Paradoxe Prada 2022

Monday, 8:32 am. I took a deep breath in and out before making my way through the building to my office.

"Ha, are you there yet too?" remarked Hannah, who could probably hear my heels clicking. Yes, I'm not a morning person. More of a night owl. And I can concentrate best when everyone has already gone home.

"It's getting later every day, we have TWO - ZWAHAIII after half past nine! I've been here since 6:30," said Jessi, the snappiest of all in the department. Yeah, good for you, I thought silently.
She stood in my doorway with her arms crossed while I hung up my coat and switched on the PC. Her eyes watched my every move watchfully.
"Have you got a new handbag again?" she asked without bothering to hide her resentment. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but tap the bag with her index finger. She identified leather and rolled her eyes as if it were an infectious foreign body. "I know your perfume from somewhere too..."

Sometimes it's better to think for yourself instead of reacting to stupid gossip. It saves pointless conflicts and at some point even the loudest crow loses the desire to pick on a slick, taciturn wall. It's no fun anymore. Smile nicely and look stupid. And I stopped commenting on my perfume a long time ago. I like to change my fragrances, but I always make sure that I don't offer a target here either. Grumbling about nausea, headaches or feigning breathlessness didn't exactly contribute to a better working atmosphere.
It may be a bit boring for my nose at times, but fresh fragrances that are close to the skin and low in sillage are relatively non-confrontational in everyday office life. I have painfully learned to live out my penchant for strong, oriental fragrances better at home.

My sillage was quickly forgotten when the new colleague was introduced. The bunch of chickens seemed to be completely beside themselves at the sight of him. Apart from the neatly fitted suit and his athletic build, he was really nice to look at. Almost a waste for the office. The ladies seemed to be having a real competition to see who could show him around the premises first and explain all the important things. When he declined the fourth coffee with thanks, it didn't stop Jessi and Antonia from placing another one in front of him, their eyes twinkling.
The next few days were a real showcase. Dressed up like they hadn't been for a long time and always smiling, the overzealous colleagues forced their willingness to help on poor Joshua. Somehow I felt sorry for him and secretly hoped that his knowledge of human nature would shine brighter than the golden costume jewelry of the three attention-seeking women.

Things got interesting, however, when Jessi casually asked me about the most popular women's fragrance. She was a bad actress. I gave her the information about the highest sales figures in the women's fragrance segment: La Vie est Belle L'Eau de Parfum. A short time later, Hannah sneaked into my office and asked for a modern fragrance that would suit her. Lady Gaga appeared in my mind's eye and so I recommended the perfume that the singer had advertised: Voce Viva Eau de Parfum. When Antonia came up with the same idea and was looking for a floral inspiration, I didn't want to be directly mean, but subtly pointed her out of my door with My Way - away.

And then the next day, disaster struck. Handsome Joshua locked himself in his office, presumably wanting to work undisturbed. The three, now extremely fragrant graces pranced up and down the corridor, peering at his still locked door. Shortly before lunchtime, their impatience began to blossom creatively. One placed a sparkling lemonade at Joshua's place in the kitchen, the next decorated a lovely jasmine bush next to the drinking glass and the third wiped the remaining table surface with a damp 4711 cloth.

They held their breath as they heard his door open. As if on cue, they reached into their handbags and sprayed themselves from head to toe with their new fragrances in no time at all.
Joshua, just about to enter "Mahlz..." and stopped in the doorway, turned around once and tried to enter again. His eyes were the size of saucers. It was as if he had run into an invisible wall. Gasping, he said, "It's... it's..."

"What is it?" cried Jessi, genuinely worried, almost hysterical.

"It's a paradox," were his last words before he simply fell over backwards like a log.

And for those who are now asking who is to blame for the whole misery, I can clearly say: Prada.
No, the fragrance itself is not bad. But you get the feeling you already know it. It seems to me like a mix of the fragrances mentioned above, which are all pleasing and wearable but together do not bring any new insights to light. The only way I can describe it is as follows: citrus top notes with jasmine and orange blossom create a sweet combination that has lost its individuality.