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| Photo by Manfred Heyde |
Every so often I encounter a fragrance that everybody gets wrong. In this case it's Starwalker by Montblanc, which literally every single person on Fragrantica says "smells like Versace Man Eau Fraiche." Here's the thing: Starwalker is from 2005; the Versace was released in 2006. So VMEF smells like Starwalker. It came after Starwalker. It copied Starwalker. Starwalker came first. Jesus, people. Doesn't anybody check dates?
Several reviewers compare Starwalker to spas and zen gardens. They claim that its one distinctive quality is a prominent bamboo top note. They say it smells very citrusy, but also "woody" and "weak." These descriptions are all a little off. First of all, what the heck does fresh bamboo smell like? Does it smell good? Does anybody know? Don't buy this based on its supposed bamboo note. That one's a grey area, especially here.
I smell a blaring ginger and grey citrus (chemical) accord in the top, with just a hint of bergamot, so I don't know where all the bamboo is, because it's not here. And speaking of that very loud ginger note, it presages the overall loudness of the heart accord, which is basically residual ginger and cedar, a hint of fir, and Ambroxan. Yes, Ambroxan, in a fairly lithe dose, smelling something like a fictional "Sauvage Lite" with a wry attitude and blue instead of black jeans. Simple, approachable, unpretentious, a touch wishful.
Does it smell good? I guess, but it smells bland. Perhaps one could say that a zen garden should smell bland, because how do you meditate if distracted by scent? Starwalker isn't engaging, it just smells "safe." Its fresh, camphoraceous opening is followed by a politely-assembled grey-brown drydown, an ending to a story that you slept through.