Pegasus Clones

"### Notes & Nuances Portfolio Royale Stallion opens with a powdery cloud of heliotrope battling a spicy cumin note. The bergamot feels more like lemon cleaner – sharp and fleeting, a slightly chemical introduction. As it settles, the bitter almond emerges, but it's reminiscent of marzipan with a pronounced cherry cough syrup undercurrent, lacking the smooth nuttiness of the original. The lavender is subdued, adding a floral sweetness rather than herbal freshness. The drydown is where it most notably diverges, becoming a cloying vanilla supported by a plasticky sandalwood that lacks depth and warmth. It lacks the airy sophistication of what it emulates, favoring instead a dense, somewhat synthetic amber. ### Bottom Line This one's for the guy who likes sweet scents, maybe a younger professional who is just starting his fragrance journey. He probably wears slim-fit jeans, enjoys hitting the gym after work, and values a fragrance that gets noticed without overpowering a room. He favors sweet gourmands, and a synthetic accord doesn't bother him. This is a "going out" scent, best suited for evening casual scenarios. ### The Performance Stats On my skin, Royale Stallion lasts around 6 hours, becoming a skin scent around the 4-hour mark. Projection is moderate for the first hour, radiating about an arm's length before quickly retreating closer. I wore it to the office, where it garnered a few compliments, and also on a casual date where it was generally well-received."

"### Notes & Nuances Vibrant Leather Platinum opens with a peculiar mix. The heliotrope provides a powdery sweetness, clashing somewhat awkwardly with the cumin. It's not quite a clean spice; imagine unwashed gym socks mingling with baby powder. There's a fleeting brightness from the bergamot, but it’s quickly overtaken by that cumin-powder combo. The heart introduces a medicinal bitter almond note, resembling cherry cough syrup, alongside a subdued lavender. This phase is where it veers farthest from its inspiration, lacking the original's refined smoothness. The drydown leans heavily on vanilla, but it's a synthetic vanilla with a plasticky edge, combined with a vaguely woody sandalwood and a generalized amber accord. ### The Verdict Wearing Vibrant Leather Platinum is like attending a black-tie event in a rented tuxedo. You're in the right ballpark, but the fit just isn't quite right. While it attempts to capture the essence of its inspiration, it ultimately falls short due to a lack of refinement and a reliance on cheaper-smelling synthetics. You gain a somewhat similar scent profile at first sniff, but you lose the luxurious, well-blended experience of the original. It's a passable daily driver, but temper your expectations. ### Performance Reality Check I get about 5-6 hours of wear with this one. Projection is moderate for the first hour, extending to about arm's length, before settling closer to the skin. I wore this to the office and it performed respectably without being offensive. It seemed to fade pretty quickly after lunch."

"### How it Smells Phantom Paragon opens with a somewhat muddled heliotrope, lacking the bright, powdery finesse of the original. The cumin is dialed up aggressively, presenting a distinct body odor nuance that clashes discordantly with the faint bergamot. The heart reveals a slightly chemical bitter almond accord, more reminiscent of marzipan extract than finely ground almonds. Lavender peeks through, but is muted, almost medicinal. The jasmine is barely detectable. The drydown is where the divergence becomes most apparent. The vanilla is cloying and synthetic, lacking depth and natural sweetness. The sandalwood is a ghost note, replaced by a generic amber that smells suspiciously like mothballs, amplified by a plasticky musk. ### How Long Does it Last? Longevity is surprisingly robust, clocking in at around 7-8 hours. Projection is initially quite strong, extending easily beyond an arm's length for the first two hours before settling closer to the skin. I tested this at the office where the opening projection was perceived as slightly abrasive. ### The Verdict Wearing Phantom Paragon is akin to experiencing a distorted mirror image of Pegasus. The key differences lie in the refinement and quality of the materials. Where the original presents a balanced composition with a luxurious feel, this rendition suffers from a synthetic edge and an imbalanced cumin note. One gains a longer lasting, though less appealing, base. One loses nuance, subtlety, and overall olfactory pleasure."

"### Final Thoughts Wearing Craze is like trying to experience a luxury item through a blurry photograph. It gestures towards the intended destination, but lacks the nuance and refinement. The synthetic edges are noticeable, and the overall impression is rougher and less cohesive. You gain the *idea* of Pegasus, but you lose the smooth, elegant composition. Ultimately, it smells like a reasonable approximation but not the experience of quality. ### How it Smells Craze opens with a blast of powdery heliotrope that leans heavily into a play-doh accord, overshadowing any bergamot brightness. The cumin adds a strange, almost urinous tang, far removed from the smoother opening of Pegasus. The heart reveals the bitter almond, but it's a rough, almost chemical almond extract, unlike the creamy sweetness it attempts to emulate. Lavender peeks through, but it's a synthetic lavender cleaner vibe. The jasmine is barely discernible. The base is where the similarities emerge, with a vanilla-sandalwood mix. However, it has a plasticky edge and lacks the warmth of amber, settling into a slightly medicinal, almost cough-syrupy sweetness. ### How Long Does it Last? Longevity is moderate, clinging to the skin for around 5-6 hours. Projection is initially strong, projecting about an arm's length for the first hour before quickly settling into a skin scent. I tested it in a temperature-controlled office and during an outdoor walk – the cumin became much more pronounced in the heat, not in a pleasant way."

"### How it Smells Maison Alhambra's take on the Pegasus DNA starts with a curious, slightly off-kilter opening. The heliotrope is present, but feels cloying, mixing with a cumin note that leans towards body odor before settling into something vaguely spicy. The bergamot attempts to brighten things, but is quickly buried under a blanket of synthetic almond. The heart maintains this artificial sweetness, the lavender and jasmine reduced to mere suggestions. Where the original has creamy vanilla, this dries down to a strangely plasticky, burnt sugar scent, mixed with a coarse sandalwood accord and a heavy, amber base that smells like cheap hairspray. It mimics some aspects of the original, but lacks the smooth, luxurious blend. ### Conclusion If this fragrance were a character, it would be an off-brand superhero costume purchased from a discount store - recognizable, but ultimately disappointing in its construction and execution. ### Wear time & Sillage Longevity is moderate, clocking in around 5-6 hours. Projection is strong for the first hour, extending easily to an arm's length, before quickly becoming a skin scent. I tested this in an office environment and received no compliments, just one confused stare from a coworker."

"### How it Smells Detour Noir Intense opens with a perplexing clash: a medicinal cherry cough syrup note from the heliotrope battles a sweaty cumin. The bergamot is almost undetectable beneath this cacophony. As it settles, a slightly more comforting, though still synthetic, bitter almond emerges, laced with a powdery lavender. Hints of jasmine peek through, but they're quickly overshadowed by the looming base. The drydown is where this fragrance truly diverges; the vanilla reads as a plasticky, vaguely sweet synthetic, clinging uncomfortably to the sandalwood and amber, creating a cloying, synthetic finish. Gone is the sophisticated airy quality; this is a heavier, more blunt instrument. ### Longevity & Projection Longevity is impressive, lasting a solid 8-10 hours on skin. Projection is strong, easily extending beyond arm's length for the first 3 hours, then gradually settling closer. Tested in an office setting, it garnered a few compliments, but also some raised eyebrows, suggesting it’s a polarizing scent. ### To Buy or Not to Buy? If Detour Noir Intense were a character, it would be the try-hard villain in a teen drama. All outward swagger and carefully constructed image, but beneath the surface, a faint aroma of desperation. Someone who peaked in high school."

"### The Laundry Bomb ** The Scent Profile ** Cloning *Pegasus*. This is almond, vanilla, and lavender. It smells like an ultra-expensive luxury hotel soap or high-end laundry detergent. The bitter almond note is prominent and polarizing—some say root beer, some say soap. It is metallic and cold, unlike the warm vanilla of Layton. ** Performance Reality Check ** Very strong. 9+ hours. The metallic note cuts through cold air easily. ** The Verdict ** A unique "clean gourmand." If you want to smell sterile yet sweet, this is it."