Ani X by Nishane

I fell in love with it the moment I tried the decant. It’s super versatile, perfect for any day. It feels lighter than the original, ideal for hot weather. For me, this X version is a win over the Ani.

Based on the notes, I thought I’d love it, but it was a resounding no. It smells like grandma’s perfume—dense and heavy. The citrus notes don’t come out on my skin; I only detect cardamom, pepper, ginger, and rose. I wanted to like it! It’s for night, winter, or autumn; a dead giveaway for unisex. The trail and projection are top-tier, but it overwhelms me and I don’t like it.

What a great smell, absolutely wonderful and intoxicating. The longevity, projection, and evolution… I don’t know what to say. I just know that in the first two hours, nothing is richer than this, although I’m not sure if it’s my scent.

Incredibly high quality, noticeable in everything. The aroma evolves from a spectacular lemon opening to a more tempered scent after a couple of hours. It’s a particular vanilla, long-lasting, and excellent. Worth it, even if it’s a bit pricey.

I liked Ani, but I loved the X. It opens super citrusy with lemon, ginger, and that melon note that lingers forever, plus lots of cardamom and a watery touch. It’s a very tasty opening, but the magic is in the dry-down: one of the best vanillas I’ve tried. It starts warm, spicy, and creamy without being cloying thanks to the fresh touches. Hours later, it stays soft close to the skin until you shower. Longevity: brutal projection for the first two hours, then it fades a bit but remains noticeable, leaving an incredible trail. It stays notable until the 7th or 8th hour before settling close to the skin. I notice a similarity to Ingenious Ginger, but this is fresher, with more ginger and softer vanilla. If you like that DNA, use Ingenious Ginger in spring/summer and the Ani X all year (except hot mornings); perfect for cool nights. Usable in any season without getting heavy. Scent: 10/10. Longevity: +8h. Projection: 8/10. Versatility: 8.5/10.

I like it, but I feel I’m biting off more than I can chew to like it more. Good mix. It’s a tasty, creamy citrus with fresh ginger and a sweet touch I don’t associate with melon. I detect spices and some florals from the start. You can tell the quality and the balanced composition. As it dries, a subtle sandalwood and a vanilla tone emerge, and yes, the ambergris feels right. It’s like a Western scent made Oriental. I like it, but not enough to buy it. I’m not drawn to the idea of smelling like an experimental lemon tart. It works all year and for almost all occasions. The price doesn’t appeal to me, but it performs incredibly well. It seduces me, but there’s something that leaves me indifferent.

I have both and I think each has what the other lacks. They’re excellent, with superior ingredients like most Nishane perfumes. What does the X have? A fresher opening with melon present from the start until almost the end (very well done, though sometimes it feels artificial). A balanced mix of citrus and ginger, with very subtle fresh lavender and sage. In the dry-down, it’s the same as the Ani, vanilla on full blast, but with that melon plus. The projection is softer, ideal for hot climates so as not to overwhelm anyone. Great for work if you want to be subtle yet elegant.

I agree with Vitodito: the melon-infused aquatic note of the Ani X adds a great innovative touch. Alongside a beautiful vanilla, a new lavender, and an improved combination of woody notes, it produces a unisex version that far surpasses the monotonous vanilla of the Ani. If I had to choose one without having both (January 2024), I’d choose the X for its evolution and skin performance. The X’s performance hasn’t dropped in the new formulations, which can’t be said for the Ani. I always recommend testing niche perfumes on skin, especially from houses like Nishane that work heavily with spices. An oriental perfume might not understand the use of spices in the same way or intensity as a Western perfume.

A fun remix with more movement across the phases, though honestly, for my taste, it’s not as rich as the standard version. At first, it smells more citrusy and blew my head away for a few seconds. Soon, that (I think) juicy bergamot fades, picking up notes similar to Ingenius Ginger—a sweet candied ginger—until it makes room for the Ani DNA, which arrives with a bang. Finally, that Ani scent prevails throughout, accompanied by a slightly aquatic melon note. All in all, I think many will enjoy it; personally, I prefer the original, but if Ani is your signature fragrance, this lets you savor different nuances so you don’t tire of the same scent. MiaoX