Wild Boost by Zara

Starting with the colognes that claim to resemble Wild Boost: Parisienne is absolutely nothing like it. I own it, and they don’t even match in style; Wild Boost is much more sporty. Mon Paris EDT shares more similarities with Parisienne than with this one, and Mon Paris and Parisienne don’t resemble each other either, so this one is out. Escape is more of the same. If anyone thinks Escape is fresh, I won’t argue, but its freshness is floral and very dense—it feels heavy to me. Wild Boost is definitely more fruity and energizing. Anecdote: someone asked if I was wearing Halloween, but not even joking. I see Halloween as autumnal, while Wild Boost is all about summer and heat. It does remind me of something, but I can’t pinpoint the similarity. At first, I thought of Escada’s summer editions, but those are fruitier and sweeter. It’s a mix between one of those and something sportier… I still can’t find the exact match, but if I had to compare it to a league, Wild Boost fits here better than Parisienne or Escape. As for the cologne itself, I bought it online on sale for 4 euros. I didn’t buy it blindly; I tested it in-store and didn’t dislike it. It seemed like a cool, fruity freshener perfect for a summer jog, but what a surprise: by October 9th, I could already say it was the fragrance everyone praised most this summer (and possibly all year). I can’t count the times people told me I smelled good and asked what I was wearing—I don’t believe it. What does it smell like? I couldn’t say… I could mention negative but true things, like it being generic or synthetic, not standing out for anything special, but the point is it makes you feel good, and in my opinion, it smells good too. Of the listed notes, I think vanilla is just there for decoration because Wild Boost definitely doesn’t have it. I don’t sense the raspberry either, though I do smell melon—a very juicy, sweet melon. That’s this cologne: enjoying a little bit of cool, fresh melon on a hot summer afternoon. Another comparison that comes to mind is that it smells like shampoo. I read many people saying this dismissively, but it’s not my case. Fewer feelings are cooler than the sensation of taking a shower and the energy you feel afterward. Well, this cologne extends that feeling. Another plus is its longevity. Incredibly, the cologne lasts and projects well. It lasts quite a bit for this style. I stop smelling it on myself sooner, but others still detect it four or five hours after I apply it. For all this, I give it an excellent rating without breaking a sweat. I know it’s discontinued in Spain, but sometimes remnants appear on sale, and since it’s heating up in South America where it’s still sold, I’m leaving this review in case anyone gets inspired.

I grabbed it on sale; it has raspberry and vanilla, but it doesn’t quite work for me since I’m looking for something fresher and more aquatic. It lasts well and is intense, though it fades later. If you like raspberry, it’s a good option.