Hugo XX Hugo Boss

A burst of tart lychee and blackcurrant immediately dominates, sharp and slightly piercing, almost jammy in its concentration. The mandarin orange arrives as a citrus counter-note, but it feels separated from the darker fruits rather than harmonising with them—like three different fruit drinks poured into the same glass without truly blending.

As the initial fruit brightness fades, the basmati rice finally registers as a subtle, creamy undertone, adding a faint warmth to the rose and jasmine sambac emerging in the mid-stage. The florals, particularly the jasmine's honeyed richness, gain prominence here, but the overall composition feels diffuse, lacking a coherent focal point around which everything orbits.

The musk and sandalwood attempt to provide woody-amber comfort, but they're barely perceptible—more a suggestion of base notes than a genuine foundation. What little remains is a soft, slightly powdered musk-amber blend that clings desperately to skin for perhaps two hours before evaporating almost entirely, leaving you wondering whether you're still wearing fragrance or simply remembering that you were.