Menthe Enivrante

This must go down as one of the most surprising comeback stories I've come across. On first spray, Mezel's Menthe Envirante is green, bitter and a bit medicinal. I pretty much wrote it off. On a testing strip it doesn't move much and I thought it was what it smelt like right then, and left it alone. Not my jam, sorry. One of the biggest lessons I've learned in my first proper year of being properly into fragrances is that things smell different on skin, and that you should always wait for the drydown to make a judgement. This wisdom applies so much in this case. This was such a rewarding case of “give it ten minutes and see”. As it dries, it softens and deepens and there is this wonderful powdery musk in the background that starts to come to the fore. It remains fresh throughout but the mint accord (coming from the absinthe at first but properly from the fresh mint leaf accord in the heart that take a few minutes to come in) is so rich and beautiful. It sparkles in the morning light. I went from not keen on this at all to searching urgently for a full bottle available online in Dubai in about nine minutes. The sillage is green and fresh, slightly sweet but there is a richness here. I don't see patchouli in the notes but it has a patchouli feel in the base; there is that richness and complexity that add so much appeal. I really like minty accords in perfumery but I don't want to smell like a Polo mint or a teabag. This is really refined mint, judged so well to play off the medicinal heaviness of the absinthe and the sweet tenderness of one of the best-judged musk bases I've seen. I don't get much amber in the opening but it sweetens and deepens as it dries and the amber starts to emerge. The mint never truly gives way. I get 6 hours from this (it does sit quite close to the skin) before it starts to disappear off. It has polite but not aggressive sillage for around four to five hours. I was trying to figure out what the fully dried down skin scent reminds me of. When I was a kid there was a shop near my house that used to sell home made fudge, and my favourite flavour was always the bright green mint one. Mint fudge. The drydown on this reminds me of the feel of mint fudge from my childhood, but not gourmand obviously and not as cloying rich or over-sweet. The rich feel, soft and smooth texture and minty smell, not the taste if that makes sense. Actually it is a lot nicer than that, but it has that connection in my brain. So it isn't a shock that I love this one. Perfectly unisex, Menthe Envirante is very wearable, very versatile as well and a little bit different which I love. We're well away from the well-trodden path here and I really like how original and well-executed this is. This is one that I am really looking forward to adding to my collection because it is one I can see myself wearing a lot in the warmer months here. Three Word Summary - Wait Ten Minutes Scent - 8/10 Drydown - 10/10 Sillage - 6/10 Bottle/Packaging - tester so no score, will mark out of 40 Performance - 7/10 31/40

A gorgeous scent - very unisex. I see why some women would call it masculine, but as a woman - I love this perfume and I think it's one of the best deep minty perfumes. It's not just mint, it is more layered than that. I find it perfect for summers, especially during the hot days. Overall impression is that it smells very well blended, as if all the listed notes create a seamless symphony and it is a pleasure to wear it.

Female perspective 😅 -Leans heavily into the male fragrance realm from my perspective with a good heavy dose of mint, absinth minerals and that golden amber. Would be an amazing men's deodorant with that lightness from the mint. (Yes that armpit region is important when a guy slings his arm around your shoulders so spray your frag under arm. ) I've worn male leaning frags but wouldn't use this one.