French Avenue Vulcan Feu (1/3)
This oneās been sitting in my bag for a while. I always thought Iād wait for a hot day to try it out, but decided not to because itās getting colder and cloudier every day. It opens with a big dose of soft mango and spicy rhubarb with ginger. The lemon adds a brief burst of freshness that doesnāt last long, but the opening is really good. Once it settles, you get more spice from pink pepper and a Middle Eastern mix with praline. Thereās also a touch of florals that stay in the background but play their part nicely. A few hours in, everything remains but with noticeable cedarwood and a bit of chalkiness from ambergris. Tonka and moss are listed in the note breakdown, though they seem to blend seamlessly with the other notes. Performance-wise, this is superb. It lasts around 10-12 hours on skin, and even after 24 hours I can still smell it on my clothes. The projection and sillage are just right in my opinion. I tested it indoors, but it definitely feels like a scent that shines best on sunny days, so it might perform a bit differently then. This is a very unique summer scent. The mango is somewhat similar to Gisada Ambassador but less juicy. The ingredient quality is good, though an experienced nose can tell itās a clone. Still, Iām really curious to smell the real deal. For the price, this is a no-brainer. French Avenue are absolutely killing it with their clones. Youād easily be the most unique-smelling person in the room during summer. Objectively, Iād rate it a 9.5/10. Canāt believe Iāve given back-to-back 9.5s. Subjectively though, itās a 9.2/10. Great profile, unique, and excellent value, but once you notice the quality of the notes, itās clear that itās a clone. It wouldnāt be an issue if the main note were of better quality, but itās quite easy to spot a lower-grade mango note. Or is it just me? Regardless its a excellent addition to any collection. I dont mind getting a FB of this but first i gotta try the real deal to see which one i like more. What do you think of the scent?