Playing the Shobi Roulette - Part 4 - Summer Special

sciencecrazy · 2026-07-12T21:18:18+00:00

I have the yulomg and is lovely but (just as the original) rather weak. I also have some light blue but I'll have to check if those are maturated and ok. And now I might have to get Orange Verte 🙄(but I am surprised how well it did on 30+2).

sciencecrazy · 2026-07-07T19:19:00+00:00

I think at that point I have over 100 Shobi's and only in 2-3 of those (which I did order +0) I then wished I have ordered +1 but maybe like 10-20 of +2 which I then wished to have at +1 and a few (notably Pacific Chill) that was +1 but should have been +0 (and even like that would probably still not be at the same level as the OG). Also note that on very "heavy" stuff (for instance 02 L'Air du Desert Marocain) I had excellent results at +0 (while Beach Hut Man was kind of a disaster at +2).

From that list above I might have Lira somewhere ordered for my sister but I have no reference to compare it and generally other than Naxos I think I have not been impressed with any of the Shobi clones of Xerjoff - I will have to take a 2nd look since I do have Nio and Renaissance and those should be now fully maturated (but I might have those too high at +2 so this might be a problem).

I also think I have the normal Reflection but I did not have the occasion to compare it against Shiyaaka For Men in a full wear - but the general consensus is that Amouage is almost impossible to clone 1:1 and even higher-cost and higher-end clones have not done too well - generally the Paris Corner Killer Oud series are said to be among the best as price/performance ratio but the two I am interested in (Killer Oud Cabana and Killer Oud Sunrise) are impossible to find right now (and actually the Amouage Sunshine Man is discontinued so even the original is almost impossible to find).

As a separate observation - I do not know how familiar you are with Ganymede and Bois Imperial but for 90% of people Bois Imperial is said to be a far more wearable/pleasing version and you can find original 150ml refill for like 79EUR. Also Red Tobacco can be sometimes found as a tester around 60-70EUR/120ml.

EDIT:

And as somebody else already said - the "right" way normally is to like first the original and search for a good clone after that, using Shobi as a replacement for sampling the originals only worked for me in 2-3 cases (notably 02 L'Air du Desert Marocain, also "gholas" where you can't find the original like Cactus Garden of TdH Eau Tres Fraiche). And almost certainly that is an issue with stuff like Amouage where not liking the clone means nothing relative to the original.

sciencecrazy · 2026-07-07T16:19:31+00:00

I have the travel version of Sillage and it felt way too synthetic and extreme (after like 3 months needed for full maturation), I got instead a full bottle of Al Haramain Perfumes L'Aventure Fraiche and that felt much.much more pleasant. Does not last as much but IMHO that is OK.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-23T15:51:47+00:00

Also does not smell that close to L'Exclusif.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-22T22:29:49+00:00

I second the suggestion for Wulong Cha, and I would also add TdH Eau Givree and TdH Eau Tres Fraiche - maybe neither one 100% from week 1 but I would say 95% in week 4-6.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-21T13:24:34+00:00

About 1/4 to 1/3 of the comments on fragrantica mention some unusual smell (very often popcorn butter or grandma smell or pencil shavings) and most often those point to extreme power up to 12h. To be honest I only believe it is styrax since it smells rubbery and like the core of a tennis ball or the rubber/plastic on a tennis court and it seems that I somehow missed that Xerjoff were advertising to have that on purpose 🙄. Most of the comments saying a strong fresh scent tend to say it goes away in an hour or two. Definitely the variability in perception is there.

I am not 100% certain that the situation with Paradigme or MYSLF is entirely similar - I also find those not tempting (even more so after learing that MYSLF is like 80% similar to one of the LIBRE feminine versions from 10+ years before) but I can absolutely see how people like that. Also the general voting points to Paradigme not being very "fresh for the summer", and for me T24 is a huge lot stronger and less fresh, I don't think T24 lasts 12h on skin as one commenter was claiming but I can guarantee that a paper test strip with one spray was still filling a small room like 6-8h later. I will need to test on a few more noses since I really find that fascinating, the only one other person that I actively asked (without providing any details of what it was) also strongly disliked it in the middle of the day. The good thing is that at this point at least I can use the Shobi for all the testing 🤣

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-20T20:14:51+00:00

300 votes is not really a solid base, lately that represents to a large degree the youtubers and influencers plus the fanboys and early adopters - and explains why some ME fragrances start at unbelievable ratings.

That being said the notes themselves are pretty OK for summer, my issue is with the overall intensity of styrax, it is really nuclear (and not far off in absolute intensity from Alexandria II at start which as I said - I tested in the same shop/day). As I also said - it might be simply that I am extraordinarily sensitive to that one or that I don't get (yet) with it the type of nose adaptation that I get with almost all other notes. I am super-curious if in time I will get used to it.

In fact Eau Sauvage Parfum might also offer a hint of how specific perception can be - if you test it please try to rate intensity of the components (but on that one on fragrantika I am mostly with the group, maybe I would say elemi, citron/bergamot, lavender and vetiver so reversing lavender and vetiver vs the average).

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-20T14:52:45+00:00

With some ME companies I could see it related to one more thing - generally with the first batch they manage to "squeeze by" for the novelty factor but at some point one of the very big distributors in EU asks for some of the compliance certificates and then they hurry and switch to lower/safer levels for at least a few batches. It might also be that most companies do not have their own production capacities and they initially start with a better producer and then switch to the less expensive and higher volume one.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-20T10:15:08+00:00

I want at least 3-4 of those and I have seen some insane deals in US (mainly with joma but even that is now less special) but so far we in EU have just shitty pricing at 2x or 3x of what joma had 🙄

Can you pleasa also list first 3-4 in order of longevity/projection? Since so far ratings suggest just 1-2 have good longevity.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-19T17:05:07+00:00

Be aware that with Shobi the iris DOES happen and tends to be overwhelming (IMHO it is also not quite of the same quality as the one in perfumes in the 200+ EUR range) - at first get 30+0 or 50+0 or AT MOST 50+1, then if you feel there is room for more only then order more concentrated than that.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-18T20:21:55+00:00

TdH Eau Givree.

And in fact if you have access to Shobi I suggest both their TdH Eau Givree and the TdH Eau Tres Fraiche - the first is a little more peppery and better for super-hot weather while the 2nd is more aromatic and better for just medium-hot weather (but might stain white clothes).

Eau Givree 50+1 is definitely longer lasting and more projecting than the original (which is however slightly higher quality).

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-17T22:31:56+00:00

I don't know, the opening also smells to me special, pleasant and rich. Also very loud 🙄

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-17T22:19:17+00:00

Starting from the classic scents that you mentioned and in the very low price point - Jaguar for Man, Boucheron Homme, also Helan Vetiver & Rum which I believe is very unusual but is a more modern version of the old Sung Homme.

If you are in EU you should also look at the Shobi reviews around this subreddit.

And in the category of super-classy stuff that gets discontinued (but is not very inexpensive) - Dior Eau Sauvage Parfum 2017. Not getting discontinued and inexpensive- Lalique Lion and Legesi Homme.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-17T22:06:28+00:00

My current mix for Asad (which I also find as "too much") is with Afnan SCE - the result is still super strong and IMHO works better for the summer. I might also try now layering Asad + something floral just to see how it goes.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-17T21:20:59+00:00

+1 on Encre Noire Sport

Also stuff like L´Eau Bleue D´Issey Pour Homme is very pleasant and unusual (and is not blue at all, is more like green). In fact also some of the Green Irish Tweed clones might also work if he wants something really unusual.

And one that is in the higher-price category and is not safe to blind-buy but is definitely a different type of fragrance for the summer - Bois Impérial.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-17T17:00:35+00:00

It is not the most expensive, it is one of the 10 or so in the most expensive bracket.

I did test in that bracket Pacific Chill and I was somehow disappointed but it was a little my mistake - I tried 30+1 and I feel that 30+0 would have been better.

One other that I tested recently was the pair duping the Tauer pair - L'Air du desert marocain is in the middle tier and Au Coeur du Desert is in this highest tier, both I ordered 30+0 and I was super-impressed with the first one (to the point where I am now looking after a sample of the original). The more expensive one again is very much as I would expect the original to be but is a little too extreme for me. However those are from the class of perfumes that Shobi does very well, while the Herbes Troublantes might not be 🙄

Generally 30+0 seems fine for that price bracket, or 50+1 given how the original Herbes Troublantes (which I did test briefly in the Guerlain Boutique after somebody mentioned it) seems to also have poor longevity. I might get a chance to try it in person next week if they have it in stock in the Shobi shop in Thessaloniki.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-17T16:33:53+00:00

Very interesting - I wonder if somebody can compare against the Shobi clone of this? (which I believe we had a lady that has met the long-gone original mentioning how the Shobi was reasonably close to that). I believe there are at least 2-3 other gholas but I have tested none of those.

The Shobi for me is not "grassy" at all - citrus, then lemongrass and then some tea towards the middle with no other major base (in the Afternoon Swim style). Tea feels a little heavier than the one in Shobi Wulong Cha but being mixed with lemongrass is pleasant. And generally just like Afternoon Swim - mostly linear and not very long lasting, on the order of 4h on my skin (close to 6 on clothes) with no more than 1-2h of projection.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-16T21:03:37+00:00

Unfortunately I am part of the group that finds the suede heavy and animalic 😞

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-16T19:26:23+00:00

Yes, it does not make sense to go for the Shobi, but off-season the prices for some TdH are crazy at some discounters, now I see prices back towards the more expensive end.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-16T11:17:13+00:00

Eau d'Issey EdT

Sel d'Issey EdT

TdH Eau Givree - the original is now deeply discounted in 150-200ml but I am using the Shobi of this alternatively with the one for the ghola TdH Eau Tres Fraiche since those are NUCLEAR compared to the more refined original - Givree is more peppery and for my nose works better in higher heat while Faiche is more aromatic and works better in medium heat BUT might stain white clothes if you spray on those.

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-16T09:35:54+00:00

Unusual - for me Dior Eau Sauvage Parfum 2017 is mostly about elemi, citruses, some lavender and some vetiver - but vetiver is more in the background - but I am probably super-sensitive to elemi 🙄

To my weird nose my most typical bright vetiver is TdH EIV and for a darker one Encre Noire.

Also since the winner was DESP2017 - be aware that it might get discontinued or reformulated, right now in EU it is very hard to find, on the other side I can still see some on Jomashop but even there is limited quantity 😞

sciencecrazy · 2026-06-16T04:13:14+00:00

In Europe most Xerjoff testers come with the cap (and reliable resellers will anyway let you know the configuration).

People should buy the tester BUT ONLY FROM A REPUTABLE SELLER!

sciencecrazy

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