USEFUL FOR: UNISEX, WINTER, SUMMER
TOP NOTES: LIME
MIDDLE NOTES: WHITE VIOLET
BASE NOTES: LEATHER. WOODY
The second perfume by Lady Gaga follows after the much hyped Fame. It can even be said that Eau de Gaga was released under the shadow of its predecessor. However, a few clues hint that this addition is intended to break away from the former. And while Fame was not a flop by any means, many aficionados are touting that this is the perfume that Fame was supposed to be but somehow could not quite muster..
SCENT PROFILE
The initial notes were quite acrid and sharp. The lime is there, but very faint. The impression I got most was mint. Even though quite strong, it still smells fresh, cordial and sex-less, in this regard, like a soap. I was a bit disappointed by the starter, and was worried by this.
However, by the first hour, the scent gave way to a light green tea. This change is perhaps the most surprising, as the scent becomes softer and lighter, without doubt more feminine. At this point, it smells like a powdery version of Elizabeth Arden Green Tea. This stage would be surprising on a man, but I would say most men would simply come away smelling "clean".
The final stage and my most favourite, is the dry down. With the green tea taking the backseat, the scent bloomed into a fine leather and musk. It is incredibly sexy, not a heavy oppressive muskiness but elegant and surprisingly sophisticated. Mixed in with that is also a mellow sweetness. The whole effect is not heady or intoxicating, but mildly warm and comforting.
SCENT PERFORMANCE
I got a solid 6 hours from this, sprayed on skin. The projection is medium, in summer conditions. The first 30 minutes or so, is the strongest and most obnoxious, so fair warnings to spray in advance before leaving the house and entering confined spaces like the elevator, car, bus. Dry down is softer, and projection is roughly limited to a 1 metre radius. I do wish the projection for the drydown is longer, simply because it is one that is masculine without being offensively musky, which is rare.
FORM FACTOR
True to her gender-bending persona, the perfume is unisex. And it shows in the bottle: it is both angular and masculine, but has definite visual threads to Chanel classic ultra-femme perfumes. In its naming convention, it also hints this is maybe the first (001) in a series, like Chanel no.5, 19, 22.
Ambiguity is also reflected in its colour. You cannot really tell what it is. From the packaging, initially it looks like an intensely dark red. In hand, it pulls in the colour of the surroundings via reflection, looking a deep emerald or blue as Bleu de Chanel. But it is actually ink-black, 100% opaque and 900% mysterious. It was a creative decision to mask all interior contents, indeed it will be difficult to know when you have almost run dry.
The perfume seems to deliver on all counts. It is completely wearable by both men & women, even though slightly more suited toward the masculine. It probably won't be a likely candidate for a signature scent as it does not really make a statement, but on the flipside it means that it is incredibly wearable as an everyday scent. Having worn this 4 times for various occasions (work, dinner, chiropractic session), it is indeed versatile and non-offending.
And I was glad it was a departure from the ostentatious Fame, which smelled sweet but clothed in an extraterrestrial & confrontational design. Eau de Gaga 001 feels more truer to itself, which is odd to say of a first edition, but it is classic and timeless, effortlessly calling upon well-loved scent families that are both rich and satisfying.
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MANDESCRIPT REVIEW
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