one brand I avoid, it's yours. I usually make a big detour around the perfume section with your name on it. I also think it's exaggerated that most people can't even try out what you've created. Sniffing in peace is not an option. Someone has to dig a small bottle out of a drawer somewhere and this bottle is then sprayed on me under strict observation. Not particularly classy, if you ask me. Under these unpleasant circumstances, I tested Tobacco Vanilla, as it is supposed to be in the vein of my favorite perfume. I have to be honest and say that it has not landed in 6th place on the list of favorite unisex perfumes for no reason.

It is fully loaded and doesn't exactly start shyly. A progression is skillfully dispensed with here. Right from the start, Tobacco Vanille is almost honey-like. Oozing, heavy, sticky and sweet. There is also the smoky part of tobacco, which makes the fragrance less gourmand. I personally think that despite this honey-like characteristic, it is not a gourmand fragrance. Now to the vanilla. Vanilla is a difficult subject; on its own, vanilla can quickly smell very cheap. Just like in those weird body sprays for teenagers. I'm all the happier that the vanilla here is the bitter vanilla pod rather than this Dr. Oetker aroma. Even as a vanilla pod, it's there as a companion rather than the main player. The resin and ginger have been refined with it, so to speak. Together, this results in this thick, sweet, golden nectar. Sweet, bitter and smoky go very well together. As already mentioned, Tobacco Vanilla is very straightforward. Why be so changeable when you can show off with a good fragrance combination. I don't think that's wrong either. Tobacco Vanille shows what it can do right from the start.

This composition is heavy, but also addictive. Just 2 spritzes and you're good to go. Otherwise it takes your breath away. It lasts all day on my skin and almost 4 days on my clothes. A real beast fashion perfume, which is not always the case for Tom Ford.

A really beautiful perfume that many people love. But the big thing is and remains the price.

I once read a review of a perfume in which the user described the scent of pink pepper with pencils. Somehow that made me smile. Does that make me a pencil sniffer now? I can only say that I am a pink pepper fan and can see a certain parallel. Lipstick associations come to mind with fragrances with pink pepper and violet. So why not include all the pencils?

I can smell pink pepper immediately, so I knew straight away that The Original by Eight & Bob was for me. It's a very special fragrance: spicy, woody and somehow synthetic. I personally think the lemon is the perfect combination. Tangy and spicy go really well together and so the fragrance takes me to the next stage. If you're not a pink pepper fan, I have to disappoint you, the pink berries remain and are your intimate companions. As many before me have already described, it plays with creaminess and the pink berries in combination. It is therefore not a sweet fragrance. If you had to categorize the fragrance, I would put it in the "Your Skin but better" category. The warm components merge with the pink pepper and create this elegant scent for me, which is very delicately interwoven with the other fragrance notes. This "pencil-like" note is much stronger at first, but becomes much more buttery as it progresses and is willing to compromise with the other notes. In the dry down, it is really whipped cream-like and I find that really beautiful. The pink pepper remains very gently in the background and lets itself be enveloped by the whipped cream. A super pretty pink pepper fragrance that might even win over the pink pepper skeptics. Not a trace of retro lipstick ...

The bottle looks elegant and minimalist. It must contain a fine, milky essence. The name confirms this association. Expectations rise. The first spray is gentle. Fresh, milky and not sweet. But not yet fig milk. Some fragrances that want to convey milky components rely on pears. That's why I'm a little surprised that there's supposedly mandarin in the top note. The fragrance is not citrusy or fruity. After the very mild start, it turns green. The fig takes over everything. Embedded in powdery milk, the fragrance becomes a mixture of musk and nature. When I tested the fragrance a long time ago, I also thought it smelled a bit like cucumber. A bit of Moscow Mule is not necessarily bad in itself, but the milky component somehow fizzles out as a result. The fig definitely reminds me of Philosykos by Diptyque. Whereby Philosykos is even greener and more herbaceous. The dry down, on the other hand, is meaningless. Pleasantly soft and somewhat warmer, with a hint of tonka bean. Unfortunately, that doesn't make it stand out. I find the fragrance beautiful and, above all, suitable for everyday use. However, I don't buy the fragrance because I have Philosykos at home. What's more, the fragrance is just between the door and the door. If it is to be sandalwood, then more of it please. I really like the top note because it simply radiates pure milk. Unfortunately, I find the fig too strong as it progresses. It's strange to see me writing this, as I actually love figs. It somehow comes across as if you were looking for a note that gives the whole thing character. Out of love for figs, they went a little overboard. It should therefore rather be called "Fig Blanc". Unfortunately, the sandalwood theme is lost.

Fortunately, there is still a Karstadt near me, and while most customers rush straight to the Tom Ford, Parfums de Marly and other recommended fragrances, I am always drawn to the hidden treasures that are often overlooked. Such is the case with Olfactive Studio's fragrances, which are tucked away in the very back corner of the fragrance department. The Chambre Noir, dusty and unnoticed, aroused my curiosity.

I have to say that I don't quite notice the pink pepper that is supposed to be present at the beginning. Although the initial spray is peppery, it is more characterized by more incense. The incense is a little sweet and not as heavy, which in my opinion makes the fragrance less heavy and doesn't make you recoil. Patchouli is the driving force, constantly operating in the background, much like a sound engineer. Fortunately, it is not too strong, as this could quickly become old and musty. Nevertheless, these two notes alone make the fragrance dark and wicked. To date, I have found the fragrance beautiful, but not groundbreaking.

Now I could almost say that it's like a burlesque show. The curtain swings aside and she appears: the plum. That alone sounds salacious. She gives the whole thing that certain something. For me, plum embodies a note that definitely radiates sensuality. Mature, feminine, wicked and mysterious. In combination with the already heavy notes, plum brings a beautiful fruity ripeness. Slightly sweet and velvety soft, the fragrance is a well-rounded affair. This does not change in the base note. It becomes a little more animalic and creamy, but the essence of the fragrance remains. It is definitely, as some have already described it here, a night-out fragrance. Something for a bar where you drink whiskey in style. The light is dimmed. Almost like in a darkroom. The alcohol is going to my head, or is it the perfume? I've just been wrapped around my finger.

As for the similarity to other fragrances: it's a mixture between Tobacco Vanilla and Cartier Oud Santal. The plum is already very present, so I wouldn't say it's like Tobacco Vanilla. Oud Santal is a bit more similar with the plum note.

The experience of walking into an Aesop store is quite special. I have to say, the perfumes look more like hand soaps in these pump containers. Despite the look and this somewhat special presentation, I am pleasantly surprised. "Marrakesh Intense" does not convince with the intensity of spices. If you are looking for a spice bazaar in Morocco, Aesop is perhaps not the right place for you. Arabian perfumes such as the Lattafa brand offer a variety of spice bombs to choose from. As soon as you enter the store, Aesop gives you the feeling of a spa. This atmosphere is also reflected in the perfumes. "Marrakech Intense" therefore reminds me of a visit to the hammam with steam sauna in a 5-star hotel in the old town of Marrakech. Beautiful fragrance oils float in the air and the scent trail is not overloaded, but finely balanced. It is not too intrusive, but rather calming.

This version of Marrakech is refined with a little more rose and jasmine. Initially, the cardamom and clove are very intense. The spices associated with Marrakech are present in moderate quantities. As the fragrance progresses, the spices fade somewhat. What remains is still a spicy fragrance, but in a finer version. The floral notes, especially the rose, are beautifully balanced with the other nuances. This gives the perfume a hint of holy water. I personally find spa fragrances very nice, and for me Marrakech can also smell subtle and not quite so spicy. Perhaps I'm still missing some mint, green tea and honey to represent the character of Morocco. But this is a more abstract interpretation of Marrakech. I am of the opinion that not everything that has oriental traits has to smell exactly like all the spices. "Marrakech Intense" is Aesop's own interpretation of Marrakech, in a beautiful spa style. The fragrance is quite special, as many spa fragrances smell either very citrusy or strongly of cedar wood. This fragrance is a pleasant change and smells really high quality to me.