Victory by G. Bellini/Lidl · Brotherhood Of Scent

🔥

Victory by G. Bellini/Lidl

Another standout from Lidl's private-label fragrance line. No surprises here, a budget friendly alternative for Invictus by Paco Rabanne that gives a sporty, aquatic & sweet profile which punches well above its weight class given its supermarket price point. From the entire shelf this was the last bottle, a tester, when I asked the manager would they sell it, he generously gifted it to me. It seems to have hit shelves circa 2024 as part of their Scents-ational campaign. These scents are typically developed by large fragrance houses like Givaudan, Firmenich, or IFF under contract for Lidl.

Victory is a Woody Aquatic fragrance, a balance between fresh sea notes & a warm, sweet base. Up top Marine Accords, Grapefruit & Mandarin Orange. The opening is an immediate blast of synthetic freshness. It mimics the "bubblegum" sweetness found in the original Invictus but adds a sharp, citrusy edge from the grapefruit. At its core, Bay Leaf, Jasmine & Geranium. Here the aquatic notes become more prominent, supported by an aromatic herbal touch of bay leaf. It is beautifully finished of with a Base of Guaiac Wood, Oakmoss, Patchouli & Ambergris. The base is where the value shows; while it lacks the creamy depth of high-end scents, the woody-amber finish remains clean and masculine.

Performance ain't so bad, considering this is a sub €5 scent. Expect a reasonable 2/3hrs on skin. It projects strongly for the first hour, enough to be noticed in a room, before settling into a more intimate scent bubble. It's versatile enough to be worn at anytime, though it would excel in Spring/Summer due to its aquatic nature. The scent doesn't evolve much; what you smell after 10 minutes is largely what you get for the rest of the day.

My Rating:

Scent: 2

Longevity: 1.5

Sillage: 1.5

Y/N: 1

2 comments