Blue Talisman Extrait de Parfum

“Let me just start by saying this is better than the og. With that being said, they’re still 90% similar. They toned down the citruses almost completely and added vanilla and jasmine. It’s like the fall/winter flanker of the og without it being too heavy. If you want a bright summer fragrance then get the og, if you want a cool weather version (also it’s not too crazy to wear this in spring summer, just make sure it’s not too hot out there) then get this. Only thing I dislike about this is the price, for how similar they are there shouldn’t be such price difference.”

“I liked it much more than the original. It definitely becomes sweeter as it dries down, but not in an overwhelming way, it still has a fresh vibe. I think it’s a very well-balanced fruity fragrance. Unlike Kirke or Erba Pura, it doesn’t feel sticky or overly sweet; everything is nicely measured. The performance is also quite good. And compared to the original, it’s more masculine, I actually think the original dries down from unisex to slightly feminine. In the end, I won’t buy it because it’s ridiculously overpriced.”

“Blue Talisman Extrait by Ex Nihilo takes the DNA of the original and turns up the intensity, but it still doesn’t quite live up to the hype to me personally. Compared to the original, the pear in the opening comes through much stronger, giving it a juicier, more prominent start. As it settles, the dry down leans a bit darker, adding some weight to what was otherwise a lighter composition. Overall though, it’s still very much in the same vein. It is pleasant, easily wearable, but not among the house’s best work. Performance is better, but I’d rate this one a 7/10.”