Cosmopolitan New York

Final Thoughts

Wearing Cosmopolitan New York versus L'Air du Desert Moracain is a study in contrasts. One offers a beautifully blended, multifaceted experience; the other presents a simplified, louder, and less sophisticated interpretation. With this clone, you gain density and projection, but you sacrifice finesse and naturalness.

First Impressions & Dry Down

Cosmopolitan New York opens with a potent, almost acrid coriander note, lacking the nuanced brightness found in L'Air du Desert Moracain. The cumin is present, but manifests as a slightly stale body odor accord rather than a warm, inviting spice. The petitgrain attempts a citrusy lift, but is quickly subsumed. The heart leans heavily on labdanum, creating a dense, resinous core – a sticky, dark honey impression dominates. Birch tar contributes a medicinal, smoky facet, though here it reads more as burnt rubber than refined leather. Jasmine is a mere ghost, offering minimal floral relief. In the base, the amber accord is cloying and overly sweet, bordering on synthetic vanilla. Cedar is present, but masked by the dominant amber. Vetiver adds a welcome, earthy dryness, saving it from total disaster, preventing a saccharine catastrophe. It diverges from the original with a syrupy and harsh quality.

Performance Reality Check

Longevity is considerable, lasting approximately 8 hours on skin. Projection is moderate, extending to about one arm length for the initial 2-3 hours before settling closer to the body. Tested in an office environment, it elicited mixed reactions – some found it intriguing, others detected a lingering “chemical” undertone.