Really heavy on the Tonka bean...but that's alright with me. Now all of the Allure range use elements of the originals DNA but focusing in different areas. I think it's a credit to Chanel that they release such expertly blended flankers which don't really allow for criticism... they're just good! It must be the creamy combo of tonka, sandlewood and cedar or something that gives the Allure range in general its signature as well as the fruit/citrus in the top. Speaking of fruit... I didn't identify the mandarin note at first because it's against such an unfamiliar background (usually light & musky) You get fruit/citrus straight away but because of the Allure signature it makes you think of lemons (edition Blanche) it's only when I delved deep in that I got the orangey flavour and to me it's very pronounced and lasts long into the drydown. I know pepper is listed here but I don't get masses of it. Another note not listed is Amber to me an amber accord is present in the drydown. This is a well realized composition like all Chanel fragrances and especially the Allures. My favourite has to be the original but this is a close second and I love the summery, lemon meringue juice, that is Edition Blanche too.

My girlfriend tried this a few weeks back and I was absolutely blown away by it. Clive Christian C for men is one of my all time favorites and X for men is very nice too. This however is spectacular and I was very tempted to wear it myself as I believe X to be sweet and fruity but at the same time unisex. Definitely get the Rhubarb note which I love and beautiful jasmine and musk. This alone would make you think feminine maybe but I get the vetiver and combinations of the other notes in here which create a sophisticated blend which is oh so right. I tried Gucci Rush the otherday and it bares a resemblance but a pale one really. Not to be a snob but I think this smells much better and more complex and exotic, and so it should for the price tag. Does it smell £100's better??? maybe not?!?!? That's for you ladies to decide and for me to decide whether my woman gets X or Gucci Rush for christmas....??? hmmmmm???

So I finally got a sample vial of this when I bought allure Homme sport eau extreme. Citrus with nutmeg, ginger and incense (allegedly) like I say I've tried this before but couldn't remember what it was like but figured it was mediocre in that case. It is a ringer for Davidoff silver shadow altitude a fragrance I have and enjoy but yet again Chanel seem a little bit more refined, the spice seems a little heavier and all round it seems to evolve and change slightly just as it bares a resemblance. Just sprayed the Davidoff on my other arm and it is much sweeter less sophisticated than bleu de Chanel which is drier and spicier. It's a classy smell anyway...no wonder it's popular. Allure is the better juice for me though but if you're wearing this you might not be original but at least you're going to smell extremely good.

Loads of sharp grapefruit and citrus then the dry peppery Terre d'Hermes effect with vetiver and a very pronounced cardamom note...a clear composition of citrus/vetiver with a little spice executed in textbook fashion. This is similar to lots of fragrances and things I like but somehow I just can't get excited about it. It's alright....I would certainly wear it no problem at all...but wouldn't seek it out.

Not great this one....but not bad. Pierre Negrin pops up again the same day I re trial encounter and then this straight after...I had no idea he was responsible for both? Anyway...this to me has the mango of eau de Lacoste Red and is very reminiscent of Bvlgari Aqva Toniq just not as salty. That's my review a mix of two scents I own but don't really even like that much...the Lacoste is lovely but has no depth and dies on its arse after 1/2 hour on my skin and the Toniq is a disappointment because it's too salty and doesn't retain enough characteristics of the Aqva original. The verdict is...unfortunately I don't like it!

Couldn't make my mind up about this at first? I thought it was too feminine for me...something about the way the rose interacted with the sandlewood. Despite this I persevered and as I smell deeper, the rose settles and what do you know? there's a definite bitterness of cocoa coming through. It's a brilliant combination and actually grew on me to the point where I think it's brave and suitable for me to wear...Just don't know where and if I ever would? This is lovely juice though a really good composition.

I'm so so sorry Serge! I really like SL fragrances pretty much across the board but this one is a personal preference nightmare. I like Tuberose & Cedar and Amber (even clove in small doses) but mix them all together and you get a gross cider urine accord! That's what I get in the opening...PISS. That's right. However, after that initial half hour or so the tuberose becomes pleasant and the drydown is really nice, with the cedar and amber coming through. Unfortunately I can't just focus on base notes although they're arguably more important. This is a interesting fragrance I don't hate it by any means the opening is just harsh for me that's all.

Well this is my second review of Cedre and I've returned to sample it over 12 months later hoping perhaps I had grown in that time and maybe now I could appreciate this scent...I'm afraid not. The opening notes are interesting, classic, strongly musky and full of cloves. Then the dry woodiness of cedarwood and resin with the floral power of tuberose. Tuberose and I have a love hate relationship and much like many florals (in fact many 'notes') can manifest itself in very different ways. All this just seems to conspire to make an odd pissy note which is at the back of what is an interesting work and I almost think it needs it to lift the whole thing and make it more daring, which it certainly does. What differs from the last time is after wearing this I also sprayed it on a card to see how long the unpleasant note would last long after I'd washed it off my skin. Well I can report that the later drydown both on skin and now three days later on the card smells lovely! I mean really pleasing and much more of a soft woody floral smell, all the sweetness of tuberose with non of the nastiness. I couldn't put up waiting for several hours until it becomes a nice skin scent though what would be the point. Still not for me I'm afaraid, this is one for true perfume lovers.

Well it takes a big man to admit he was wrong...and I'm a big man so yeah...I was wrong. Don't know if my original review has disappeared because it got thumbs downed so hard or I used foul abusive language because I was so appalled by the animistic stink of this fragrance. Anyway...My mind has changed somewhat having tried this again a couple of times and really gained a new found respect for Chanel fragrances and things which are not necessarily my cup of tea. The complexity from an objective point of view is great and this fragrance really has got depth and I can totally see why people hail it as a classic. It's raw, masculine and almost pheromone like (It attracts the beaver anyway;) I can appreciate the top notes now which are fleeting but nice and some of the dank quality of the oakmoss. Also, Labdanum is another ingredient I have a love/hate relationship with, so all in all this fragrance challenges me, that's before we even get to the castoreum! I still don't like it underlying but I've managed to take the positives from it... I don't think I could ever wear it but I will remove it from my hate list as it creates intrigue every time I smell it.

I've never really been a fan of this perfume. Smelled like an awful blast of floral/animal musk which totally put me off and it's not just because I don't like macho, animal scents because there's loads I've always liked not least Kouros. However, there was always something which intrigued me in the other notes, spicy/herbal glimpses of something really quite amazing and definitely unique. However, this was older formulations and trying it again and again over the years I'm either.... Starting to warm to it? my tastes have changed? Antaeus is so bloody complex I'm smelling different things everytime? The formula has and is constantly evolving so much I'm smelling something new everytime? I really don't know? There's so many factors at work here my mind is reeling. More than likely it will be the diminishing oakmoss and musk which is perhaps starting to reveal the other notes more prominently...I'm really not sure? Thyme, labdanum and clary sage all things I love and maybe they are getting more of a look in? Purists and hardcore fans of Antaeus might disagree but even in it's current format this fragrance asks more questions than it answers, and that (without wanting to get too pretentious about it) is possibly what we all look for...I know I do. So Antaeus hasn't got me convinced but I don't and can't hate it anymore but I'm strangely drawn to sampl it ever couple of years or so. Sorry Not a very useful review, more of a commentary on my ongoing experience.

Well! According to the shop assistant I was only 'allowed' to try two of these! She believes from the couple of times I've been in (pffft!) that she 'knows what I like..and these two will be the ones' I'm a perfume lover...I'll try them all thank you very much! She was referring to Opus V and Opus III BTW which are quite different, maybe it was the ones she likes...who knows? I've got a sample vial of Opus VII and it's plain outrageous... It should be called 'Omen' instead of Opus I think as it has a devilish opening which actually turns into a great drydown. So that's my experience of the Library collection so far...I'm getting through them steadily. As for this one Opus V I have to say it's very pleasant and has some the complexity I've come to expect from Amouage but maybe not as much in this collection generally. It's a sweet one this with a top note of iris which is pleasant can't say I found it all that boozy which is a plus. Opus V is alright by me...It has a gentle vibe to it. Having got a proper sample to wear now I can conclude that this is my favourite of the Opus collection. Only slight contrary to what I said above it is boozy, in the best kind of way though...rum & wood this is absolutely what I'm about and it's super sweet with iris. I actually really love this and didn't think any of the Opus library collection would tempt me to buy but this one satisfies my sweet tooth so I might just have to get it.

I've been waiting to try this for ages!!! This perfume is so highly revered I'd read so many positive reviews, friends of mine who are into fragrances had told me it was great, all set for this to be a new favorite. Not only that but the fact that it truly is a concept fragrance one that actually has a blend of great notes, tuber and saffron (ie: The name isn't factual like Tom Ford 'Rose Oud' or something?) and the opulent ingredients attracted me to it. In retrospect having tried the new Oud Fleur I have the same reaction to this. Although they are quite different and I much prefer this even from a gut reaction point of view. I really really desperately need a sample of this to trial over a longer period because unfortunately the first time I tried it I was very disappointed. I hate myself for not liking this!!! Why don't I? Rose & Oud is a glorious combo that I enjoy in other fragrances and dark earthy truffle in there too? I should love this but maybe my nose was off that day...I don't know??? In that first experience I got too much Rose and patchouli in the top notes and didn't experience the dark sexiness I'd hoped for. I showered pretty soon after I tried it on my hand so the dry down wasn't experienced properly. I'm not a base note oriented person anyway, although I live for a good dry down I have to say the opening for me is very important... even if it is short lived. This one will take further exploration but I'm so sure I will change my mind on it after a few wears. The jury is out for the time being.