I'm 32 and lived in Ireland when i was younger...first pill I had back in '95' was one of the old White Doves...the real MDMA...all those pills at that time (Doves, Playboys, Fido Dido's etc) where imported direct from the Netherlands and didn't smell of anything, just tasted real chemically.
...they only lasted a few years before the place was flooded with shite.
Point being...in the last 15 yrs or so, there has been a lot of these aniseed smelling pills and powders around.
I actually began to think I was just becoming immune to MDMA because I wasn't getting the same kick...that real loved up feeling that I remember with the old pills.
Then last yr I took a trip to Goa (India) and had pills there (which didn't smell at all) the real thing again (FUCKING AMAZING) the same old feeling I had yrs ago....can't stop thinking about it.
I can tell you that the aniseed pills and powders in my experience, while a good buzz, ain't the real deal...not that clean empathic, loved up, dance all night bliss that some of you have had the privilege to experience once upon a time.