A*Men – Notable Scents

* The zest is what you get on top with a bold burst of juicy citrus – orange and tangerine.

* It starts off like a sports fragrance on steroids.

* After about ten minutes, the juice is literally cooled off by ginger and mint, as if you are chewing some kind of all natural gum.

* Then it turns left and goes into the standard Amen. Patchouli, coffee, cinnamon, and chocolate.

* The base is just as strong as you would imagine and tenacious just like all of the other A*Men flankers.

Summary: In any special interest or hobby, there quickly develops an inherent snobbery which criticizes the mainstream and popular. As we all develop eccentric tastes, it is important to realize that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it is necessarily bad. A*Men is a a classic perfume that has stood the test of time. Every flanker (or remix) adds a new top note and then it resolves to what is known, expected and loved. If you love A*men and want a fresh remix for 2015, give Ultra Zest a shot. Do not expect a light summer fragrance – this is the same brilliantly heavy and tenacious A*men, butwith a brief intro of juicy citrus.

Other opinions:
Candy Perfume Boy
Colognoisseur
Mimi Frou Frou
Man Loves Cologne
Persolaise

A*Men Ultra Zest is available from Macy’s and Nordstrom.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by Nordstrom. Image courtesy of Nordstrom website.

* The first shot is a burst of cold with juniper berry, pepper, and citrus. It’s a bit strong and bracing, with strong projection for the first 30 minutes.

* South African sprint runner Oscar Pistorius is the face of the fragrance. Known as “the fastest man on no legs,” he is a double amputee who runs with artificial limbs. I wonder if the inspiration was to be a sports fragrance with a unique twist.

* A fresh mint joins in with the pepper – I guess that would be called peppermint <grin>.

* Pure Shot bares little resemblance to A*Men, with none of the coffee, chocolate, caramel or musk that the original is named for.

* After about 2 hours, it calms down to a nice woody patchouli that lasts for a good 6 hours.

Summary: Pure Shot came as a total surprise for me. When I reach for an A*Men or and A*men flanker, I am expecting deep intense juices that projects. Pure Shot could easily be described as the A*Men sports fragrance as it is refreshing, light, and heats up well with physical activity. I would compare it to Serge Lutens L’eau, a clean laundry fragrance in a line of heavy oriental scents. Pure Shot seems like it was made for guys who don’t wear A*men or don’t like heavy scents. With that said, I do like it and it would work as a great summer scent.

A*Men Pure Shot is available exclusively at Nordstrom and the Thierry Mugler website.