Trajan

Trajan surprised me. The citrus note at the start is fresh without being overpowering – and the vanilla follows subtly. Not a generic sweet blend, but one with real character. Wishlist.

I have been looking for a good alternative (not a dupe) for Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum for a long time, because I really liked the DNA, but on my skin, the ambroxan simply smelled terribly like a dentist's office. Most dupes had the same effect. Trajan lacks everything that bothered me about Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum. It is not too sweet and that ambroxan note is barely perceptible. Longevity and sillage are outstanding. Simply perfect.

Yes, it really bears a strong resemblance to BR540. But in my opinion, Trajan is better in every way and, above all, much more elegant. In a direct comparison, BR540 is more compact and has a subtle "banana-like" quality for me (the sweetness and stickiness of a ripe banana). However, I can only pinpoint it that specifically after a direct comparison. Trajan lacks this particular note. This, combined with the citrus top notes, makes Trajan significantly fresher and less sweet. Everything is perfectly balanced here: not too woody/dry, not too sweet, not explicitly citrusy and yet fresh, airy but with enough presence. The sillage is strong; others can smell it from several meters away. It only becomes a skin scent after a few hours. The longevity on my skin is excellent; you can still smell it the next day. To me, it is clearly unisex.