MANCERA
COSMIC PEPPER

2023

pink pepper
lemon
tangerine
wild sage

black pepper
damask rose
oud

tonka bean
ambergris
oakmoss
white musk
labdanum

‘A new star is born at the other end of the galaxy. The entire cosmos bows down before this new astral being. Don’t miss it, you Earthlings who yearn for lightness, who dare to flirt with masculine codes and trends. Sparks fly at lift-off, a glittering burst of citrus giving way to the mighty thrust of wild sage… Once you’ve returned to your senses, you’re in a whole new olfactory realm for the rest of your journey among the Celestials, ascending towards this heavenly body. Cosmic Pepper is a world in motion, expanding at the speed of light to span the distance between Spicy heat and Amber roundness. This bright fragrance teleports you deep inside yourself, never sacrificing the element of surprise for emotion. Deep and detailed, its subtly Spiced essence is chiseled like a solar disk in total eclipse from the sparkle of Citrus. Travel across a universe where there’s no gravity, just a powerful force of attraction, and where the only explosions are sensory. This space is deep but friendly, fresh and sensual, like a kiss under the rain during a sizzling summer. Expand your horizons this season with Cosmic Pepper – feel your spirit soar up to the stars, while your feet stay on Terra Firma. You’ve arrived – streaking past the Mandarin nebula, it appears to you, skirting the Pink Pepper belt and fading slightly behind the twinkling Lemon. As its fathomless Black emerges from the depths of Amber and Musk, it soon sparkles with elegant aromatic spiciness, underscored by a flash of Oud. Its magnetic force now shoots a cooling thrill first through Tonka Bean, then Oakmoss, letting Black Pepper and Damask Rose take centre stage in this floating space opera.’ – Mancera

Mancera is a brand that I have been critical of in the past, but they always have some standouts and in 2023, I felt like they were becoming nicer wears. With the exception of Tonka Cola, which was a letdown for me.

Ironically, Cosmic Pepper kind of gives me what Tonka Cola misses in the first moments. Because this opens with a sparkling, sharp spiciness that’s nice and textured, unlike the flat cola from Tonka Cola. Now obviously this is not a cola scent and the fragrance goes in a different direction. A ton of pepper as the name suggests, with an aromatic, herbal flare. Definitely goes green, but not grassy. Almost aquatic, green aquatic or like a very masculine leaning sports flanker from the 90/00’s. Enough citrus to make it fresh, but also a substantial sweetness that grows quickly. And yes, it is mostly tonka here too.

I do wish the opening lasted longer. It fizzles out and becomes a sweeter scent overall, with the punchiness of the namesake pepper not holding up. I also can’t say that I get much of the rose, despite the brand’s description putting it forward as one of the main facets.

First reviews and comparisons have referenced some popular designer releases, especially 1 Million. I’d say those comparisons are half the story. I feel like this Mancera is a step more mature and the sweetness is a lot more bearable. Very sweet, but really tonka, not an overly cloying, sugary or fruity tinge to be found in Cosmic Pepper. Can’t say that I reminded me of anything in particular straight away, although it does have sort of a generic vibe. However, it’s not really the DNA of those 1 Million style scents. This leans more into the green and into the fougere structure. From my collection, this reminds me a tiny bit of Tom Ford For Men Extreme for example, although definitely mixed with a sweeter designer DNA.

All things considered. I enjoy this. I wish there was more of a dynamic and brightness aside from the first couple of minutes, but it’s an interesting enough scent. Perhaps a bit weird even; the green and sweet facets could be considered clashing. Not an instant love, but a solid thumbs up.