I'll keep this simple. I like this. I concur with the majority of positive reviews on this scent it's good and conjures up some cosy christmasy imagery. Only a minor criticism of SL on the whole they're fairly weak and disappear completely from my skin within a few hours but they're still very well put together.

Jasmine, Neroli and rose? I should be predisposed to dismiss this off hand as too floral and not good man juice. However, this is Amouage we're talking about here and they always strive to make interesting creations from different perfumers which are obviously given a brief to fit with the brand image and yet again this one doesn't disappoint! It has that moving quality of notes swirling around in a tuneful harmony. I instantly liked this it has a lovely light touch not overly floral, some spice in there and a real freshness which is the best part for me. Intoxicating. This is the thing though...This one and beloved are both lovely fresh fragrances and I have lots of those already and the majority a fraction of the price. I think what I want from Amouage is masses of spice and pharaoh type qualities with Amber & incense, precious resins etc... It's my own hang up but I begrudge paying such a price for a fresh fragrance...saying that, I'm very tempted by this offering it just smells so nice. Update: this is the second occasion I've worn this and it's too much the florals are very overpowering and this scent gets weird and majorly sickly after a very short time...I don't find it fresh now either. Also when it opens it has a very synthetic banana accord...(yes you heard right fake bananas!!!) anyone remember those flavoured cold medicines that were mean to be nice as a kid? I hated the banana one. I also get a very mild smell of antiseptic cream specifically Germoline. Not good! Oh dear I did really like this at first this is why I can't trust my nose and have to wear a fragrance at least two or three times to know I hate it...it only takes one to know I love one though.

I've tried many Lutens creations but this is my first review as I never quite know what to make of them. Bois de Violette is one that I can firmly have an opinion on though as it's pretty straight forward to my nose. I like violet, two of my all time favorites Lalique Hommage L'Homme and Dior Fahrenheit both have sweet sharp violet notes at the forefront of their composition. Lots of people mentioning candy or sweets in their reviews and violet notes often remind me of Parma Violet sweets I used to get as a child and that you don't see anymore. I don't think this seems as chemical as that but not super accurate either. BDV has both violet flowers and leaves so I was expecting the most intense violet ever but it somehow isn't... it is quite muted which is kind of a plus because it would get cloying very, very quickly. SL were most likely aware of this and made quite a toned down and ultimately feminine scent which to be honest is quite lackluster.

Really don't like this at all....I'd like to offer more constructive criticism but I can't. I don't know why but I just don't like any Chanel fragrances (with the exception of the Allure's) and I don't Agree with comparisons with Mont Blanc Legend/A&F Fierce either. Update: Well if someone ever had to eat their own hat and words and a whole shop full of humble pies then completely revise their position in a totally giant U turn of epic proportions... it's me in this instance. Firstly, I totally get the A&F Fierce and the Mont Blanc Legend thing now this is absolutely similar to both my disclaimer is possibly that I tried the original egoiste maybe or my nose was totally fried that day...I dunno?? All I know is this fragrance is awesome and so much more refined than either its compared to(and I love fierce) it's less aggressive and has more of a kind of bubble bath vibe about it. It's amazing...sorry Chanel.

Sometimes names can be a bit deceptive but lets get it straight...If you're looking for a powerful woody, Oud centric fragrance, look elsewhere. I like the smell of Oud and it is strangely intoxicating but I don't know what all the fuss is about really? It's down to taste and what you look for. Is it the notes that surround Oud that give a fragrance it's character or is it vice versa? Well it depends... This is typical of an ADP Cologne, stylish, classic citrus in the top and wonderfully fresh feel with nice, gentle Oud in the base. So some pretty special juice and shouldn't be judged on the name because it doesn't deliver masses of Oud, it's great fragrance.

Bought this at the weekend and have worn it twice. My initial review below is fairly accurate as to how I feel about this fragrance...in a nutshell it's great smelling. I was convinced to fork out on it by my girlfriend, she absolutely adored it and as such was very persuasive. I will have to correct my playing down of the Oud element in my first review, this scent has Oud in abundance but it's not at all rough or full on it's soft and very long lasting. The mixture of amyris & coriander with oud is quite a dizzying, sickly combo which takes a bit of getting used to but when you do it's great.

The cypress tree is also a symbol of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, young girls, and the moon. Copy n paste from Wikipedia...I'm not that insightful... as you would know if you'd read my previous reviews. :) Wow...Wow...Wow!!! This juice is incredible, it genuinely transports you to another place. I get the feeling of being a lumberjack high up in a tree in a north American forest rather than maybe the leisurely stroll though a beautiful Italian garden bordered by pruned Cypress trees. I think the citrus and mint give it that airy fresh feeling of altitude which adds to the super woody and green, sappy notes which are obviously the heart of this fragrance. It's stunning! Just the right combination as it could easily have been linear or boring. Tom Ford's Private collection strikes again with another hit for me....arrrggghhh can't afford them all!!!

I have a decant of this now and my opinion has not changed in the slightest this might be the greatest opening I've ever encountered!!! Simply unreal!!! The drydown is still really beautiful but because that opening is so monumentally epic it just serves as a mild comedown after a massive high. Dries down very masculine like fendi uomo or something along those lines. I still want a full bottle at some point.

I wanted to try this for the longest time and very nearly bought it blind due to the amazing bottle, have to say I'm glad I didn't. Although I don't find it overly feminine it does have a floral element which points toward it at times. Then with the sumptuous warm leather and it has a little spice from the incense it points more in a direction I like...mysterious if you like. It must be the rubbery balminess that completely puts me off this...I've never tried Bvlgari Black but the talk of rubber just makes me never want to. It's an interesting one and certainly not to be dismissed because it's such a mixture of notes there's probably something in there that's appeals but when you take the composition as a whole it isn't one I'll be adding to my collection...shame though I really wanted that bottle on my shelf.

Okay so this is a re review as I saw a 40ml bottle cheap and I love the bottle So much I wanted it for my collection despite not being mad on the smell the first couple of Tries. Well, I'm pleasantly surprised frankly whatever I didn't like about it originally was due to the Bvlgari black rubber comparisons which aren't here. The floral element was what I found prominent too and I can still really detect the lily of the valley after the initial opening of citrus. The Tonka is thick and easily the main player here as it dries down it becomes more and more leathery, problem is it's not a particularly sumptuous or like other leather fragrances I enjoy. So all in all I will wear this as it doesn't offend me but it doesn't excite me either.

The combination of rose and Oud is a classic one and when it's done by FK you know its going to be done well. Just not my thing yet again. If you love Oud & rose in a simple composition, oh and you can afford it then I recommend this. I think it's more suited to a woman due to the Rose and soft soapy effect created by the chamomile possibly? It needs spice and a darker edge for a man.

A charismatic and interesting fragrance but so HARSH it hits you like a sledge hammer. It's one of the most bizarre things I've ever smelled Labdanum, Benzoin and Oud create such a powerful accord that is unique in it's signature. I appreciate the skill that went into making this and it's superb quality but there's no way I could wear it on my skin it's too much of an acquired taste and I don't mean the Oud either! I like velvet mood and the original which may seem a little boring especially compared to Cashmere. The original has more of a raw Oud scent to me instead of a launchpad for other strong notes it has complimentary ones that in my opinion are more understated and suited to a man.

I felt I had to do a re write of my original review, although it's pretty accurate. The quality of this fragrance is undeniable, the ingredients used are of superb and the Oud from Laos which Francis uses in this line has a distinctive quality in my opinion. The labdanum is atomic in strength and the smokey dry down is so intense, complex, forever changing and projects insanely. Its quite amazing how it retains the sharp resinous qualities of the opening for hours constantly flipping between that and a darker smokey woody feel. I wore it today (a very minimal application I might add) I had a CRAZY sillage trail, everywhere I went I was very conscious of how I smelled. My girlfriend who adores Oud and this one was no different in fact she especially loved it. However, after spending a day with me she said it was too much and I have to say I agree. I had this down in my hate pile to begin with, simply because I found it so extreme and medicinal in the opening but once you let it dry down its a stunning scent, a showstopper really. Too expensive and barely wearable to add to my collection but a truly amazing piece of work, facets of this fragrance are spellbinding...check it out if you can, doesn't translate on a card so try it on your skin.

My first experience of Cartier and it began well. This starts out with lots of spice, cardamom being prominent and it makes for a really fresh opening. Then the rose starts to shine through and quite honestly...it's dominant. My thought process was initially (as in first 30 seconds after applying) wow this is mature, classy and interesting scent and despite the rose it's masculine. After than I'm afraid it really started to grate on me, the spice retreats into the background and the rose becomes air freshener-like and distinctly less masculine. I'm wearing it today in the office and I'm a little embarrassed of people catching a whiff of me. Don't get me wrong, I like the smell of rose but in order to work on a man it needs to be in a dark composition with wood and earthy tones, spice and incense. In conclusion, it's a brave scent being so sparse a composition but I would never wear it and although it doesn't quite go into Granny territory it's not far away. I look forward to trying the other declarations. Update: This fragrance has real endurance...I was fairly conservative with my application and 16 hours later I could still get wafts of rose and not just from my clothes it actually remained on my skin which is very good for me. Still don't like it all that much hahah...it's not bad just not for me.