In order to write a proper commentary on Aaron Terrance Hughes "Animalix" in the first place, I took plenty of time. Time that, in my opinion, is also necessary to get to know this fragrance in all its glory - on the one hand, to perceive it as a perfume in its own right, and on the other hand, to apply it as it is intended: for layering.
On YouTube, Aaron Terrance Hughes explains the concept of Animalix in a two-and-a-half-minute video in an understandable and precise way. This creation was conceived as something that the wearer should not apply independently as a day or evening fragrance, but as a base to push his own weaker or more boring fragrances, to give them body and above all to make them last longer. For the development of Animalix, he exclusively used typical base notes of an animalic nature (as the name already suggests). That first of all the starting point.
In fact, I didn't find it entirely easy to think about how to construct this commentary. First, let me say that my bottle of Animalix is based on the first batch and the old transparent bottle, not the current matte black design. Perhaps I'll start first with my very first thoughts and impressions of Animalix, which I had after first applying the scent to my skin independently, without layering. After the very first spray on and sniff, my insides first screamed "STOP! TOO BRUTAL! STOP, STOP, STOP - everything back to square one!" as my nose was almost overwhelmed by heavy, animalic notes that felt like they were destroying everything around me. Such brute force of perfume (one of my first thoughts was also whether this even qualifies as perfume), was just too much to take in all at once. So I had to gradually feel my way to what was there on my wrist at first in great waves of scent floating around me. I closed my eyes and thought of the first association that came to mind: it was night, cold and wet, mist hung over the gentle slopes and between the trees of the dark forest I was roaming. Without suspecting what dangers I might encounter in this forest, I decided to go on and explore the surroundings, especially not only with my eyes, but also with my nose. Then suddenly I smelled it, it had to be very close. The smell that came to me all at once, so strong that a shiver ran down my spine, stood for all that I then saw with my eyes - a big, hairy beast. So when I imagine what a mythical creature looks like in the form of a big, hairy and aggressive beast, Animalix is just that realization of it in the form of a perfume. Beastly, with long-haired, dirty, wet fur - yep, that's what came to mind.
The question, of course, is whether you want to smell like that. I'll say this, if you're really really brave, you're welcome to try it, but you should be prepared to quickly chase away the immediate area with your presence, just as a big beast probably would.
Instead, I've taken the last few weeks to just layer all of my fall and winter perfumes with Animalix. Why just fall and winter? Because the light spring and summer fragrances against Animalix have not the slightest chance, I have already given up after a few attempts. Fresh scents last a few minutes, then it's over and Animalix completely displaces them. For the experiments with my autumn and winter fragrances, I would now like to make a list of the perfumes that I have combined with Animalix and describe what I found on my skin. I won't go into details about the individual fragrances, otherwise that would go beyond the scope of this article. The layering was done in a ratio of 1:2 - one spray of Animalix and 2 sprays of the other perfume on top. Rather, it should be a kind of guideline to describe from my subjective point of view, which fragrances could be combined well with Animalix and which not. In doing so, I follow no particular order, but simply list them one after the other:
- Mugler Pure Havane: Works well, takes sweetness something out and makes the fragrance more masculine
- Davidoff Amber Blend: Works great, it creates an interesting incense note
- Roberto Cavalli Uomo: No chance for Cavalli, is slain by Animalix
- Aaron Terrance Hughes Chocolate, Rose & Oud: too brutal, the scents almost cancel each other out
- Rasasi La Yuqawam: Beastmode Mal 2, harmonizes well, possibly an indication that leather scents are a good fit
- Tom Ford Noir Extreme: Surprise - Noir Extreme beats Animalix after a while
- Tom Ford Noir EDP: alpha combination, but Noir disappears steadily after 2 hours
- Montale Chocolate Greedy: no, no and no again - does not fit at all together
- Margiela By the Fireplace: fragrance becomes smokier, woodier, light incense impact
- Margiela Jazz Club: less sweet, slightly animalic, very masculine, pleasant
- Mugler Pure Tonka: Very dark, slightly animalic, beastmode times 2
- Valentino Uomo Noir Absolu: hardly noticed any changes, can be let
- Dunhill London: has no chance against Animalix
- Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud: well, too much of a good thing, stresses you and the environment
- Fragrance One Date for Men: Date drowns out for a long time even Animalix, so that Animalix is hardly to smell. After that, it harmonizes well and throttles the sweetness. Strong thing, Jeremy ;-)
- Mugler A*Men: A*Men is Beastmode and drowns out even Animalix
- Montale Ristretto Intense Cafe: Good combination, harmonizes
- Salvatore Ferragamo Uomo: Although Ferragamo is Beastmode in itself, it is slain by Animalix
- Calvin Klein CK Shock: Unharmonious, especially in the opening
- Gucci Intense Oud: Does not fit well and takes Gucci the "elegant"
- Polo Green: Polo Green more dominant than Animalix, but with unpleasant touch
- Bond No.9 Success is a Job in New York: good harmony, woody, dark
- JPG Ultra Male: leave it, will nix
- Penhaligon's Sartorial: no, not harmonic
- Armaf Craze: mix of bitter animalic and creamy dark, quite good together and Beastmode
- Valentino Uomo EDT: nope, no chance
- Jacques Zolty Severo: no chance against Animalix
- Gisada Ambassador for Men EDP: not harmonious
Well then, so that's my list, maybe it's a little help. I emphasize again that this is a purely subjective assessment in combination with ATH Animalix. Clearly, holdability and sillage are mega. One thing strikes me though, now that I've owned Animalix for a few months: The beast seems to be tamed a bit, meaning that that brutality from the beginning isn't there as much anymore, instead it seems sweeter and more balanced to me now too. Still, I wouldn't wear it alone.
Do you have to have it now, the Animalix? Not necessarily, but who wants to dare the experiment, can quietly treat yourself to a bottling. On a second purchase, however, I like to do without, but recognize the thought and the idea of Aaron Terrance Hughes definitely :-)
BoBoChamp
Amazon1975
