Max Mara

An afternoon corporate party wearing nude-coloured dress feeling fabulous, champagne flowing: that's my mental image of this scent translating into life. Being, in my view, a warm season scent, it is unlike thousands of other fresh scents - it has that special wood note, that made it immeiately stand out for me and upped it to the "higher society" shelf, so to speak. I cannot possibly imagine a bimbo wearing this: it so obviously dictates intelligence, confidence, wit, humour, and a well-polished ability to use all of the above to flirt for your life - AND get away with it! - in business circles. It doesn't come across as agressive at all, despite being quite complex, especially at the initial stage, so women are not threatened by it, and it has just the right amount of playfullness that a businesswoman needs to make men fall for her feminine charm yet not feeling too invited to cross the line. My skin seems to absorb it a lot, so the staying power was not so marvellous, but I would wear this exclusively for the above described occasions, so it lasts just enough to get me through a few fun hours with colleagues. It would also be ideal for brunches with the girls downtown or weddings: the bubbly note in it brings to a wearer ( or t least me :)) a feeling of daytime festiveness. Sunny, woody, sparkling, smart and a little bit enigmatic: I recommend it to all who know, how to carry a briefcase in a very tight pencilskirt, on very high heels and with more than one clever idea in the head. :)

This used to be my signature fragrance for the longest time. It somehow always evokes comfort and safety. It's not a loud fragrance in an obvious way, but I have to say, I don't think I have ever been asked as many times about any other fragrance I've worn. It opens with a citrus that I believe to be grapefruit or lime, rather than bergamot, lemon or orange. It's more of a green, fresh note rather than sweet or juicy. It brings to mind the inside of a citrus peel, or the process of peeling a pomelo. The ginger is right there from the beginning as well, contributing a sparkling sweetness. Right as it begins to dry down the magnolia comes through. I have a really hard time distinguishing the lily from the orchid accord, but there is a spicy white floral note in the background. The musk in this is to me a very clean and light one. Not really independent, but more like a veil draped over the sugarcane. Much more present than the user votes would suggest, but not a note that stands out on its own. I was actually surprised to learn there is no cashmeran note in this. I have treasured it for a long time. It is beautiful, elegant and nostalgic. But I still don't believe what people are asking for it on eBay is justified in any way. They're just capitalizing on your nostalgia and anxiety around being without something you treasure because of the way we associate fragrance with memories. This is why I think it's really valuable voting and reporting on similar fragrances as accurately as possible.

Max Mara is Boucheron Trouble's prettier, more interesting and far more elegant older sister. The citronella candle with sugar emulsion of Trouble is transformed into a sweet lemon ginger tea served on a table under the blooming magnolia trees, by a fragrant lily garden. Whatever musk is present, is, thankfully, not "muscone", the kind that smells like deer glands, but one of the other molecules that are termed "musk". (I am exceptionally sensitive, and not in a good way, to the odor of traditional musk). What the orchid in the notes represents I don't know, although I suspect its the vanilla. All in all, Max Mara is a pretty spring and summer composition, fresh and sweet but totally not cloying and best of all, very affordable chez the e-tailer of your choice. For my tastes, Max Mara rates a 6.5 for sillage, a 6.5 for lasting power (about 5 hours), and a 6.5 out of 10 for fragrance. Alas - "better" than Boucheron Trouble does not mean "great", and Max Mara may be just a little too well behaved to be special - wish it had some spice kick or even some ambery warmth.

I bought this perfume more than a decade ago.I remember I loved it on paper and I bought it right away.However,on my skin the ginger and the lemony notes where too prominent making it sharp, headachy and unbalanced with the white florals.In the end,I gave it to my sister.A few years later,she practically returned it as well. So,after more than a decade,this perfume just sat on my desk.Today,I sniffed it from the bottle to check if it has gone bad and whether I should throw it away...and ..wow!it smelled so nice!creamy,beautiful white florals and also 'gourmandish'... I tested it on me and yes,we have a winner!!!The sharp notes mellowed over time,the perfume matured and became a beautiful balanced,white floral gourmandish.Creamy and amazing!Love it! I can't believe this perfume not only didn't go bad,but became better! PS:my bottle is practically full!yeay!!! :D

Good Lord in Heaven where has this been all my life? I found a cheap bottle and decided to try it. I can't tell you how glad I am that I did. As the reviewer below stated, there is nothing else out there like it. This is so soft yet powerful at the very same time. Why on earth they would have discontinued such a beauty is beyond me. Honestly I just don't get it. This one can be worn of women of all ages it's non discriminatory. If I had to try and think of another fragrance it shares similarities with I might say the vintage original version of Lacoste Pour Femme but this one has ginger in it which Lacoste does not. But it's soft and gentle like that is. This has been sitting on my wrist for about 10 minutes - it's glorious and one spray has scented up the entire upstairs of my house.