LatinBoy69

How many cherry flavors do I want to pack into this fragrance?

The answer is yes.

Disguised as a dupe, but significantly less complex than its counterpart. The notes may not reflect this on paper, but they do in reality. The almond, which resonates much more in Tom Ford's interpretation and gives the fragrance this second note, is unfortunately missing in my nose in Popped Cherry. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword, because as long as you consider it a dupe, this word naturally has a negative connotation. But,...

The lack of complexity can, indeed must, be seen here as an absolutely unique selling point and a great strength. This fragrance reflects a note - and with a longevity & sillage that is unparalleled in the fruity segment: CHERRY.

No wild progression, no note in between. Balsam, vetiver, tonka... all wishy-washy, "fairy dust" is what Matthew McConaughey would call it.
The cherry is in the foreground - and stays there all day long.

This is precisely why this fragrance deserves a certain amount of time investment for a review - although I only really wanted to write reviews of fragrances that I also own as a bottle.
Also because in my short time in the world of fragrances, it has illustrated to me a procedure that I had previously understood more as a game of chance, trial-and-error or - to put it bluntly - "hanky-panky".

In my opinion, the non-existent fragrance progression is perfect for layering:
- spicy fragrances become more fruity
- oriental fragrances become sweeter
- gourmand fragrances become more unique

For the really fair price, you get the opportunity to multiply your collection with just one fragrance in such a way that, if you like cherry (which I assume, if you've read my babble up to this point), it's almost a no-brainer to buy this fragrance, at least as a sample.

As most summer fragrances evaporate quickly by nature, it was important to me for my second summer fragrance to have a better H/S, but one that doesn't sting the nose but gives you the feeling of lasting freshness. In the meantime, it's in the top 1 of men's fragrances and probably a good H/S, an aesthetic bottle - you have to try it. And it was convincing, even if it took longer to do so.

Every time there was a light breeze, it blew this citrusy freshness into my nose, which was given a certain depth by the teenage note. Is that why it's so "special", why it's so popular and sometimes hyped?
I have no idea.

What is clear is that the H/S is so above average for a summer fragrance with 6-8h on skin/clothing, the fragrance is very pleasing, doesn't offend much and therefore deserves its status to a certain extent. Of course, because of the name and the hype, you smell it here and there more often. Nevertheless, despite its mass appeal and popularity, I don't see any danger of it slipping into a category where you get it under your nose so often that you get sick of it and get bored with it.

All in all, a great summer fragrance that gives you more than just 3 hours of attention, accompanies you throughout the day and provides you with a permanent feeling of pleasant freshness.

After I was ridiculed by a sales clerk when I told her that I only have one perfume that I wear practically every time I think it's time for perfume on the 15/365 days, I wasn't going to let that sit on me.
"Okay, how conceited are you? - Yes," I thought to myself. But in the same train of thought: Is it really that strange?

Since I like to think of myself as a curious person - fine. The following week I went back and headed straight for Tom Ford. Some of my colleagues were blathering on about Oud Wood, Tobacco Vanilla and who knows what else. The saleswoman there seemed to be a little more open to the matter and promptly held out the test strip for the supposedly great wood. After two seconds I knew: Nope, no way. Get rid of it.

"Do you have anything else?"

Her hand gallantly slid to the black bottle of Fucking Fabulous - which looked rather boring in color comparison - sprayed the strip full and handed it to me with her red nail polish fingers.

What the hell is that?" my head thought. Holy shit, I've never smelled anything like it in my life. While she rambled on about top, heart and base notes and I was lost for words, I continued to suck in the scent, aiming to cram every particle on that piece of paper into my nose. Boy, did it blow my head off.

"...at 450€ for 100ml."

Apparently I had asked for the price, but in my trance I hadn't even noticed it.
So my head was blown up for the second time, which catapulted me back into the here and now, the test strip still firmly in my hand.

I unintentionally said goodbye a little too Arnold Schwarzenegger-like with "Thank you very much. I'll be back." and walked home.
I smelled this test strip every 10-20 steps. What vanilla, leather, this bitterness and what else did to my olfactory sense was extraordinary. I slept happily that night and sniffed the scent again the next morning as my first official act. God yes, it was still there.

Time jump today:
I'm writing my first EssenceVitae review and dedicating it to the perfume that made me feel like I was Alice in Wonderland who had just fallen down the rabbit hole. A new world has opened up to me that I didn't even know existed before. This world arouses discussion and fascination, is both exhausting and relieving for the mind, costs time and money, but above all brings one thing: an incredible amount of joy.

Thanks to Tom Ford. Thanks to Jean-Baptiste. Thanks to my colleagues.
And many thanks to the arrogant saleswoman, who may not even be that arrogant (maybe just a little) - for the small but gentle nudge into the most fragrant hole in the world.

After my Fucking Fabulous experience and my passive enlightenment that there are people who own several fragrances to suit different occasions, the synapses in my brain crackled and told me that I now needed a summer fragrance. Tom Ford has already happily rubbed it in my face that fragrances can cost a lot (probably too much). However, as I was - and still am - at the beginning of my perfume game, I didn't yet understand the high monetary value of a good fragrance. I was aware that I liked Tom Ford and was attracted to the brand because it gave me my start in this world. So it had to be a TF - also because the bottles are so beautiful. After testing it several times and thinking about it for 3-4 days, I chose Eau de Soleil Blanc. As soon as I put it on, it sparked this feeling of beach, sun, good mood, pretty people, vacation,... all in all: a simply good feeling.

This feeling remains the same to this day. No matter where and when, how cold it is outside, as soon as I smell the spray head, the fragrance always transports me to the sea, to the warmth, to the south.

The freshness at the beginning, a bit of citrusy notes, then creamy in the drydown, light coconut, vanilla. This combination is so pleasant, but lasts a long time on my skin. It still smells good on clothes even after several hours.

Last but not least, why "the next step" now? After only a short time in the perfume world, I was advised not only to test perfumes declared as men's fragrances, but also to try the unisex segment. There is no doubt that Eau de Soleil Blanc is a little more at the feminine end of the spectrum. There have already been various comments that I smell like a woman. At first I was briefly irritated, but definitely not unsettled. These are words from people who somehow have to give their opinion, even though no one has asked for it. Maybe they are unsure themselves, who knows.

So the next step summarizes: if you like a fragrance and it suits you and the situation, then - to say it in English, because it sounds stupid in German - wear the shit out of your fragrance!