01/06/2022
Elysium
816 Reviews
Elysium
2
A Modern Bubblegum Thing
I recently included Black in my winter rotation, but I realized that many users had classified it as a cologne for the warmer months. So, I checked it online and learned that the flankers of Le Mâle, the Fraiche editions, inspired this perfume. Of course, it will look familiar if you also own the bottle of Le Mâle Eau de Toilette. Oddly enough, ZARA released Black Man a couple of years before Le Mâle Eau Fraîche Popeye Edition or Le Mâle Eau Fraîche Superman Edition. However, although I now know that he is supposed to be a fresher version of Le Mâle Eau de Toilette, It is so sweet that I can hardly feel refreshed when I wear it. Black goes through the winter like nothing. Brief bright, fresh prologue, above all thanks to the menthol notes, then the aromatic intermediate stage, and sweetish epilogue.
Black is an oxymoron, a fresh and luscious fragrance at the same time. The ultra-fresh notes of minty things combine with the ultra-candy notes of bubblegum with tonka sweetness in the background. It's like eating a soft, juicy Big Babol flavored with mint! To me, it's a bubblegum-type fragrance, but it's different from the typical Invictus-type bubblegum. This one is lighter and more aromatic. It rises heavily for me, but I can tolerate experiencing a delightful mellowing down into something fresher and sparkly. The dance opens a blast of mellow rhubarb, crisp citrus blossoms, tangerine, and bittersweet grapefruit. I got big, and I mean huge, chewing gum vibe.
That's the lighter part, so you don't know what to expect later. The citrus blossom and fruits lead into a heart dominated by aromatic herbs such as lavender and sage, a place where keeping it lighter makes the overall effect better. Both lavender and sage blend perfectly to release a bitter, woodier, and herbal accord that works very well. Enough trained nose will catch Ambroxan in the background, adding a delicate airiness and salty depth to the blend. Besides, the heart features a mild and spicy nutmeg, which is not mentioned, but it pops up and stays throughout.
A more massive, powdery sweetness comes in next and dominates the sensual dry down. The green aromatic nuances in the cologne resonate for about a few hours and then give way to a vanilla and amber background. In this phase, it gives off warmth. Only an intense smell at the place of application of the fragrance allows you to detect the scent of green and woody aromas now. It's the fusion of woods, resins, and tonka, with the Ambroxan as the principal source of woodiness. The coumarins are always there to make it close enough to the sweet woody foundation that defines Le Mâle Eau de Toilette. I don't get too much smokiness, meaning that the incense resin is not overwhelming and not a principal actor.
Even though it is aimed at the warmer seasons, it might be too sentimental for some like myself, in too hot weather like Italian summer. It has the typical bubblegum vibe of modern fragrances, such as 1 Million Eau de Toilette and Invictus Eau de Toilette, Rochas Man Eau de Toilette, Sculpture Homme Eau de Toilette, or Eros Eau de Toilette. Black is a playful and casual daytime scent that may be too sweet for hot weather. Conversely, its mellow projection ability could be great in cold weather. Black is very playful that shines on casual daytime and workdays. It lasts many hours for projection, and then it turns into a warm, powdery perfume on the skin. Do not blind-buy this one if you dislike the sweetness in modern fragrances or are not intimate with Le Mâle species.
I based this review on a 100ml I have owned since July 2018.
-Elysium
Black is an oxymoron, a fresh and luscious fragrance at the same time. The ultra-fresh notes of minty things combine with the ultra-candy notes of bubblegum with tonka sweetness in the background. It's like eating a soft, juicy Big Babol flavored with mint! To me, it's a bubblegum-type fragrance, but it's different from the typical Invictus-type bubblegum. This one is lighter and more aromatic. It rises heavily for me, but I can tolerate experiencing a delightful mellowing down into something fresher and sparkly. The dance opens a blast of mellow rhubarb, crisp citrus blossoms, tangerine, and bittersweet grapefruit. I got big, and I mean huge, chewing gum vibe.
That's the lighter part, so you don't know what to expect later. The citrus blossom and fruits lead into a heart dominated by aromatic herbs such as lavender and sage, a place where keeping it lighter makes the overall effect better. Both lavender and sage blend perfectly to release a bitter, woodier, and herbal accord that works very well. Enough trained nose will catch Ambroxan in the background, adding a delicate airiness and salty depth to the blend. Besides, the heart features a mild and spicy nutmeg, which is not mentioned, but it pops up and stays throughout.
A more massive, powdery sweetness comes in next and dominates the sensual dry down. The green aromatic nuances in the cologne resonate for about a few hours and then give way to a vanilla and amber background. In this phase, it gives off warmth. Only an intense smell at the place of application of the fragrance allows you to detect the scent of green and woody aromas now. It's the fusion of woods, resins, and tonka, with the Ambroxan as the principal source of woodiness. The coumarins are always there to make it close enough to the sweet woody foundation that defines Le Mâle Eau de Toilette. I don't get too much smokiness, meaning that the incense resin is not overwhelming and not a principal actor.
Even though it is aimed at the warmer seasons, it might be too sentimental for some like myself, in too hot weather like Italian summer. It has the typical bubblegum vibe of modern fragrances, such as 1 Million Eau de Toilette and Invictus Eau de Toilette, Rochas Man Eau de Toilette, Sculpture Homme Eau de Toilette, or Eros Eau de Toilette. Black is a playful and casual daytime scent that may be too sweet for hot weather. Conversely, its mellow projection ability could be great in cold weather. Black is very playful that shines on casual daytime and workdays. It lasts many hours for projection, and then it turns into a warm, powdery perfume on the skin. Do not blind-buy this one if you dislike the sweetness in modern fragrances or are not intimate with Le Mâle species.
I based this review on a 100ml I have owned since July 2018.
-Elysium
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Elysium
