... It's not warm when she's away
What has not been written about this fragrance. From "as if he oxidizes", to "old man vibes" to "expensive suntan lotion", "Langnese-Capri ice cream" and "stay here you top note". I would now like to make an attempt to classify and evaluate all this a little. For this purpose, I ordered a bottling here in the Souk, because I found the descriptions extremely exciting and could imagine that I could like the fragrance.
Let's start at the back; there is certainly something to each of these comments, with the top note of the fragrance being the most difficult for me. The scent starts off extremely herbaceous smelling like lavender. It should also be noted that this is real and natural lavender scent and not that fabric softener lavender scent that many may have in mind when they think of lavender (I did too at first, by the way). Most likely the start, as already written here, reminds of those lavender laundry bags, which are supposed to keep the laundry fresh (have made bad experience with it, by the way). You have to like this, otherwise the top note can put you off. This is certainly where the "oxidized" comment comes in, as the scent comes across so herbaceous that you'd think the lavender was eating into your skin. Also, the "old man vibes" can be found here, since the fragrance in the top note is most reminiscent of a fougère, which many associate yes with "barbershop" and "grandfather".
But those who persevere will be rewarded. After about 30 minutes, the extreme lavender retreats somewhat and makes room for a certain fruitiness paired with a first sweetness. The herbaceous, ie the lavender remains in the game, but keeps in the background. The result is indeed a scent reminiscent of "suntan lotion", as if you were lying on the beach in Provence with freshly lotioned skin and the lavender field in the background. Here, one could claim that the fragrance is a successful mixture of "Sun" by Jil Sander and, for example, "Beau de Jour". Here I recognize now also the mentioned "Capri ice".
In the drydown, so after about 3 hours, the sweetness is increasingly noticeable and gradually displaces the lavender, even if this never completely disappears. Instead, you can now clearly smell the vanilla and tonka bean out. Through this, the fragrance is certainly a little more pleasing for the majority, but also becomes a little more arbitrary and thus loses something of its specialness.
Overall, it should be noted that this is a very nice, especially varied fragrance, which certainly does not please everyone in the top note. The fragrance also definitely sprays a summer feeling, without being a "Freshie". Many complain that the name is misleading and not suitable for summer; I do not see it that way. It is certainly not suitable for the height of summer in the midday hours (since not fresh-citrusy), but certainly for cooler summer days or gladly also in the evening hours. Imagine you are on vacation, lay all day on the beach, returned to the hotel, freshly showered and would now like to end the evening outside in a small but fine restaurant. For this, there is almost no better fragrance than "Sunshine Man".
In general, the fragrance seems to me very universally applicable, despite, or perhaps because of its complexity. For example, who misses the sun in the deepest, gray November, should apply this fragrance, and you are immediately surrounded by a "sunshine aura" that it opens your heart. Bad mood in February? -Sunshine Man! Anticipation in April for the summer vacation? - "Sunshine Man"! Trip to the ice cream parlor at the end of September to catch the last rays of sunshine? - "Sunshine Man!" Or to paraphrase my headline, ".... It's not warm when she's away".
Longevity and sillage are beyond reproach. Amouage typical the fragrance is not stingy with its charms and should, especially in summer, be dosed carefully. Possibly you should even consider spraying the fragrance an hour earlier, before you go into a crowd.
The bottle (based on my experience of other Amouage bottles), looks classy and high quality. The magnetic lid is white here and as always with the men's bottles in the style of a handle of the Khanjardolches. The painted sun on the front of the flacon captures for me perfectly the essence of the fragrance (of course, together with the perfectly chosen names).
So now to the all-important question - is this fragrance worth it and who should get it. In principle, the fragrance can be worn by anyone, young or old. And even if it is here in principle a classic men's fragrance, I could imagine that women also like this fragrance or can wear, thanks to the drydown. On occasions (see above) it should also not lack.
Whether I will buy my own bottle, I can not yet say. If it is on sale, I will definitely give it some serious thought. And although I really like the fragrance, as is probably evident from my lines, I could imagine that the fragrance quickly becomes too much if you wear it too often; an "always walker" he is for ,me therefore not. And here is also a certain paradox, because the fragrance can also quickly addictive. Freely according to the motto:
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long