Astalea from & quot; the Lion & APOs; s Cave & quot; in the test: scented stone vs. old Golf V

A sweet, sweaty scent fills my nostrils every time I open the door of my Golf V, which is now ten years old. The EU reimport from the Czech Republic has had to put up with a lot in its life: dignified men's trips to the Baltic Sea including spilled beers on the back seat or foul-smelling footballers after Sunday mud fights together with forgotten sports bags with wet clothes. The latest note in the cabinet of creepy scents are the sticky remains of melted ice cubes from an overturned "Iced Coffee Caramel" from the Restaurant zum goldenen Möwe.

I wasn't supposed to take or pick anyone up in this car unless I never want to see that person again. Nevertheless, I have never hung a scented tree on my rear-view mirror. So far, I was too concerned about turning the poor Golf V into a motorized men's changing room, in which men rely on the miraculous effect of musk deodorant in combination with sweat instead of showering. Some find it aphrodisiac, but I am grateful that this mixture of scents has been spared my nose for a long time.

Atalea: The miracle weapon against stuffiness?

This is where Astalea comes into play. The fragrance stone promises a unique fragrance in the car. Young entrepreneur Kim Lohmar pitched the circular weapon against car stuffiness in the VOX start-up show "The Lion's Den". Instead of cheap fragrances, Atalea relies on perfume. However, this is not included in the scope of delivery. Instead, the vehicle owner uses his own favorite scent. Perfect, because in contrast to my car, I pay attention to a unique fragrance in myself - when I'm in the shower, of course.

But which scent goes well with a white Golf V? Maybe something heavy for the night like Prada L'Homme? No, I don't want every passenger to think they're in a rolling brothel. Prada is probably more like a dark sedan. Something fresher is needed. Allure Homme Sport by Chanel is too fresh and cheeky for me. The old Golf doesn't need that anymore. A little more understatement is needed here. It has to be not intrusive, calm but fresh and classy. I choose Perle Rare Homme by Panouge Paris - a restrained lemony scent, yet elegantly modern. Just right for a veteran but stuffy friend.

Atalea: How to use the scented stone

Using the Atalea stone is very easy: the scope of delivery includes a bottle for the perfume, a clamp holder for the scented stone and of course the stone itself. Per Magnet finds the circular weapon against stunk hold on the clamp for the ventilation of the vehicle. The manufacturer recommends three to five sprays of the perfume onto the stone, which should then smell for up to two weeks. Before I apply the scent, I air the car for about five minutes with the doors open. For reasons of convenience, I don't need to decant it into the bottle that comes with the product, so I spread five sprays on the back of the stone in the car. This is important because unsightly residue from the perfume can mar the stone on the front.

After a few minutes exposure time, it can be attached to the magnetic holder. One thing should be said: at this point in time, my car smells of nothing but the perfume. But that's because I sprayed the stone in the car. Five sprays in this small space feels worse than ten minutes in the Douglas of the pre-corona holiday season. Luckily I don't have to use the car anymore that day. Otherwise, the maiden voyage with the fragrance stone is only recommended with the windows open. It is probably smarter to spray the stone next to the car with the fresh desire. A piece of wisdom that I only remembered afterwards - think first, then do it, but it was never my forte.

So be it. Until the maiden voyage on Friday, I sniff around and in the Golf every morning - without airing the car (apart from opening the driver's door). Of course, I record the feedback from my olfactory organ:

That's the trick of the fragrance stone

The Atalea stone feels pleasantly smooth in the hand. According to the manufacturer, its fine pores ensure that it absorbs the fragrance and then releases it in a well-dosed manner. If the smell wears off, you have to refill it, of course. Not only perfumes but also essential oils are suitable for this. However, a stone should not be sprayed with different scents. The manufacturer recommends using a new stone for a new fragrance. Cost per stone: 9.99 euros. Atalea is currently available in the versions "Blue Mosaic", "All Black" and "Flower Bouquet".

Atalea: You have to pay attention to this

Important: The Atalea fragrance stone is not suitable for everyone. Atalea explicitly advises its customers that pregnant women and people with pacemakers should only use the stone after consulting their doctor. The reason for this is the magnetic holder. It can also affect or damage the functioning of electronic devices such as watches. So keep the magnet away from it in the car. The same applies to credit or debit cards. In addition, the stone can change with excessive exposure to the sun and it is sensitive to scratches.

Conclusion

After six days, the interior of the car no longer really smells of perfume, but the stone still smells very strongly of it. This may have something to do with the fragrance used, which is rather light compared to others. With the ventilation, the pleasant smell of the stone should be distributed in the car again. Atalea keeps its promise - although a more intense fragrance for the car is probably better. If you drive little, like me, you could enjoy the smell of your favorite perfume longer than frequent drivers. An update on how long the scent lasts will follow.

You can find out whether a lioness or a lion also falls for the scent of "Astalea" tonight from 8:15 p.m. on Vox.

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