Ani X

Having just received half a dozen samples of niche fragrances I've been wanting to try for a while, I was especially excited to rest nishane ani x today when I was getting ready for work. I had a monthly board meeting that I dress well for and knowing the original ani well, felt it was the right situation to take it for a spin. 1st off, the fragrance is beautiful, but especially the opening. The fresh blast of citrus that greets your nose the second you trigger the atomizer is such a perfect compliment to the original dusty vanilla base that's still here. However... The opening fades quickly and while the heart of this fragrance is nothing short of beautiful, it's lacking compared to the OG's performance. More importantly, I realized that to my nose, it dries down to a less impressive twin of another fragrance I own... One that costs less than $50. I don't see it in the "reminds me of" section above, but I've tested it side by side on skin and on paper and the majority of the wear is strikingly similar to Rochas Moustache edp. The opening is night and day: Moustache opens with a strong bergamot facet that's less exciting, fresh, or loud than the lemon and ginger smack across the face from ani x. After 5-10 minutes, they both settle down and I could barely tell them apart. This is where you're probably thinking that I'm some punk kid or and idiot to compare a remake of one of the most decorated niche vanilla fragrances of all time to what is essentially a YSL tuxedo clone (albeit a damn good jus in its own right!). I can be an idiot at times, but I've been around the block and put my nose on a decent number of fragrances. I'm telling you, they're 90% the same on the drydown. What's worse, the Ani X begins to fade quick while the Moustache almost picks up momentum at around the 30 min mark! Right now, you can get a tester of Nishane Ani X for $99 on jomashop. It's sitting in my cart right now! But I'm conflicted... I'm so tired of loving a fragrance and buying it only to bring it home and find I own at least one or two other fragrances that essentially do the same thing or smell too similar not to be redundant. I don't have the world's deepest collection by anyone's standard, but I'm running out of unique, but still versatile, profiles. It's usually too late by the time I realize a new fragrance I want to purchase is too similar to something at home and I just keep building a collection of dozens of fragrances that are cumulatively just multiple versions of twenty actually unique DNA's. In closing, I love Ani X. The opening is incredible and removed enough from the original to get me excited to pull the trigger. But that fades quickly and I'm left with... a clone of a clone of a designer fragrance? Is that right? Is my nose broken? $99 is a great price for a nishane frag of this quality...

For whatever reason I find that I enjoy wearing Ani X layered with the original quite a bit. There’s also something to be said about truly unisex fragrances because I personally think the original leans a bit more masculine and X is a bit more feminine but so many people think the opposite which I find fascinating (and kinda cool) I feel like that means this scent is really for everyone. There isn’t a single note in Ani that isn’t in Ani X, so the true differences lie, for me, with the lemon oil and the melon. I don’t outright get apple or lavender but I think they really just power up the lemon. Almost like they sacrifice themselves so that the lemon could live on. 😆 On my skin, the lemon and melon stay around the entire life of the fragrance despite them being top notes. This is an extrait de parfum so it’s not only going to last a while, it’s also going to be different from person to person. I’m only saying that because I feel like the melon doesn’t come out as much on others as it does on me. Frankly, as I type this I don’t think anyone’s reviews talk about the melon nearly enough for it to be such a standout note for me. I like melon but I don’t think I liked it enough when I first smelled X. I like Ani so much that I am going to wear it in the summertime but I also really do enjoy Ani X. I think they’re different enough to have both, but I literally can’t decide which to wear when, so I just wear both. Guess that’s what it is to have a signature scent. I literally can’t pull myself away from them. They give me comfort and I literally can’t go a day without spraying one or both on me at some point.

Wow—Ani X is an absolute powerhouse! As a huge fan of the original Ani, I was both excited and skeptical about this release, but I have to say, Nishane really delivered. This isn't just a flanker; it's a bigger, bolder, and richer take on an already iconic fragrance. Right from the start, you get that signature ginger and citrus blast, but everything feels deeper and more intense. The spices are dialed up, the vanilla is creamier and more luxurious, and the overall composition feels more opulent. Compared to the original, Ani X leans less green and fresh, and more toward a warm, spicy, and resinous gourmand. As it dries down, the amber, sandalwood, and tonka bean create this silky, addictive warmth that just clings to the skin for hours. And when I say hours, I mean it—this stuff lasts forever! Easily 10+ hours with strong projection, making it a statement fragrance that gets noticed. If you love bold, spicy vanilla fragrances that feel both comforting and seductive, Ani X is a must-try. It’s perfect for fall and winter, special occasions, or anytime you want to feel confident and luxurious. It takes the best parts of Ani and cranks them up to the next level.

Okay so I finally caved and picked this up after seeing everyone rave about it, and yeah... it lives up to the hype. The opening is this super bright, zesty citrus and ginger punch that honestly wakes you right up — feels fresh and clean without being boring. Then it slowly settles into this creamy vanilla lemon cake vibe that I genuinely can't stop smelling on my own arm. Sounds weird written out but trust me it just works. What sells it for me is how versatile it is. I've worn it to the office, on dates, on random summer errands, and it fits every single time. It's fresh enough for warm days but has enough warmth and that cozy vanilla to carry it into fall/winter too. Legit an all-year, one-bottle-does-everything kind of scent. Performance is no joke either — lasts me all day on skin and I can still catch it on my hoodie the next morning. Gets compliments too, which never hurts. Is it a little pricey? Sure. But it smells expensive and unique in a way most stuff out there doesn't. If you want something fresh, creamy, and just a bit different from the usual crowd, this is an easy 10/10 for me.

If I hadn't known what I was smelling, I could not have made any connection between OG Ani and Ani X. Both spicy yes, but this one is sparkly, jolly unlike it's almost gothic, grumpy parent. As I don't really enjoy the OG, I find myself craving for this one, flirting with the idea of getting my own full bottle. Still not decided yet though considering the price...but the fragrance itself it's interesting enough Edit 1 week later: this has become my favourite vanilla of all the vanillas I have tried. Fresh and citrusy like Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee with which i associated Ani X the 1st time I smelled it but not as boring since Ani X has the perfect spices balance to keep it fresh but to make it extremely interesting. Ani X has become a love for me after 1st time wearing it. For the 1st 15 min or so, it has some earthy touch which I'm not crazy about but soon this touch dissipates and lets the fragrance shine. In the end, it becomes an extremely cosy vanilla. What a love for me! Big big love!