Mundaka by Zara

Very rich fragrance with great performance and projection. I wear it in summer and spring; its dominant note is vetiver.

A good summer option: refreshing, citrusy, and green. I must say I’m not a vetiver fan, and I actively try to avoid that note (green notes aren’t my preference), yet I bought it with the Teahupoo pack because the price was great. Considering that, it’s a rich fragrance. At first, I detect an acidic, sharp lemon/lime that fades into the background, wrapping around a refreshing vetiver note with that acidic touch, which I think is the standout note. Quite linear. It’s a scent that doesn’t offend anyone, simple, nothing groundbreaking, rich, and fulfills its purpose for warm days. As for performance, on my skin it lasts about 5-6 hours, with a moderate trail, projecting for the first hour and a half before settling close to the skin and fading. A good economical option for hot days: it doesn’t surprise but it delivers. If your style leans towards green or aromatic fragrances, give it a try. Scent 6.5, Longevity 7/10, Projection 6.5/10, Price 8.5/10, Overall 7/10.

Love at first sniff. Out of three Zara options I tried for summer, the first was ‘meh, normal’, the second was Invictus, and this one: TAKE IT! It deserves a review. Upon application, it seemed very pleasant and rich, and after a few minutes, truly exquisite. It’s in the style of Chanel Homme Sport, with similar longevity and I even prefer it more. It’s so well-crafted that it feels worth the investment, with good longevity, trail, and a perfect price. Nowadays they ask $50 for perfumes like this; this one hovers around $15-20. It’s joined my favorites, though I know they’ll reformulate and it won’t be as good as the 2020 version.

Aromatic opening, slightly aquatic and citrusy. Mundaka is, without a doubt, one of my best summer fragrances and a quintessential summer purchase. It opens fresh with a rich aromatic/aquatic mix, projects well for the first two hours; afterward it becomes more earthy, shifting to something earthier with a slight aromatic touch in the dry down. I wear it in spring, summer, and autumn on non-cold days; it’s a hit on rainy days if you like the smell of earth or wet grass—something magical happens. Occasions: casual, informal work, hanging out with friends, dates, family meals. It’s almost a 4×4 vibe, but nothing formal or for important professional settings. It reminds me a lot of Vibrant Leather in its dry down. Optimal results of 6-7 hours projecting well for the first two. Price: I bought it on clearance for 185 Mexican pesos ($8-9). Scent 8.5, Longevity 9, Trail 8.5, Price 10, Final Rating 9. It hints at some maturity thanks to the vetiver base. If summer comes around again, get one.

Personally, I think this is an Eau de Toilette that should be in everyone’s extensive Zara collection. They release it in their spring-summer collection, and it has a very distinctive smell. The first impact hitting your nose is its sharp bergamot; it literally stabs right in. You feel this sensation for a few minutes, after which the bergamot gives way to a very well-balanced mix of vetiver and marine notes. The evolution of this blend is what creates its signature scent. I wear it with great pleasure, and it makes me feel relaxed. I recommend it for its quality-to-price ratio (between 7.90€ and 9.90€ for 100ml) and especially for that dry-down. It will last on your skin for about 4-5 hours, with moderate projection for the first two hours; afterward, it stays closer to the skin, but you’ll still be able to smell it all the time.

I bought it along with Teahupoo; I’m not a fan of aquatic scents but Mundaka is worth it. The vetiver gives it masculine strength that balances the citrus: fresh but with character, ideal for daily wear in spring and summer. At 320 pesos for both, there’s no excuse not to smell good.

I think it’s an EDT you should have from Zara; they release it in spring-summer and it smells very distinctive. The first impact is a sharp bergamot that hits the nose hard. Then it gives way to a perfect balance between vetiver and marine notes. That blend is its signature. It gives me a sense of relaxation. I recommend it for value (€7.90-9.90 for 100ml) and for that dry down. Lasts 4-5 hours on skin, with moderate projection for the first two hours and then closer to the skin, but always present.

The scent reminds me of Zara Vibrant Leather and Club de Nuit Intense in its notes.

Exquisite aroma: at first it’s quite acidic, then it turns marine, and finishes with an intense but rich, fresh, clean, summery, and masculine base. My partner wears it, and it suits him perfectly.

Although it opens very fresh with bergamot, as it dries down it fades into marine notes and the scent changes completely; it ended up smelling like pickles to me. Personally, it didn’t work for me.