Well the first thing I picked up with this one was a strong note of cannabis. Not sweet green, herbal, sensi type cannabis either more of a dark, afghan black type resinous hashish vibe. In fact just to be specific (I only know this due to a misspent youth) it smells like a hashish that I only came across once called 'manali' it was a spiced Thai stick kinda hash and came in triangular sticks like a toblerone. Anyway It starts out really strong... earthy and woody but once that top note mellows it's very much a straight sandalwood dry down, pretty lack lustre frankly but as I've worn it now and changed my mind about it...and I don't hate it. It's similar to 'Devotion' from the Achtung collection in that its very heavy smelling but the difference is as I've mentioned, it gets better as it matures. Just not for me...I can't understand wanting to smell like a sandalwood incense stick...give us some more notes please!!! Anything different this fragrance had to give is gone very quickly after 30 mins or so. Ambre Vie is much more wearable for a man to me.

I've got to say looking back at my original review of Alpha I've changed my mind somewhat. I wore it again recently and found it to be an absolute treat, not that it smelled any different and not really that my perception of the fragrance had changed but my tastes and appreciation for the care taken in delivering these naturals, definitely has. I don't want to disappear up my own bum here but to quote myself..."Who wants to smell like an incense stick?" ME!!! I do!!! The 2018 version of you, thinks 2013 you, is an utter boob not just for that statement but because I should've bought a bottle back then as sadly, Alpha is discontinued. It's a sweet unicorn now.

I've not been able to find this very easily finally got the opportunity and I must say I really love it. It's an interesting fragrance I like the other two the original one was good but not great and the platinum which I have is a beautiful resiny, amber type which love...I must say I think this one is my favourite. It's kind of like a mixture of the other two in a sense, the mandarin in the top give it a lovely freshness reminiscent of the original and the deep, sexy, oriental heart coming from platinum. That maybe too simple a description because this has it's own thing going on but I'm impressed by this fragrance and I would urge folks to shop around for these Solo's, rather than going with the usual staple of men's fragrance as you will stand out from the crowd.

Okay so I've had a little look though the reviews on here and the notes too and no mention of pepper? I find this to be very dry and peppery especially in the opening...could that be the cypress & vetiver? Anyway... As you'd expect from Lalique the bottle is a work of art and the juice inside is stunning and totally worthy of being held in high esteem. I expected it to be darker and more pungent but it's actually musky and light on it's feet but heavily rooted in woodiness all the same. That's what we like see...complexity and good composition. Update: I had to buy this...A master class in woody scents dry and dark but with a forest freshness to it at the same time... wonderful!!!

Unrelenting Patchouli opening and I can't believe Rhubarb isn't listed as a note on here, for me it's the first thing you get from the top notes... a very jammy and sweet flavour which is spiced and oriental not dissimilar to the original AMen. In fact it's very much like AMen and I find it hard to believe you don't like this if you enjoyed the original but what do I know hey? After the hot firework of an opening it's a great fragrance and drys down with a little woods in the base...mmmmm...it's yummy! I'm actually really glad I got this as a blind buy, I'd tried some of the other popular AMen flankers/alts and this one seemed to be quite rare and not easy to find in shops, even at the Thierry Mugler counter in large department stores. Maybe it's destined to be discontinued or perhaps already has? BMen's elusiveness is probably why it appealed to me and I got a gift set very cheaply from Ebay so I thought I'd give it a whirl...not what I was expecting but I'm more than pleased.

Without doubt the best Oud centric fragrance(with Oud in the name) I've ever smelled. Saffron & elemi compliment it beautifully and make for a subtle and gorgeously smooth scent. The patchouli in this is handled really carefully and works as a catalyst for other notes rather than being too harsh. Francis Kurkdjian has some amazing fragrances under his own banner not to mention his legendary status with other houses...This one is a favourite of mine and yet another expensive niche fragrance I desperately want but can't afford. Oh well maybe one day. Update: Tried Armani Prive Royal Oud and I have to say it's another smooth and stripped back composition which lets the Oud really take centre stage and put me in mind of this one...Praise indeed! Re update: Having had a chance to sample royal Oud again although it's nice and has saffron in, It's not a patch on this. I adore this fragrance and even though it's £195 for 70ml I will have to bite the bullet at some stage and get it, too good to miss out on.

This review is only a draft due to only having tried this once and not reaching any firm conclusions...this is my gut reaction. Been looking forward to getting my hands on this for a while now and despite the Oud trend in the perfumary business for the past several years I've yet to find one (at least with Oud in the name) to blow me away. My hopes were high...but sadly were dashed when I tried it. I have yet to give it a fair run but I found it to be dark and harsh in the opening. No denying it's a wonderful smell, Luxurious and refined but do I want wear it on my skin...Not right now...the jury is out. I can't believe my reaction to this as a lot of Oud's are too subdued for me but this one goes a little too far. Update: Okay so my original views on this are fundamentally the same I'm not really a fan of Oud wood. As for it having a 'dark & harsh opening' I think what I meant was a sharp opening which is more accurate. Oud wood is such a straight forward name that it makes you think you're maybe going to get something of an authentic Oud experience...In my opinion, you don't! I'll give it this it's unique, strong & long lasting. So an okay fragrance that is wearable but a little grating on me after a while and I certainly don't understand all the praise it gets.

My man Redbeard says it best...This is suave! A real mans fragrance and usually I'd come out with some tired cliche about respecting the old skool but not really liking it...which is totally the case and true in most instances. However, this fragrance is absolute magic! My thought process was... Love it on the card tester... very unique Creed manage to squeeze out something different despite being a classic mixture of heavy sandalwood & Lavander. Tried on my skin...That unique signiture was a little heavy on me and I satrted to change my mind about it. 1 Hour into the drydown the love had returned with abundance. This is a manly, mature beast and ages like a fine cognac or wine on your skin...it's brilliant. It's the top notes of bergamot that set it apart because although fleeting, give the whole composition sharpness. I get comparisons with lots of classic mens fragrances but this is not Aramis by any stretch it's yet another example of how good Creed are. This is the best interpretation of a manly scent because something about it is interesting and intoxicating.

I would love to find a neroli based fragrance that was more woody and masculine because I like the smell. I think uplifting, soapy, floral and green are it's characteristics and it maybe wouldn't suit being that bit darker. Otherwise TM Cologne is just too much of a wash out for me, it smells clean and nice though. Comparisons with Creed Original vetiver and TF Neroli Portofino are spot on, although the Tom Ford is even more floral and full of Neroli (If that's possible) and the Creed (although not my favourite) has the quality and depth you would come to expect from them and the soapy nature comes from another accord as it contains no neroli...but If I'm honest is not that great either. Also despite being a cologne I found this to be longer lasting than Neroli Portofino. Just quickly on the advertising poster...It's hideous!!!! I mean WTF are those creepy, androgynous, Avatar humanoids? Doesn't make me want this product at all.

Call me pedictable but I love a good citrus fragrance with a woody, musky base and that's exactly what this is. The best citrus fragrance I've ever tried in fact. It has so much zing it quite simply has to be smelled to be believed. It's not just lime though, it's a wonderful blend of citrus fruits and you get them all...It should be called Azure sublime really! A few people saying it's like Neroli Portofino...can't see that myself, other than it being fresh and having some citrus in. Oh and the bottles are very similiar. ;) Although I love citrus scents... is this really original enough? I don't doubt there's other more affordable options out there and some that stand up to this or are indeed better so I won't be rushing to get it. The only thing you need to know is that the Tom Ford private collection is great and Azure Lime is no exception.

I have to well and truly eat my words on this one. I have a proper sample now and after recent wears have discovered that neroli is obviously a key component in this fragrance but I wouldn't class it as a white floral scent. The neroli has to be there to compliment the lime and give a clean feel but also as a key for the citrus to grip on to and prolong their scent. This works very well and I get decent longevity from it but I've changed my mind about wanting this fragrance in my collection, and that's simply because of the price. It's always been something of a sticking point about Tom Ford scents but if something's worth it, it's worth it. Unfortunately this is not quite worth £140 for me but I have to say Azure Lime's dry down is very nice and above all very masculine, at least on my skin anyway.

Peppery, hard, very dry, spice is what hits you first and like a freight train! The cardamom and fenugreek is huge and borderline unpleasant. The theme with these fragrances are the top notes of dry spice exist as a thin veil which mellows and thins out further but never quite completely goes away until deep, deep into the drydown. Somehow yet again Amouage have created something that conjures up all the imagery and feeling of the Middle East and yet again when the spice subsides a little after an hour or so the heart and base of the fragrance are revealed and it's wonderful!!!! The Oud is lovely and works well in this composition. Unfortunately this is the first and only one I've tried from the library collection but it seems like an educating and thoroughly worthwhile spin on the Amouage carousel. Need more samples of the others. Update: Having worn this again since my first review I have to say although I would never accuse any Amouage fragrance of being linear and not possessing depth, I couldn't get past that heavy cardamom opening. As this thing changes though you start to pick up on a creamy, Oud, sandalwood, definite leather coming through after the first hour or so and smoke it's really really really good!!! There's almost a sweetness coming from something deep under all that dark dark heaviness and it's also quite green too. Very complex, completely bonkers, almost satanic in its darkness I can just imagine Al Pacino wearing this in that devils advocate movie! (I nicked that from another reviewer BTW, can't remember who but thanks because that chimed with me)