DonCologne

The Strawanza from the Viennese rogues was practically a must-try for me, as a little fougère lover and having lived in Vienna for a few years. Old-school vibes without appearing old-fashioned, an absolutely fair price-performance ratio with an interesting image and, on top of that, it can also be used as an after-shave... it all sounds very promising. Now living back in Germany, I am of course no longer able to "dance" through Vienna's nightlife on a regular basis, so I would have liked to have bought a bottle as a nice reminder of times gone by. A little over a year ago, the time had come and I had to make another trip to Vienna for work, which I promptly used to pop into the not-so-centrally located store of Viennese rogues in the 18th district.

The couple who run the store were absolutely friendly and visibly surprised and delighted that someone from Germany was looking for a direct route to their store because of their Strawanza. During the conversation, I naturally asked how they got hold of a recipe from 1953 and what it was all about. If I took it correctly from the conversation with the store owner, the trail probably leads to "Alt-Innsbruck - Eau de Cologne | Kosmetik R. Neuner / Proderma". The fact that the homepage of Kosmetik R. Neuner also sells Strawanza as pretty much the only fragrance alongside its Alt-Innsbruck probably confirms the suspicion that Strawanza was not the work of complete strangers.

About the fragrance: As soon as I sprayed it on for the first time in the store, it became clear that I had a different idea of Strawanza. Even though it may technically be a fougère, I tend to associate this type of fragrance with a fresh, green aftershave sharpness or, if they are milder and sweeter, at least with a certain soapiness. Neither was the case here, but a pithy, slightly earthy spiciness was perceptible. At the same time, the olfactory memory computer rattled... somehow it seemed pleasantly familiar. The store owner was kind enough to give me a sample and a greeting card and so I left the store with my fragrance strip. As soon as I had left the store, it suddenly hit me: this note, strongly reminiscent of bitter gingerbread, made me think of "Blackpepper | Comme des Garçons", which I really like. I like this prominent peppery note very much, but due to my existing acquaintance with Blackpepper, the "wow experience" (which I had with this one) did not happen with Strawanza. Overall, Blackpepper seems to me to be a bit more refined and deeply elaborated. It seems fresher, more potent, more valuable, deeper and also a little more extravagant to me, which is why I would reach for this one if in doubt. For me, Strawanza opens with a rather restrained mint and briefly comes up trumps with something earthy (patchouli) and spicy (a little clove and a lot of pepper), with some resinousness (labdanum) perceptible in the background. However, it quickly becomes softer and warmer and settles down to a dominant pepper note with a very subtle sweetness (probably musk and tonka).

Conclusion: Undoubtedly a pleasant, quite distinctive men's fragrance that fulfills its promise of being a rather classic, but not old-fashioned fragrance for me. The homepage warns that Strawanza can exert an almost magnetic attraction on the other person. The few female feedbacks I asked for were also rather positive, but not exuberant. I also had to ask for it because his projection is rather reserved and after a short time he sits rather close to the skin, which doesn't bother me too much. Furthermore, for me it is a rather spicy-woody fragrance and not a classic green-fresh fougère with a certain sharpness. That's not a bad thing, but I simply like the Blackpepper a lot better in this category. One last point of criticism could be that for a real Strawanza and rum driver, a little more "angularity" would have been good. A little "dirt", smoke, leather or "boozyness" would have suited the theme and definitely underlined the street and rogue image.

So here's what happened: Some here will know it. You're in the home office (I'm transitionally moved back to my parents in the country), because you bother no one with new (daring) fragrance experiments and can try in "protected atmosphere" new samples in abundance extensively. As one of these really daring fragrances, should turn out for me Megamare, but more about that in a moment...

I came across Megamare because I was pretty excited about Tom Ford's Oud Minérale and its spray/algae impact. Aquatic without the typical artificial freshness, but a freshness that at the same time brings a lot of (seaweed/sea) depth with it, yes that can be something.

Megamare also strikes first in a similar notch. I smell fresh sea air, a bit of seaweed and a fair amount of synthetic ozonic freshness. Also, the, I'll call it "salt accord", really intrigued me. When I put my nose under my t-shirt, there's actually a salty smell that's similar to smelling a jar full of salt. However, the synthetic sea freshness in Megamare is almost chemically pungent to aggressive and Oud Minérale just has more depth to it, is more rounded, natural and much better calibrated in its sillage for me. Nevertheless, Megamare didn't seem "unappetizing" to me at first. The synthetic freshness, the potency, the absolute linearity (I can hardly detect a thirst curve) and above all its sillage behaviour (transparent and yet very present)...all this reminded me in its "construction" rather of fragrances of the type Dior Sauvage. Accordingly positive reactions of my fellow men I expected. But it should come differently...

It was a hot summer day and I planned to go shopping. On days like this, I steer clear of sweet scents. That's where Megamare came in. It's merely fresh, so who would mind it. Aware of its strength, I felt on the safe side as I only applied two small spritzes - from a small 3ml pocket diffuser mind you. One on the back of my neck, one on my chest. As soon as my parents entered the house, the first comments came. "What have you put on again today, that smells awful?!" Me: "Hm, that's Megamare, something really "fine"...really that bad? Or rather, what does it smell like to you?" "Hard to describe...you can smell it everywhere anyway, kinda chemical and pretty gross!" Me: "Wow gross, find the actually not so bad, although the admittedly has quite power. Wanted to go shopping with it actually now, but with your reactions, I should probably think again, haha..."

I got in the car and Megamare kept "pumping". Oh my god, this "monster" is probably just getting started...well, have all the masks on in the supermarket anyway and parents tell you a lot when the day is long, I thought to myself. Arrived in the supermarket, I saw the rich beer department, which took my focus off Megamare completely. While I was happily assembling my beer case, I crossed the path of a couple twice. I had just passed when I heard the woman say "Baah, there it is again..." and she sniffed with her nose in all directions to find the cause "...something smells totally disgusting!". I knew immediately that this undoubtedly meant me and Megamare. Also I had to notice that the mask duty in the supermarket had stopped and about 80% of the people were without. Well, actually I didn't sign up for Parfumo so that people in my area would loudly proclaim that I stink. A little unsettled and embarrassed, I now tried to use aisles in the supermarket where no people were to be found, which turned out to be not so easy. It may be imagination, but felt some people turned around when I had to pass them. To make matters worse, I had to ask an employee about the chickpeas (I shouted it to him at a "safe distance" of 5m)...but when I showed him, he also fluffed his nostrils conspicuously (although his face showed more curiosity than disgust). Of course I did the shopping as fast as I could and left the supermarket. But even in the parked hot car awaited me still a small cloud of residual sillage of Megamare.

In the evening I wanted to meet with friends. Why wash up? That's what friends are for, they have to be able to put up with you and I was also curious about their feedback. As soon as I arrived, I told my supermarket story and apologized in advance if I smelled unusual today. A friend said, "Yeah, I noticed that right away too...you smell like a Hamburg harbor whore." He had apparently smelled out the "harbor" pretty well, because I hadn't said anything else about this "maritime" scent. Other comments went along the lines of, "Yes extremely fresh, as if you had bathed in Axe deodorant." The application of the two small spritzes was now mind you close to 5 hours ago. Even my girlfriend (who I only let smell the small atomizer) immediately screwed up her face in disgust. But even she could not name it clearly, what she dislikes so strongly, except that it smells somehow chemical.

Conclusion: I personally find the fragrance actually not bad, even if it is a little too pungent present. Nevertheless, I have never - and I have yet tried one or the other exotic fragrances - received so much negative feedback. I don't know what it is and the other reviews here show it, Megamare seems to polarize the noses extremely. For me personally - forgive me, as I am now a damaged child - he is simply unacceptable.

It was late summer and I was planning a long visit to my parents. Since I often get itchy fingers when it comes to men's classics - much to the displeasure of my wallet - "Pour Un Homme de Caron" was ordered by me directly to my parents' house, so that the anticipation of arrival was doubly great for me. How a classic from the 30s, which is still today ver- and especially bought, would probably smell?!

On arrival there were just builders / craftsmen on the property of my parents busy. It was also immediately said that outside possibly some help would be needed in carrying heavy clinker bricks. As a "pattern son" ; ) I of course offered my help, which was gratefully accepted. So quickly old clothes on and yes...why not even try a few splashes of the new Caron, so that the work is not too bland (I hope in this forum, one is not smiled at for such idiosyncrasies, in contrast to my other environment ;) ) ).

I was just about to head out the door when my mother called after me, "You're not going to join the builders like that are you? Awfully cute...they'll think you're from the other side of the river and want to sweet talk them!" Hach jaa...how I love my mother for her extremely discerning comments on some of my scents. ; )
Nevertheless, we are now also immediately at my core problem with the fragrance: the strong vanilla!

The fragrance: Is kept very puristic for my liking. There would be namely lavender and vanilla. If it were a Tom Ford, it would probably be called "Lavender Vanilla". The lavender here at Caron really beautifully authentic held. Just the other day I came out of an apartment and thought someone was wearing Caron PUHDC, yet it was just some lavender plants in the sun right next to the front door. The vanilla could be a bit darker and drier for me, but comes off more yellowish, lovely. The scent progression is such that after the initial lavender explosion, the vanilla quickly comes into play. If the scent stopped after 10 minutes, the balance would be perfect for me. But the vanilla just overtakes the lavender over time and takes over too much for me. Although of course a certain lavender base note remains throughout, it eventually becomes too sweet for me. So again what learned: even old men's classics can be quite sweet ; )

Although I have a heart for fragrances with stock, or since I'm always very curious, the bottle finally had to move on. I hope he and the new owner will be better friends.

Preliminary: The review refers to a bottling. However, I strongly assume that it is a current formulation and not a vintage version or similar.

Fragrance: the title already says it. Me reminds the main note very strongly of the well-known Grasovska vodka, which is flavored with bison grass. In this respect, I can understand the "green" of the fragrance well, although it is not a natural, organic green for me (as one is accustomed to so many niche fragrances), but a rather into the synthetic going green for me. The scent definitely has a sweetness to it as well (which can be reminiscent of cotton candy for all I care), but that doesn't make it drift into feminine at all (the masculine green vodka touch is too dominant for that). Of the leather often described here, which also mainly moved me to test, I smell, however, nothing really, so for me no leather scent! A great scent progression I can not determine, but the main note is well present to the 3 hours, then he weakens m.E. already very.

Conclusion: A not unoriginal fragrance, which should meet with many on favor. He is masculine and somewhere sexy (there were for him quite positive reactions from the ladies), he goes in everyday life or even on the date. The sillage is m.E. better than he smells directly from the wrist. It could certainly get a little penetrating in sweltering summer heat and a little underwhelming in winter, which is why I think it's perfect for spring. Its weakness I see in the durability and for Ü30 he comes to me then but a little too "young" across. Otherwise, you can try the confident times. He just does not fully convince me, which is why no bottle must be purchased.

In the statements here it appears again and again that the Blue Seduction and Versaces Eau Fraiche smell damn similar. Now to insinuate a "clone" would be m. E. more than justified, but seems almost witless (or even particularly funny), since the perfumer is the same for both. Why they copy themselves remains a bit of a mystery to me. About the reasons behind it, one can only speculate...a rogue who thinks evil and suspects that it has something to do with money. ; ) I do not want to evaluate further. The one copy more or less, of it the perfume world will not go down and some like it even (better).

Fragrance: A fairly typical Aquat. Basic tone is the smell of a "fresh sea breeze", which joins after citrus opening fruity components and a subtle sweetness. However, all this comes across as rather synthetic. The fruity components remind of a mixture of watermelon and perhaps this - from almost all supermarkets known - green "Granny Smith" apple variety. The sweetness is freshly gum-like and doesn't appeal to me. The cappuccino listed here, which some also seem to smell out here, I and also the people, whom I have given the to smell, could not determine.

Comparison: Have both fragrance strips in front of me and one hundred percent identical they are not. The main difference is for me that Versaces Eau Fraiche a trace "more natural", fresher and citrus comes along and it is not the, on me but quite penetrating, synthetic bubble gum sweetness inherent (an explicitly sweet fragrance it is still not), the Blue Seduction something more "playboymäßig" comes across. But since, according to "Salva", A. Banderas is considered a so-called "Latin lover", that fits then, or rather is then only consistent. All in all, both are really similar, although I would go with the Eau Fraiche if I were in doubt, even though I would argue that Blue Seduction performs a bit better. I notice the scent very clearly for quite a few hours (on the scent strip it fills the room for several hours), even if I find it rather annoying over time. In the end, neither scent would really be for me! For aquatic lovers, this is certainly, along with fragrances like the well-known Nautica Voyage, a very affordable option that should probably come across as quite pleasant on most fellow humans.

I hope I've been able to help a little. However, my bottle will have to move on!