01/12/2019
Elysium
815 Reviews
Elysium
4
It Strikes Me as a Scent that Exudes Laid-back Confidence
A few days ago, I had a chance to get into a ZARA store and came across three recently released colognes, all of them were in a big 120ml bottle and an EDP concentration. Hi-Lo Country was one of those, the bottle is the same as the most recent release of Vibrant Leather and From Paris to NY EDP but embellished with a colored eco-leather basket, dark blue with indigo accents under the light, and a magnetic cap. Of course, the price is a bit higher for a ZARA fragrance, yet the packaging, the size, and the perfume concentration should justify that. Because they have just arrived in that store, there were no testers available, and I blind bought a couple of them.
As I was looking forward to sniffing those new toys, I instantly opened them as soon as I got into my car. Whoa! Hi-Lo Country was the first, and my nostrils got filled with a devastatingly handsome and more intense bouquet than ever, which tells the tale of a roguish frogman. One of the most delicious, sweet, metrosexual scents in the designer game greeted me. Yes, I'm starting to get the distinct impression that I have a fondness for this fragrance! Hi-Lo Country is a fragrance built upon contrasts, moving from deeply seductive facets to casual freshness like the rolling of the tides, thoroughly modern, with a fresh outlook and a streak of rebellion.
The opening of Hi-Lo Country is a meeting of the torrid sensuousness of dark lavender accented with peppery mint and something fruity, and I reckon it is pear or apple with the former the most alleged. It is bittersweet, with a few smooth citruses from the lemon peel and sharp bergamot that produce a candy-like mildness that is akin to bubble gum. From the very first whiff and throughout the heart, there is a beautiful yet not overstanding powderiness coming from the orris note. I relish it, albeit it is not similar to Dior Homme iris with that well-known lipstick accord, anyhow a delicious orris creaminess is exuding more and more from my skin.
Momentarily, this may not sound appealing for some people, but it soon settles on my skin into something warm and smooth, and a scent that I find very appealing. In the heart, a frisson of fresh spices creates contrast, the sweet, mild spiciness of the cinnamon bark blends with the bitterness of the clary sage, a note that I could unmistakenly recognize in any cologne containing it. Although the heart doesn't quite have the same impact as either the head or base, it acts as an ideal interlude for setting the scene. Such a warm hiatus slowly evaporates to reveal the mouthwatering and sweet gourmand notes of vanilla.
The vanilla's sensual embrace endures as the base emerges with a resinous blend of cedarwood and sweet, earthy patchouli. Particularly seductive notes of labdanum interact with the vanilla to create an overtly amber and leathery accord. Amber and leather become more evident in the late dry down, but besides that, there's nothing else to speak of here regarding development, this accord creates an unforgettable trail.
The recent trend for fruity gourmand male fragrances inspired Hi-Lo Country, sort of falls into the same category as a fragrance like 1 Million and Ultra Male. Smooth, candy cotton-like sweetness, with enough staying power to be a night club favorite. Embracing an excess of aromatic, lavender, and amber notes, it's a modern take on the Amber Oriental Fougère family.
Projection wise, I would rate it as a reliable starter that fades into something much more moderate. It does have exceptional longevity on my skin, over 8 hours, maybe a little longer on some wears. It's pretty excellent in that regard. Both sillage and longevity perform admirably with a refined yet powerful trail over the entire day. While the projection is somewhat weaker, this makes the sillage much more effective.
Regarding seasonality, Hi-Lo Country is very well suited to the colder months, late fall and all winter. Thanks to its strikingly amber and gourmand accords, it's something that performs well in a seductive fire-lit environment or the frosty night air. However, wear it during the day, depending on the situation. Although it wouldn't be a particularly office-friendly fragrance, it's perfect for high school or clubbing on a night out.
Hi-Lo Country is a youthful fragrance with its fruity notes and the cologne targets for younger people. As it's somewhat unconventional to feature fruity notes in a male scent, older generations may find this a bit too unorthodox for their tastes.
Overall, I would recommend Hi-Lo Country, provided you like this kind of scent. Some guys don't like sweets, and if that's you, pass on this cologne. Otherwise, I find this to be fun to wear, just another grand entry from ZARA.
-Elysium
As I was looking forward to sniffing those new toys, I instantly opened them as soon as I got into my car. Whoa! Hi-Lo Country was the first, and my nostrils got filled with a devastatingly handsome and more intense bouquet than ever, which tells the tale of a roguish frogman. One of the most delicious, sweet, metrosexual scents in the designer game greeted me. Yes, I'm starting to get the distinct impression that I have a fondness for this fragrance! Hi-Lo Country is a fragrance built upon contrasts, moving from deeply seductive facets to casual freshness like the rolling of the tides, thoroughly modern, with a fresh outlook and a streak of rebellion.
The opening of Hi-Lo Country is a meeting of the torrid sensuousness of dark lavender accented with peppery mint and something fruity, and I reckon it is pear or apple with the former the most alleged. It is bittersweet, with a few smooth citruses from the lemon peel and sharp bergamot that produce a candy-like mildness that is akin to bubble gum. From the very first whiff and throughout the heart, there is a beautiful yet not overstanding powderiness coming from the orris note. I relish it, albeit it is not similar to Dior Homme iris with that well-known lipstick accord, anyhow a delicious orris creaminess is exuding more and more from my skin.
Momentarily, this may not sound appealing for some people, but it soon settles on my skin into something warm and smooth, and a scent that I find very appealing. In the heart, a frisson of fresh spices creates contrast, the sweet, mild spiciness of the cinnamon bark blends with the bitterness of the clary sage, a note that I could unmistakenly recognize in any cologne containing it. Although the heart doesn't quite have the same impact as either the head or base, it acts as an ideal interlude for setting the scene. Such a warm hiatus slowly evaporates to reveal the mouthwatering and sweet gourmand notes of vanilla.
The vanilla's sensual embrace endures as the base emerges with a resinous blend of cedarwood and sweet, earthy patchouli. Particularly seductive notes of labdanum interact with the vanilla to create an overtly amber and leathery accord. Amber and leather become more evident in the late dry down, but besides that, there's nothing else to speak of here regarding development, this accord creates an unforgettable trail.
The recent trend for fruity gourmand male fragrances inspired Hi-Lo Country, sort of falls into the same category as a fragrance like 1 Million and Ultra Male. Smooth, candy cotton-like sweetness, with enough staying power to be a night club favorite. Embracing an excess of aromatic, lavender, and amber notes, it's a modern take on the Amber Oriental Fougère family.
Projection wise, I would rate it as a reliable starter that fades into something much more moderate. It does have exceptional longevity on my skin, over 8 hours, maybe a little longer on some wears. It's pretty excellent in that regard. Both sillage and longevity perform admirably with a refined yet powerful trail over the entire day. While the projection is somewhat weaker, this makes the sillage much more effective.
Regarding seasonality, Hi-Lo Country is very well suited to the colder months, late fall and all winter. Thanks to its strikingly amber and gourmand accords, it's something that performs well in a seductive fire-lit environment or the frosty night air. However, wear it during the day, depending on the situation. Although it wouldn't be a particularly office-friendly fragrance, it's perfect for high school or clubbing on a night out.
Hi-Lo Country is a youthful fragrance with its fruity notes and the cologne targets for younger people. As it's somewhat unconventional to feature fruity notes in a male scent, older generations may find this a bit too unorthodox for their tastes.
Overall, I would recommend Hi-Lo Country, provided you like this kind of scent. Some guys don't like sweets, and if that's you, pass on this cologne. Otherwise, I find this to be fun to wear, just another grand entry from ZARA.
-Elysium
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Elysium
