Blue Lavender by AXE

With the mint and that sweet amber base, it smells like a mint granita ice cream. It doesn’t strike me as particularly masculine; if anything, it feels almost childish.

This is my favourite body spray: neither too sweet nor overly masculine. It has already taken the top spot from Cherry Spritz.

Generic and basic, yet super functional and incredibly pleasant. I’ve received compliments for wearing it on my feet or to freshen up the room. It also masks underarm odours effectively. I need an EDP of this: basic but charming.

Axe should release an EDP of this. Seriously, I’m not exaggerating… it’s become my secret weapon. Sometimes I skip perfume and just this alone lifts me to another level. At first, I was repelled by the ‘cheap’ vibe and that mentholated, dirty note, but once I understood it, the impact is direct. It smells gourmand; people tell me I smell like a delicious dessert, and they’re right—like a rich dessert topped with lavender, giving it that retro touch. Ugh, soapy, creamy, everything. I’ve tried several and only this one blew my mind. I tried Cherry Fizz because I read it projected well (a grave mistake): I went from smelling the best deodorant of my life (Blue Lavender) to the ultimate aberration (Cherry Fizz). There’s fabric in this, eh.

I managed to track it down at my usual shops. I still need to try the Aqua Bergamot, which people say is similar to Acqua Di Gio. In Mexico, the Emerald Sage hasn’t launched yet; it’s a Drakkar Noir alternative, and I’ve been looking for something like that for ages—the current Drakkar formula just doesn’t perform well. Back to the Blue Lavender: I detect aromatic lavender and floral notes at first, a touch of mint, then the dry-down is dominated by amber with warm spices. It reminds me of D&G The One. For a date in winter or autumn, it will go down a treat. To be frank, I might use it more for dates than my go-to fragrances: Bentley For Men EDT, Givenchy Gentleman EDT (the vintage), CH Men Privé, and Chanel Egoiste. This Blue Lavender feels very natural and opulent; it’s tempting to finish the collection and buy only this one.

It’s good. I notice the amber is very prominent, so it’s quite sweet. Nothing groundbreaking, but it’s perfectly fine.