This was recommended to me at the Kilian counter and was one I hadn't tried due to my habit of limiting myself to masculine or unisex perfumes. The reason I do that BTW is not because of any aversion to them, rather that I would be opening a Pandora's box of female focused possibilities and financial decline. The odd one is okay and this was one I made an exception for. I really, really like fruity fragrances and In the city of sin is great to be honest. It's a wonderful fruity/floral, sexy musk scent which to my nose is only slightly spicy, nothing offensive. Easily unisex, not for me though more suitable for my girlfriend... she liked it too.
Intense it isn't. A gorgeous balmy amber which is soft and has a wonderful sweetness coming from the patchouli. The incense and resin is fresh not smokey and the overall effect is soft. This is a gentle fragrance in no way intrusive or bold and for this reason, leans in a mildly feminine direction. That being said I would still wear Evody Amber Intense as I found it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The first fragrance I've tried from this house and so far I'm impressed.
The below review was a while back and since then I'd always imagined Evody to be a pretty good house, well never presume anything because the rest of their efforts I've sampled since just don't cut the mustard. So I managed to get a proper set of samples and this was one I knew I had raved about and was expecting to be disappointed a second time around...but no...It's still pretty awesome. This opens with such a sweet warming presence that appeals to me but if it stayed that way would become cloying. Luckily it doesn't and quickly progresses passed the top notes revealing a pleasant amber accord and spicy incense with a hint of smoke and sandalwood. Where it lets itself down slightly is on performance, it's not bad but gets close to the skin quick and is too subtle for something labelled 'Intense'. However, I stick to my original thoughts...Evody Ambre Intense is a superb Amber fragrance that makes you let out an audible sigh of satisfaction. I'm still really tempted to add it to my collection, and I've got (let alone tried) loads of ambers so that's Praise indeed.
Well...Finally tried this flanker and I have to say it's very nice, not as impressive to my nose as Pure Malt but nice nonetheless. Sweet, slight cherry vibe to it very warming and again takes some of the edge off the original AMen much in the same way Pure Malt does. For me the Honey is prominent(not usually my favourite) but it's a pleasant honey that I actually enjoy. The tobacco is minimal to my nose and I was hoping for something more in this department. Overall, it's another good but subtle variation on the AMen theme and the price is agreeable too!
Update: wowee!!! I got this today and I must say my initial try did not yield much tobacco however now I've worn it properly I get a really cigar like tobacco like a smooth mild cohiba. There's a little smoke too and cherry really similar to Burberry London actually but creamy with cacao and vanilla. Frankly, I'm astounded by these A*Men flankers and how good they are initially they smell like the original but then the subtleties shine though especially in this one. It just goes to show how good the original is as it has all these different avenues to explore and make various flankers based on. This is really really good juice and I love it as much as pure malt if not more.
Okay so this is one of the classic Serge Lutens fragrances that I had tried but never really got to know until now. What can I say? Ambre Sultan is a very indulgent amber scent and frankly one of the best out there...No surprise really. Contains all the things I love in fragrance... Warm amber, resinous spice, a touch of creaminess from sandalwood and vanilla. It's a rare thing for an amber scent that is so in your face and yet I don't get the burning nostril sensation I get from even some of my favourite amber heavy concoctions. I think this due to a very good good composition which is strong yet smooth a really fine scent indeed.
Sparkling, sweet and beautiful! What a great scent this is... it's like quenching your parched lips with an ice cold, fizzy, San Pellegrino. To me this is a perfect energizing summer fragrance. I was expecting a very gin like, juniper vibe which it does deliver but it also gives a sweetness, clean vetiver and a spiced vibe too. It's expertly blended to create a really intriguing fragrance which is uplifting as many have mentioned in their reviews. This stuff will genuinely cheer you up! The only problem I have and it applies to quite a few Penhaligon's (some of them are stronger) they have poor longevity and projection. This is among a few that are slightly more expensive than the rest of the range and I can't see why really? I like it that much that I may well add it to my collection despite this. Update: I was very tempted to buy this today, instead I was given some samples by a lovely lady in the Penhaligon's shop and will trial it on my skin over the next couple of weeks and see how we go on. It is a summer scent for me so maybe not a priority purchase. Make no mistake though I'm still as in love with it as I was at first sniff...a wonderful fragrance!
Finally got to try this today and lets set the record straight! Is Encre Noire Sport in keeping with the aesthetic of the brand? Of course it isn't! However, forget whether Encre Noire should have had a sport version or trying to make out the launch of this flanker will somehow degrade the excellent reputation of its predecessor because Lalique have done it now! As for the smell of this? Well, I was intrigued to find out its not a million miles from the original in all honesty. The opening is totally different a sharp citrus, grapefruit and bergamot which is lovely, fresh vibe which suits the sport name. The citrus was long lasting too much more than just top notes a very rare thing, it seems to permeate for a long time into the dry down, a dry down which is very familiar. So...that dry down then! The smokey, peppery, ultra woody, dark signature character of the original starts to shine through and you think 'ah ha! There it is!' The longer it matures the more it becomes that wonderful vetiver and cashmere wood of the original. How you couldn't like this and enjoy the original, I fail to understand? Maybe if you don't like citrus at all? But otherwise this is a good fragrance. I love the weird, melancholic almost sombre vibe of Encre Noire but to lighten the mood a touch and maybe add some extra appeal to those who find Encre Noire too dark and woody...Is okay in my book. As sport flankers go no matter how inappropriate, Lalique have fulfilled the brief of a sport scent with this offering which in my eyes is to make something fresher and more versatile in a 'sport'/active situation while retaining critical elements of the original. This reminds me of another recent release, Tom Ford Noir EDT version which is the same principle applied here more citrus in the top but basically the exact same fragrance as the EDP. This fragrance is mega long lasting too, 10 hours on and I can still smell it, I have the original and I know it has great longevity too but I'm impressed by sport. To conclude I'll just say that I think this is really very good. I was apprehensive as I'm sure others were due to the name but Lalique are a quality brand and this fragrance is no different. Nothing cheap about this to my nose expect EN with a citrus twist and you won't be disappointed. UPDATE: INSANE!!!!! The longevity of this fragrance is huge over 24 hours I've showered washed my hands numerous times and I can still faintly smell it on the back of my hand where I tested it yesterday afternoon...that's almost unheard of staying power.
No doubt I was attracted to this juice by the bottle...I know I'm stating the obvious here because it's called roadster but it's seriously weird looking like a turbine or an engine or something. Yeah so I've just sampled it and I have a severe cold so my judgement maybe seriously impaired, however I got a very watery, cucumber type opening with metallic notes and citrus. The bergamot and labdanum are refreshing and to me create an almost melon smell not dissimilar to something like Kenneth Cole Reaction. I was surprised to be honest that cardamom was not listed on here as it seems a little spiced. The earthy woodiness coming from the vetiver with the citrus again giving a kind of classic male effect think L'eau d boisee or terre d'Hermes. This is one of the nicer juices from Cartier and probably because it's boring and in safer territory than declaration for example. I like the fact that they had a brave approach to male designer fragrance even if I deemed them unwearable on a personal level. This is pleasant and wearable but as such just a little ordinary.
Well I'll be honest...Somebody asked me what I thought about the new formulation M7 compared to the old TF M7. Well I've never owned the original despite it's legendary status and my time as a fragrance enthusiast. I remember smelling it in a shop and thinking it was great but I can't recall the precise nuances in my olfactory memory banks. Also having not tried the new one I couldn't really answer the question or have much of an informed opinion on the subject. Now that I have I can't comment on the comparison all I can say is that this is a superb fragrance full of class. This really puts a lot of highly priced and prized niche fragrances to shame. The opening is lush fruity madarin orange and patchouli the Oud is perfect and it's slightly resinous too. Great stuff, elegant and perfectly unisex, great value for the quality. YSL M7 Oud Absolu has a huge amount going for it and is revered with good reason. I'm adding it to my collection.
Okay it's expensive... £185!!! People will continue to compare it with TF Tuscan Leather because it's got 'Leather' in the name...for me this is an entirely different take on a leather fragrance. I get the sweetness of fruit and creaminess of vanilla and patchouli in this and personally think it's a triumph and nicer than Tuscan Leather in many ways. It's beautiful to my nose...but... Don't think I'll be getting it at that price...although I was tempted.
Not to my taste at all. I got a sample and to be honest I never even looked at the name as I wanted to test myself on the notes...not much of a test I can tell you. First thing that struck me, orange blossom....white blossomy waxy tuberose, sweet jasmine and in a onslaught of white floral. If you love that then you're in luck because it's here in abundance and I think the combination is good because it keeps the sweetness from becoming too much. However, to me it's quite soapy like Neroli/tuberose or other white florals and although the orange blossom is prominent it's too feminine for me and there's nothing else really to discover after the opening. Longevity and projection are insanely good on this I found spraying a small amount on my pulse points and it was unrelenting.
Complex, masculine, spicy but smooth and above all sophisticated. This one keeps me sniffing and the development of notes is wonderful. I can see the comparisons with brut but this has more depth and subtlety. Having said that for all it's complexity it is fairly linear I think that is due to being very well composed and balanced. I actually enjoy the slight honey note in the dry down which is unusual for me. The opening is pretty harsh though ozonic and metallic, aldehydes then lavender. The dry down is spicier and woody, clean too a little like a gentleman's soap. Sartorial settles close to the skin but is long lasting...I enjoyed this one a real classic.
I can't deny that Penhaligon are masterful at blending fragrances, this one is nothing out of the ordinary. It's a prominent lavender with delicate spicing to create a fragrance which is not in your face more dignified I'd say. Clean & masculine seems to be a theme which runs through all the male focused Penhaligons but nothing groundbreaking.
Fig is a strange one... two fig scents that I really enjoy spring to mind. ADP Fico and the Diptyque Philosykos...this is unlike either of them! It's starts out with a classy citrus blast, by that I mean expensive smelling not like a lemon cleaning product or a 'smelled it all before' designer fragrance. Citron and I get some orange too it's really nice! Then comes one of the greenest of green smells I've experienced, reminiscent of L'Ombre Dans L'Eau by Diptyque. You also get the wonderful freshness of fig but it's very vague in the mix, also there's a slighly spiced, peppery vibe. If this just dried down with subtle wood and faded quietly... I'd have been a happy man, having discovered a brilliant summertime fresh fragrance that I would definitely wear I may have otherwise over looked. Then the magic happens in the drydown!! My favourite part about this fragrance is that even while the citrus and green notes are settling that subtle spice is building to a crescendo of resinous glory! The galbanum is a huge player in the fragrance for me and I've come across mastic before but while I'm not familiar with it's specific qualities it obviously brings something special to the party and the combination smells a bit like myrrh...then changes as it matures further. So given this fantastic combination and journey through different olfactory stages I have to say that this is a magnificent juice from Annick Goutal and a combination of citrus/greens/spice/resins I'd like to see more often. Perfectly unisex too, something about the whole composition seems to be balanced and the drydown to me is masculine but would be totally at home on female skin by the same rule. Excellent stuff this!!!
This is too feminine for my tastes! Takes a braver man than I to pull this off. The name is so provocative and cool I was expecting something dangerous. Oh well nevermind.
Strangest perfume I've come across in viscosity terms... it's as thick as treacle!!! That's a bit of an exaggeration actually but even for pure perfume or extrait it's very oily and has a wonderful, rich maple syrup colour to it. I expected it to be massively potent and but the smell itself is actually quite reserved. When you apply to the skin it has a very oily consistency and DOESN'T dry down! I was sick of waiting so I committed a cardinal sin and rubbed it in slightly. I only applied a very conservative amount but I honestly don't think it's particularly strong just due to it's nature, a kind of exotic woody/floral scent. I honestly thought this contained some crazy rare orchid or something it certainly gives that impression. The main accord to me is a white blossom and tuberose smell with lots of fruitiness in the top notes which give it a lush exoticness. I'm in two minds while it's not offensive It doesn't tickle my fancy either. There's something lovely about it but then it's ruined by the floral notes being a bit flat. I'll try it again soon but my take was...'meh it's okay.
Gentle and smooth this one... Incredibly nice. I realized a while ago that gender categorization for perfume is pointless and largely redundant. I would really not erge anyone to agree or take my opinion on board because its just that...an opinion. I can't help applying the old paradigm of Homme/femme. It's totally unisex and I would wear this in a heartbeat it's a wonderful fragrance I can't fault it. Just in terms of this Arabian nights collection I'd categorize Amber Oud as leaning slightly more toward the feminine. It has a more gentle approach more ambery and is softened by the presence of vanilla. I only mention it because personally I don't know any women who would wear a strong woody or oud fragrance anyway. So when there's a range of unisex fragrances I naturally feel the lighter of the bunch to be more suited to the ladies. If it was cheaper I'd certainly consider adding it to the collection as a good amber scent.
Not a lot of saffron or incense in this at all. My humble opinion...It's oud and guaiac wood no sweetness there and nothing to lift it. It's really good if you like the smell of agarwood don't get me wrong...Longevity and projection are massive. A dark, strong, dank, woody smell but it's not great and certainly not worth the money. What I love about MFK OUD is the saffron and patchouli are totally evident and make an actual perfumers composition...a piece of art if you will. It's one thing being minimal but this is just lazy and the only way the price tag could be justified is if the finest Oud has been used. I don't know if that is the case? I find the mark up on By Kilian has a lot to do with the packaging...I mean the bottles are nice sure but not THAT NICE! The refills are quite reasonably priced if you enjoy the scent, I'd just get them. Not this one though there's a bewildering array of more imaginative Oud based scents out there. Shame too because I've quite liked By Kilian perfumes so far. Listen to the wise words of @jht4060 below and you won't go far wrong.
Well I was really looking forward to trying this fragrance despite not knowing anything about it and I tried this in a shop earlier in the week and as soon as I spray it I was automatically repulsed. Unfortunately I really hate honey!!! Genuinely can't stand the smell of it and that was the major thing in the opening which I took such an instant dislike to. Managed to get my hands on a sample and dispensing it differently (without a atomiser) completely changed the opening for me...very vague honey but many a massive DARK CHERRY which is nice and rich. This is joined by a thick, fresh, pipe tobacco and strong, hard, dense woods...this scent is gorgeous! Have to say the honey note is quite minimal and despite really not enjoying it myself it works so well in this composition and adds another natural feeling dimension. This being said it keeps popping up and getting stronger in the mix at times so it's still a bit of a contentious issue with me.
I felt I aught to re review this fragrance briefly as I've tried it several times now in store and had two sample vials, one which I wore myself and one I gave to my girlfriend to wear. Quite honestly my views haven't changed on this fragrance from my first review, I think it's masterpiece...just not for me to wear. The honey is so full bodied that I can't stomach it, the boozy rich and fruity sweetness of the rest of the fragrance is to die for. It's certainly not my wish that Killian had omitted the honey because Back to Black needs it to give that further dimension. Obviously if you like the smell of honey this fragrance is a show stopper and a must have. I also love the smell of it on my girlfriend. From a distance the sillage trail is all fruity, cherry liquor and its only when I get close I detect the honey again but it certainly seems better on her than on me. I like a lot of fragrances from this house but not many really stand out as individual compositions, showcasing true originality but Back in Black is one of them. Everyone who enjoys fine fragrance should try to get their nose on it, because you won't be disappointed.
Stunning opening smells absolutely amazing right out of the bottle... Must be the plum and orange whatever it is it's wonderfully fruity. That lasts for all of 30 seconds (shame) and what you're left with is a woody floral musk (to quote the description) and nothing more really. A good scent for a guy I think, quite masculine, very clean soapy vetiver dry down a little bit of smoke but again that's gone quite quickly. The spicing is tame by Amouage standards but well balanced and actually a nice wearable scent. Yep dia is alright in my book.
Awful!!! I'm not a knee jerk reaction sort of guy I like to give fragrances a chance to charm me. Also I'm a massive fan of Amouage on the whole and even the ones I don't like I appreciate the craft and how nuanced and generally complex the fragrances are and what they have to offer. Ciel however has an accord that I will describe very simply and please folks don't think I'm a philistine but I can help the imagery my nose conjures up! The smell of a men's toilet when you urinate directly onto a BLUE URINAL CAKE (I think that's what they're called?) and some of the fragrant lavender scented blocks give off pungent vapour mixed with the smell of your own juice. So sorry for the powerful imagery but I can't get past that...was going to say worst Amouage ever but then I remembered Gold man! It's a complex one and is better in the dry down there's something nice behind the awful smell that I'm trying to sniff beyond but I just can't! Shame.
I tried this a while back but reserved judgement for when I had a wearable sample. Just not to my taste Opus III. The mimosa although not entirely unpleasant, is just not my bag baby. It's quite vanilla really I get the ylang ylang too and all in all it's a complex fragrance. It reminds me of when I used to collect samples on a weekly basis from a wet wipe company to test in my lab. This is very reminiscent of what the factory smelled like...and I'm not be cruel to Opus III the smell was complex and quite nice really. It's a clean smell which has not spicy tricks up its sleeve like the typical Amouage thing, also this has a vague synthetic banana thing much like reflection man. Luckily that goes away in the dry down in fact everything dies down and you're left with an agreeable if not a little floral smell.
Wowee!!! What a little stunner this is! For me the jewel in the crown of the Opus collection...reminds me a little of Fate man with the strong cardamom and other cooking spices. But that takes a few minutes to develop and like many Amouage fragrances the transitions are frequent as the mixing pot swills around and settles itself down on your skin. The opening is supreme, heavenly I get a huge fruity, juicy, refreshing mandarin and citrus then comes the typical cumin/fenugreek/caraway/cardamom etc... spices and ton of incense, also floral sweetness coming from something all this with a musky base. This fragrance is complex but somehow peaceful and has a mellow meditative vibe about it. I'm a fan!
Hmmm...Kind of boozy right out of the bottle, reminded me of a kilian rum opening that dies away quickly and it becomes an all too familiar amber/incense fragrance. I think that booziness is the amber and sharpness from the labnanum perhaps? Stings my nose a little but I quite like it, has that kingly vibe. Could've sworn there would be oud & rose in here but not according to the notes listed. Not up to par for Amouage's flair for individuality but as a fragrance very nice and they(by they I mean different perfumers everytime) can't come up with something totally unique on each outing...and I completely understand it. For me this is quite similar to two recent additions to my collection, By Kilian Incense Oud and striaght to heaven which share some similar notes (including cardamom which I think is in here.) As this dries down it's less like a rose/oud thing and more of deep amber vibe on reflection.
Ahhh...A nice surprise in the Opus collection. This is reminiscent of L'artisan Perfumeur Fou D'Absinthe to me and that's a very good thing! Fresh with lavander and wormwood but well balanced, tiniest amount of smoked incense with spice from cardamom and a hint of cinnamon. It's really good...I love the opening...flip flopped a little about it...then decided it was nice again. Amouage for me are big occasion fragrances that would struggle to work as a regular scent...with some exceptions of course Jubilation XXV springs to mind. Opus II however is similar in that it's very wearable and for me although perfectly unisex does lean toward the masculine ever so slightly.
