It's taken me a while to finally sample this one and surprising too because although I don't own the original Declaration I have great affection for it's themes and it's place in men's designer perfumery. So to say this mirrors the original is completely accurate, in that it's a spicy affair with a fresh opening but that's where the comparison's end for one simple reason...genre. They are essentially the same fragrance done in different genre's. The original is a fresh, citrus Eau de Cologne type fragrance with a juniper sharpness and quinine feeling of a freshly poured G'n' T. In fact this is some kind of sorcery whereby botanicals with cumin/cardamom are infused into the spirit, giving this thorough yet at the same time, airy effect. This parfum version is not just a cranked concentration but an oriental re imagining, abandoning the fresh feel of the original declaration for what I would consider a much more complimentary and expected resinous base. This is beautiful with the cumin spice, giving a sort of smooth, suede leather effect, some cleaner aspects because It can't go too avant garde after all. I need to test it again properly but I thought it was fantastic, faithful to the original Declaration but way more up my street in terms of it's resinous quality. I want a bottle simple.