Shooting Stars Collection: Oesel Xerjoff for women and men

I first wrote a review of Oesel on Basenotes shortly after the line launched and I said it then and I still maintain the same viewpoint (and with Henri's review below, I see that I'm not the only one): Oesel is basically a Fleur du Male copy. It's marginally "more natural" smelling, and it has a bit less cedar and the florals have been reduced slightly, but all in all it's close enough to Fleur du Male that it's not worth the price difference. I actually prefer FdM as I feel it has more character, even if it does come across as a bit more synthetic.

If you almost love FdM but find yourself annoyed by a particular chemical in it or feel that it might be a perfect scent if only the balance was adjusted ever so slightly, do check out Oesel as it may be just what you are looking for. Those who simply do not like the odor profile of FdM can skip Oesel entirely.

This is not the only Xerjoff that smells very similar to another, pre-existing scent. Mefisto too smells quite similar to Creed's Silver Mountain Water. To a lesser extent, Dhajala calls to mind Angel for Women, XXY is rather similar to Daim Blonde, and Modoc is not miles away from Tam Dao.

Oesel doesn`t make any sense at all inside of a coinosseur, luxury, expensive brand like Xerjoff. It`s just a commercial ideal done with superior ingredients which doesn`t add anything new to the original idea. It`s a copy of Fleur du Male, but with a less overwhelming floweriness. The orange flower and petitgrain are still strong, noticeable, but a subtler than Fleur. The amber is more discreet and the base seems to share the same discreet sweetness woody shape of Kobe, but more sweet and without incense. It`s a good fragrance, but it`s a copy of Fleur Du Male. I thought it would go in a different direction after the top notes, as most of xerjoffs do, but it doesn`t go. It`s disappointing due to the lack of originality in something so expensive. I wouldn`t pay so high on it.