Sehr

The Scent Profile

Sehr opens with a harsh, almost medicinal bitter almond – think cherry cough syrup spilled on plastic. The vanilla tries to peek through quickly, but it's a timid vanilla extract, not the rich, boozy kind. Where the floral notes are supposed to be, I mostly detect a powdery, generic sweetness. The drydown is where the vanilla gains prominence, settling into a somewhat cloying mix of synthetic vanillin and a powdery tonka bean. It lacks the complexity of a high-quality vanilla scent and has a persistent artificial sweetness. The overall effect is reminiscent of a vanilla-scented air freshener trying very hard to be sophisticated, but the synthetic acetone edge gives it away.

The Performance Stats

Longevity is impressive, clocking in at around 7 hours on my skin. Projection is moderate, extending about an arm's length for the first two hours before settling closer to the skin. I wore this during a casual weekend outing, and it felt out of place; the sweetness was too much for a relaxed environment.

Final Thoughts

This fragrance is best suited for situations where a strong, sweet vanilla scent is desired, but a truly luxurious impression isn't required. Maybe a late-night club setting where subtlety is lost in the music and lights.