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Friday, February 06, 2009

Donna Karan Fuel for Men: Perfume Review

Fuel, first launched in 1994 and re-released last year together with another cult-favorite, Chaos, was inspired by Donna Karan’s late husband Stephan Weiss, "who loved the thrilling freedom of speeding down an open road." Housed in a sleek ablack bottle and coming with the "meant for a high-performance lifestyle" premise, Fuel of my imagination was a smoky, leathery, obviously masculine scent, simultaneously urbane and forceful, a banker riding a motorcycle. In reality, its spicy-herbal incense accord turned out to be a totally unisex, tranquil comfort fragrance of sorts.

The sharp and fiery start of Fuel is perhaps the most masculine and the most predictable part of it, the kind of top notes, fresh, brooding and with a touch of smoke, that one would expect from a perfume called Fuel. As a dry-fruity aroma of baked and spiced apples, sweet amber and, in this mix, floral rather than fresh lavender begins to unfold, the scent takes a very different, much quieter road, somewhere away from the roar and hustle of a metropolis. As I am smelling patchouli and sandalwood of the base notes, I can't help but think of a serene retreat in the mountains, deep in a forest. The gently burning incense tinged with a hint of herbs and fruits (the incense note not unlike that of Chaos!) is, too me, very far removed from the cars-cities-modern-lifestyle discourse. The perfume strikes me as much more...primeval, for a lack of better word.

I still think that the name is quite fitting, because, as meditative and calm the scent is, in its smoldering depth lies strength that is palpable. Fuel, to me, is some sort of powerful magical being in repose...resting for a moment but ready to unfold in all its formidable glory. If Vrubel painted The Demon Sleeping, this would be the fragrance to suit the picture.

Fuel is available at Bergdorf Goodman, $95.00 fr 3.4oz.

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9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

По описанию, похоже, "моё", нет?

9:49 PM EST  
Blogger Marina said...

Однозначно "твоё" :-)

9:54 PM EST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ой, Мариночка, у меня даже дыхание приостановилось слегка когда ты его сравнила с "Демоном". "Демон"- это наше все:) А что бы ты еще сравнила с ним?

10:37 PM EST  
Blogger Marina said...

Прозаически - Хаос Донны Каран, очень похоже, но помужественнее, хотя всё равно очень и очень юнисекс.

10:38 PM EST  
Blogger chayaruchama said...

When I tested this last fall, I found it very delightful, but woefully fleeting...

In this one, one is very aware of its being an EdT.

Hence, no buy...but I did love it.

8:44 AM EST  
Blogger elle said...

How is it possible that I missed this scent?! Sounds beyond wonderful. Just ordered a sample - although was seriously tempted to skip the sampling phase and just go for a full bottle.

1:09 PM EST  
Blogger Marina said...

Ida,
It stayed super long on me, although I wouldn't call it a power-house strong scent.

6:29 PM EST  
Blogger Marina said...

L,
I bet 6000 EUR :-), you will love this

6:29 PM EST  
Blogger Flora said...

Darn - only Bergdorf's is going to have it? Too bad, it is a good one.

8:43 PM EST  

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