Diesel
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Mandarin zips across the skin with an almost aggressive brightness, immediately accompanied by a peppery tingle that feels almost menthol-adjacent in its pungency. The combination is sharp and mouth-watering—less refined than more classical citrus compositions, more exuberant and youthful.
The fruity notes deepen considerably as blackcurrant emerges with a slightly tart, almost cassis-like character that contrasts beautifully with the jasmine's creamy, slightly indolic florality. Here lies the fragrance's true complexity: that interplay between dark fruit and white flowers, with the pink pepper still providing intermittent spice that prevents everything settling into predictable sweetness.
The patchouli and musk settle in as a warm, slightly powdery base that feels gentle rather than dominant, the jasmine lingering softly above it. The brightness fades considerably, leaving something more intimate and skin-like—the fruity top notes are now mere memory, replaced by a woody-musky whisper that clings closely rather than projects outwards.
Fuel for Life Femme opens with an almost audacious energy: mandarin and pink pepper collide in a burst of citrus-spice that feels distinctly European in its directness. There's no soft introduction here—Annick Ménardo has crafted something with genuine personality, a fragrance that announces itself rather than whispers. The blackcurrant arrives quickly, lending a dark, almost jammy sweetness that grounds the initial brightness, whilst jasmine softens the edges without domesticating the composition entirely. What emerges is a fruity-floral framework with genuine spice running through its backbone—this isn't a powdery floral or a simple fruity spritz.
The character feels distinctly suited to someone with an edge: a woman who favours statement jewellery over delicate pieces, who chooses bold lipstick and doesn't second-guess it. There's a playfulness here, tempered by the patchouli's earthiness in the base, which prevents the sweetness from becoming cloying. This is a fragrance for someone navigating modern femininity on her own terms—neither aggressively sexy nor timidly safe.
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3.5/5 (168)