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.

Max Mara is not a perfume I ever would have selected myself, but my brother worked for Sephora, and sometimes he brought home full bottles of perfume for me (lucky me!), and this was one of them. A very interesting fragrance, one that I simply adore! This is one of my favorite casual daytime perfumes. Citrus is sweet rather than sour. The drydown is sweet, but not vanilla, which is very rare because so many fragrances wear down to vanilla. Each time I smell this, I vividly recall my trip to the Philippines, where I relished in drinking fresh sugarcane juice. Max Mara is fun and flirty. It's youthful, but not for little girls. It's one of my staples as it's very different from my typical heavier fragrances, yet it can measure up to them in complexity. A modern, understated beauty.

Wow! What an amazing scent! I had no idea that Max Mara even had perfumes in their collection, so when I visited their store and saw the bottle I felt like I just had to buy it. And I am so happy I did! When I first smelled MM in the store, I was not sure. The opening to me is very zesty and quite sparkling. Then it evolves to a very nice musky fragrance. To me, MM is exactly that: A musky fragrance with a fresh opening and later on some sweetness. Very elegant and office friendly. Definitely a day time fragrance. However I LOVE wearing this one to bed! My boyfriend loves it to. What a great fragrance! Sillage is not huge, but I like that about this fragrance. Sometimes you just want to wear a casual fresh perfume! The longevity could however be better. Overall: 8,5/10

WOW WOW. I just bought a bottle on Ebay and have to say, this is gorgeous. I usually wear vintage Chypre or floral chypres. Occasionally something more fruity like Femme. And I have a few modern Byredo frags. But have been reading Fragrantica reviews to branch out a bit in the vintage department. This Max Mara eau de parfum is driving me crazy because it's so pretty. I'm not sure I got much of the citrus but do smell a bit of ginger. Then mostly creamy white florals on top of some sweet. But not so sweet to make you have a toothache. I'm simply blown away. I better keep an eye out for a back-up bottle. Yeah, I love Prada Candy to help go to sleep. But this will definitely be another bed time wrist lullaby. It's Addictive.

MMMM This is so jummy. I wasent so shure if i even wanted to try this . But got it in a blind swapp:) Thank Heaven for that;) This is so fresh , citrus,ginger fizzy, sligthly spicy. This reminds me a bit off Hermes Apres la Mousoon,Not very close , but there is a similarity . I like the whit lily and magnolia that put in some warmth and also brightness to this Gem. It is sweet , but not cloying sweet . ealy lovely, if you like a different take on a citus perfume try this . lovely . thanks smellMe for swapping this to me :)

I've owned a vial for some years now, and sprayed some on yesterday. This is LOOOOOVELY! 😍 Too bad it's discontinued😩 Definitely a cold/cool weather scent. You have to use this with a light hand. If you have the bottle sprayer—2 sprays tops! The ingredients, as they read on a carded vial are: Sap, ginger, Sicily Lemon, magnolia, orchid, white lily, sugar, exotic woods and musk. EDIT: Screw "2 sprays tops!" 😆 I'll do 4 or 5. It's strong though, just keep that in mind. This makes me feel EXTRA confident😃

Update : I just got a coment from my youngest daughter on this one . she sayed , mm you smells just like lilac. And i took a closer sniff on my arm and there it was . I knew there was somthing that i could not put my finger one and there it was. It just like the real Lilac.. not like lilac perfume that often get a harsh feal to it aswell. But like Honey dripping sweet fresh lilac in early summer times . so so lovely.. I realy enjoy this scent only thing i wish it was stronger and longer lasting

The 2nd sweetest frag in my wardrobe. I’m sampling it again tonight. It is CREAMY! I don’t usually do sweet unless it has some intensive florals and fruits. THIS right here is definitely unique, and I like that! The Silk Touch version smells nothing like this, in my opinion. I will smell this for the rest of my night and give more detail when I get the chance. If my nose keeps bringing me back to where I dabbed it, then I MAY purchase a bottle. 😉 I will have to get back to ya’ll on that.

This is a really lovely sweet nice fragrance, easy to wear for any occasion really. It starts citrusy but the cirtus is soft and tempered witht he ginger and smells more like orange juice, for me the sugar cane note is there from the beginning, which I really like. It starts to get pretty seet quite soon, which I alos like. This isnt necessarily an amazingly original fragrance, it reminds me a bit of Dior Star for some reason for the fizzy sweetness, but I really like having it around.

Sugar bomb, warm with a crispness from the ginger,and a slight waxiness from the magnolia,simple but rich,cant explain much about it except it's very cuddly and a bit warm but its still versatile enough to wear anytime probably except winter Bottle:4.5 Packaging:3 Scent:8.5 Sillage:5.5 Longevity:3 Unique:5 Repurchase? Maybe, i like the idea of it but i feel like its a bit imbalanced? The backing notes dont show up that much, or i might just find another alternative,but love it tho

Words can't describe how pretty this fragrance is. It is so well combined- the spices, the ginger, the sugar, the flowers and the lime. The whole aroma has this gold and expensive aura. It is really underrated and I am not sure why. it is not too sweet, not too overpowering and has a freshy vibe. perfect for sunny days. The only con I can find is the lasting power which is not more than 4-5 hours which after all is ok. I also really love the bottle, I don't find it weird at all.

This one reminds me of custo by barcelona and guess with the curacao note it is very sweet and syrupy but in an adult way so anyone could wear it. Even a tween or teenager could like it because there is no heavy old fashioned musk or anything like that in it. As other reviewers have commented it does have a slight citrus smell which is why it reminds me of custo. My husband got this for me and I find it lasts all day but that is just me.

Max Mara was recommended to me by one of the friendliest shop assistants I know, so I couldn't say no. A pleasant surprise. Floral and sweet, I found it quite lovely, but perhaps too gentle & short-lasting on my skin. On subsequent tries in different weather the same has happenned. It's reasonably pricey here in Australia so I'll have to say no for now. Worth trying because it is beautiful. It might last longer on you.

Oh man i used to love love love this. It is feminine, pure and a realy mature ladylike scent. Deffinitly not a blind buy . Floral and sweet. I usually do not like sweet scents because i get a headache from them but thisone is so well done and blended is just addictive. Very fresh, extremely elegant and sexy.feels like warm sexy summer in Greek. I do not smell the citrus and the ginger. To bad it is dicontinued.

Beautiful, sweet, slightly spicy fragrance that can be worn any season, any time of day or night. Average sillage and longevity but that's what makes it so versatile. You do need a sweet tooth to enjoy this and, like sugar, it is addictive. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued for a while now and it is impossible to find. The closest replacement in my experience is the Gaultier Classique Eau Fraiche line.

I found a bottle of MaxMara at my local drug store on sale for $20. Not expecting much (as typical of your usual drug store frags) I was pleasantly surprised. The ginger and lemon notes are refreshing, not so much tart as bright, and the sugary base tones give the impression of warm lemon custard pie. Often I'm not fond of gourmands, but this one is an exception, with a mature, chic presence.

No other fragrance smells like Max Mara. This is very unique ginger smell. It is sweet but not cheep or sickly sweet sugary scent. It is very elegant and sophisticated fragrance. Long lasting with medium silage.I personally like it a lot and go back to it often. Will I recommend it...yes, try it if you can, or trust me and get it and you wont be disappointed.

Very underrated. A unique fragrance. The magnolia and lily are there all the way through the drydown. It's white flowers over raw sugar with just a hint of spices. There is a unique accord hovering in the background that reminds me of the Lolita Lempicka signature fond she has in a lot of her creations / sort of grassy...with a tiny drop of fennel.

This perfume is just amazing. I'm so sad that it's discontinued. It is pretty sweet, but it's almost thick and I think the ginger makes it richer and balanced. This perfume smells expensive, creamy, and luxurious like a rich European girl. It's a fragrance of quality, I love it. I really wish I could find something similar to this. <3

Good fragrance for every season, warm and sweet for cold season, with burst of ginger, lemon and sap to be pleasant in hot weather too. Very chic and expensive feeling. Can be used in casual situations, but have enought body and presence for special events too.

MaxMara is a very pretty, scent. I love how the citrus is blended with ginger and sugar cane. It's slightly spicy oozing sophistication. It could be worn all year around. And I agree with the rest of the reviews, the bottle is slightly awkward and hard to open.

I just love creamy perfumes what MaxMara certainly is. It is citrusy spicy in soft musky way. It's like warm nest,rich and intimate at once. Great scent, but I wouldn't have a whole bottle because of it's short longevity, it last at most 2 hours on me.

One of my beloved fragrances. To my sadness, it's been discontinued :-( A classy scent where I could smell clean candy, undisturbed by any floral notes. A distinctive contribution of ginger and citruses made it a most loveable mixture for me.

Sublime. Wonder smell, smells very rich and unique. Fantastic mix of sugar, magnolia and some citrus. This is a divine fragrance in its particularity I would rate it like this: Smell: 9.5/10 Projection: 8.5/10 Longevity: 8.5/10

Love this. Smells like a combo of Armani Sensi and Lacoste Pour Femme. Snuggly skin scent that smells fresh. The bottle is nice to look at but it’s very tippy. Be careful with this one so it doesn’t end up on the floor. :-)

To me it's a nice elegant perfume with lemony and sweet notes. It will be perfect for daytime. I like it very much, however, it vanishes soon and you barely feel it on your skin.

This is soooo beautiful, sexy and sophistcated!! But only thing is... the sexy spicy smell loses its kick after a few minutes on my skin... it becomes boring and powdery.. :(

My absolute favorite, discontinued. Tonka without being "TONKA", cashmere, class, soft but strong. It's got a nice lingering smell without offending. I just love it.

Sugar cane here is beautiful, mixed with slightly green notes. A beautiful, long lasting fragrance, in a beautiful bottle, classy, chic, sexy, one of my favourites.

This is one of my favorite perfumes. I love it so much! It`s exciting, sophisticated, classical fragrance, which enhances the imagination and awaken feelings.

This scent is fresh-sweet kind of scent. Unusuall, ginger gives it freshness but not in a marine way. Its so miserable that its discontinued.

It's one of my favourite scents - extremely classy in its fresh sweetness. I'm really disappointed that it's been cancelled from sale :(

Love this MaxMara! It's a little bit sweet, very warm and beautiful. Just great for winter. And last about 9-10 hours on my skin.

Is there a dupe? I love this perfume and I'm so sad its gone away. However, I can't pay $300 for a bottle on eBay! Help!!

Subtle, warm, a bit sexy-mature... It's chic, but so intimate - melting on your skin & inviting to a closer contact... ;)

It's just so sweet and tasty. As usual such bright scents make me a headache, but this one never does.

Warm and luxurious can be worn any time and the price is amazing.Another on top ten list.

Affordable and fabulous smell....mostly good for summer

Smells like happy, sparkling sunshine in a bottle.

It has a captive place in my wardrobe..

Max Mara. Makes you wanna go Mmmmmmmmm. Sweet & mellow. Very "old-gold". The sweetness is not "high" but gilded, mid-level & rich - it is made the focal point of this fragrance & does not hide in the background. The softest of ginger & gentle flowers tempered with orange-citrus notes (fresh, hand-squeezed juice, nothing sharp here). Blended well together & all covered with a warm gauzey veil of cosy musk so nothing shouts or leaps out at you. Not so much creamy as hazy, like a big sunset on a summer's day. No hard edges, no big shocks. A really nice perfume to wear close to your body - you will have your nose glued to your wrist, but only your loved ones will get close enough to catch a waft of the reason you are smiling. Suitable for all seasons, & most ages. It won't make you stand out but you will smell heavenly. It is suprisingly sophisticated for a sweet scent but doesn't have great staying power. It starts to mimic my skin after an hour or so. To buy or not to buy.....I'm on the fence with this one. I enjoy it greatly, but something has stopped me from purchasing to date.

I'm honestly surprised to see this described as "sweet". I really don't get much sweetness from it. "Fresh spicy", definitely.. sweet.. not so much. I've had Max Mara in my perfume wardrobe for about 12 years now. I go long periods of time where I forget about it. But every time I pull it back out from the closet, I remember why I fell in love with it in the first place. It's fresh, without being overly tart or green (neither of which I like). It's bright, but spicy and serious at the same time. On me, it's not very sweet. It's a powdery, "citrusy" spice. I also think it's so well-balanced that it works all year round (except for maybe the hottest summer days). ... This was my signature when I first got it, and it's no wonder why. It's extremely versatile and balanced. It suits a sun dress just as much as a cashmere sweater. Edited to add: The only negative about this perfume is the packaging! The bottle always falls over and something has happened to the cap, so it sits on top, but doesn't actually stay on.

This was one of the 1st 'proper' perfumes I ever bought when I was living in Amsterdam in my early 20s.. I loved it so much, but unfortunately, it didn't love me back. I am talking pure skin chemistry here. It went on so beautiful, like a delicious lemon merengue, with a hint of honied florals. But then something weird started to happen when it dried down, it just started to smell stale and off and vaguely acidic, with the faintest tang of urine amidst the sweetness. I thought it was just the perfume, that more care had gone into the top notes rather than the base notes. I thought all perfumes just went 'stale' if on skin for many hours. But then my friend tried it on. We both sprayed at the same time, and on her it didn't go off! In fact, on her it was exquisite. I was so jealous, because on her it was literally my dream perfume. This is the 1st time I ever learnt about skin chemistry. Up until then I was like, 'yeah, yeah, whatever..' I thought it was an over-exaggeration. It's not. Who'd have known.

I bought this probably about 12 years ago, when it first came out..I loved it and had the daydream of being able to afford an item of Max Mara clothing to go with it..Sadly that never happened and I had I "Pretty Woman"(where I obviously wasn't dressed well enough) type experience in the Max Mara shop in Sevilla. But that aside I still loved the fresh, sweet, slightly spicy scent, until it started to give me headaches! So my bottle has been in it's box in the darkest recesses of my bathroom cupboard for at least a decade..until last week when, on a bit of a nostalgia trip, I thought I'd dig it out..It's still gorgeous and smells perfect and so far, NO HEADACHES! :)

For me this is a very light, ozonic, almost transparent scent. I smell a burst of mixed citruses with candied ginger root in the top notes. It is very light almost like it's been made into a seltzer. The heart has lily and magnolia notes that are clear, floral, and a teeny bit green. I don't get as much orchid as I would have hoped for. I am not particularly fond of lily or magnolia. The base note sugar makes the fragrance sweet but definitely not in a heavy way. This fragrance didn't last very long on me, I really enjoyed the top notes but like it less within an hour. I guess I don't really understand what the excitement is about, max mara to me is just okay.

Max Mara was one of the first scents I added to my wish list. I finally was able to test it and I am so glad I did. I think I was put off by the sugar cube note, although it was nothing to be afraid of. It adds sweetness but it's not too bad, really. Another reviewer mentioned that MM is related to Boucheron's Trouble and I definitely get the association. The opening and heart of this has a strong, pleasant citrus note. With MM it's more tangerine, where Trouble is a stronger lemon. They both dry down sweet and musky. I enjoy this quite a bit but I think Trouble is the better fragrance. Also, MM seems to give me a headache after a bit, too.