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There is no point of this existing at all
Released five years ago as a “limited edition” exclusively for Harrods, it ended up being a complete and straight-up deception from the brand, proving that you should not believe everything niche brands say. This kind of dishonesty is something that we should not accept and will be displayed in my final opinion.
TOP NOTES
Verano is not a scent to be dismissed. It is a pleasant fragrance, a people-pleaser that most average consumers and enthusiasts will find enjoyable, reassuring its likeability. However, it’s worth noting that Montabaco Verano shares similarities with Bvlgari Tygar, Sospiro Vibrato, and other fragrances in its price range. The star of the show here is the grapefruit note. It’s bright and zesty and instantly awakens the senses. Grapefruit is a common choice for top notes as it offers a clean and uplifting quality, perfect for setting the tone for the fragrance. However, this grapefruit is miles below in quality and found in almost double the price of cheaper scents such as Terre d’Hermes Eau Givree and Light Blue Forever Pour Homme, which is a straight-up joke. Besides this uplifting citrus, I also get orange and juniper berries of the same quality found in Ormonde Man, some cold-pressed cardamom, and touches of clary sage, which are popular today.
HEART NOTES
As soon as the grand opening settles down, you can see Schoen’s signature in the heart and the base. Specifically, I like the way he mixes synthetic molecules with natural notes. Of the heart notes mentioned, the only ones I truly get are the green tea accord and the ozonic feeling of violet. In addition to those green and floral notes, the heart is dominated by an overdose of ISO-E-Super, cashmeran, ambroxan, and javanol.
BASE NOTES
Things fall apart at the base, so I’m glad I did not purchase Verano at its total retail price. It all boils down to the musky leather and ashy tobacco. The sad thing about this is that it doesn’t excel at any of those notes, which is more tragic when you know that all of these are my favorite notes in perfumery. But the funniest thing is that I like this fragrance regardless of its drawbacks and how it’s an expensive clone of Tygar with a couple of twists and turns.
OVERALL
love to wear this fragrance and will probably keep it in my collection until I finish it. Due to its obvious drawbacks, this review seems a bit more negative but realistically objective. I wish more reviewers had done more and kept the product pushing minimally. Look around the fragrance discounter websites, and you’ll likely find a much better deal than its retail price.
Read the full review at scentgrail (.) com
TOP NOTES
Verano is not a scent to be dismissed. It is a pleasant fragrance, a people-pleaser that most average consumers and enthusiasts will find enjoyable, reassuring its likeability. However, it’s worth noting that Montabaco Verano shares similarities with Bvlgari Tygar, Sospiro Vibrato, and other fragrances in its price range. The star of the show here is the grapefruit note. It’s bright and zesty and instantly awakens the senses. Grapefruit is a common choice for top notes as it offers a clean and uplifting quality, perfect for setting the tone for the fragrance. However, this grapefruit is miles below in quality and found in almost double the price of cheaper scents such as Terre d’Hermes Eau Givree and Light Blue Forever Pour Homme, which is a straight-up joke. Besides this uplifting citrus, I also get orange and juniper berries of the same quality found in Ormonde Man, some cold-pressed cardamom, and touches of clary sage, which are popular today.
HEART NOTES
As soon as the grand opening settles down, you can see Schoen’s signature in the heart and the base. Specifically, I like the way he mixes synthetic molecules with natural notes. Of the heart notes mentioned, the only ones I truly get are the green tea accord and the ozonic feeling of violet. In addition to those green and floral notes, the heart is dominated by an overdose of ISO-E-Super, cashmeran, ambroxan, and javanol.
BASE NOTES
Things fall apart at the base, so I’m glad I did not purchase Verano at its total retail price. It all boils down to the musky leather and ashy tobacco. The sad thing about this is that it doesn’t excel at any of those notes, which is more tragic when you know that all of these are my favorite notes in perfumery. But the funniest thing is that I like this fragrance regardless of its drawbacks and how it’s an expensive clone of Tygar with a couple of twists and turns.
OVERALL
love to wear this fragrance and will probably keep it in my collection until I finish it. Due to its obvious drawbacks, this review seems a bit more negative but realistically objective. I wish more reviewers had done more and kept the product pushing minimally. Look around the fragrance discounter websites, and you’ll likely find a much better deal than its retail price.
Read the full review at scentgrail (.) com
The Best In Class
I won’t lie to you and say that Ibiza is an easy sunscreen-type scent that is easily likable because it isn’t. It requires a mature nose to appreciate all of its nuances, and even after three months, I find myself wondering whether I like it or not. Regardless, this fragrance is nothing short of a masterpiece—a fragrance that finally doesn’t smell like the typical beachy and boring scents on the market.
TOP NOTES
It opens up with the juiciest mandarin orange, combined with hints of coconut and that unapologetic galbanum present from the start until the fragrance fades away from the skin. The effect is a rubbery smell that I can guarantee you either haven’t smelled yet or you rarely see in other releases. The issue for me is that galbanum comes off as bitter and smells like immortelle and old-school patchouli, which is also in the base here.
HEART NOTES
The heart adds marine and floral touches to the composition, getting more complex but never stronger than galbanum. Each time I wear Ibiza, I’m never reminded of a sunny beach but rather a stormy day and a cold rain about to fall on hot sand. Driftwood adds woodiness, and ambergris comes sooner than expected to provide a salty touch.
BASE NOTES
It will take some time to detect the base notes perfectly, which are vanilla, ambergris, and patchouli trifecta. With its earthy nuances, patchouli is also unapologetic like galbanum, while vanilla and ambergris balance the composition.
Besides the fading of mandarin orange, coconut, and florals from the heart, the scent is more or less what you got from the first spray until it dries down.
OVERALL
I know that we are constantly complaining about how most of the scents these days are copies of a copy, and this is your chance to see what creativity is in this over-saturated genre. If we don’t start supporting brands willing to take creative risks, scents like these will become rarer by the year. Regardless of their price point, the “best” beach scents on the market cannot hold a candle to this masterpiece, which can be purchased for less than a hundred bucks.
Read the full review at scentgrail.com
TOP NOTES
It opens up with the juiciest mandarin orange, combined with hints of coconut and that unapologetic galbanum present from the start until the fragrance fades away from the skin. The effect is a rubbery smell that I can guarantee you either haven’t smelled yet or you rarely see in other releases. The issue for me is that galbanum comes off as bitter and smells like immortelle and old-school patchouli, which is also in the base here.
HEART NOTES
The heart adds marine and floral touches to the composition, getting more complex but never stronger than galbanum. Each time I wear Ibiza, I’m never reminded of a sunny beach but rather a stormy day and a cold rain about to fall on hot sand. Driftwood adds woodiness, and ambergris comes sooner than expected to provide a salty touch.
BASE NOTES
It will take some time to detect the base notes perfectly, which are vanilla, ambergris, and patchouli trifecta. With its earthy nuances, patchouli is also unapologetic like galbanum, while vanilla and ambergris balance the composition.
Besides the fading of mandarin orange, coconut, and florals from the heart, the scent is more or less what you got from the first spray until it dries down.
OVERALL
I know that we are constantly complaining about how most of the scents these days are copies of a copy, and this is your chance to see what creativity is in this over-saturated genre. If we don’t start supporting brands willing to take creative risks, scents like these will become rarer by the year. Regardless of their price point, the “best” beach scents on the market cannot hold a candle to this masterpiece, which can be purchased for less than a hundred bucks.
Read the full review at scentgrail.com
Not worth the hype
The one thing anyone who has loved this fragrance for years will notice is the unfortunate fact that Fahrenheit Parfum has been reformulated. This especially hits hard at the distinct depth it used to have in prior formulations. These days, Le Parfum is slightly thinner and doesn’t perform like a beast as it used to. Since the original EDT was an airy fragrance, this doesn’t bother me, but it is worth noting before buying. Besides the apparent downfalls, the blend is essentially the same, which makes it more versatile.
TOP NOTES
What made me smile was not that “gasoline accord” but a beautiful mandarin orange in the opening, which both EDT and EDP now share. I also get slight hints of something spicy and aromatic, along with the newcomer to this blend: rum.
This rum smells more like those little rum bottles you would use for baking than a classic rum alcohol drink, which is a nice touch.
HEART NOTES
I wish the opening had lasted longer since it was original and pleasant, but from then on, it is nothing new and nowhere near the level of the 80s legend. As some other reviewers have said, unnamed spices are here, but I would love to hear from them about where they are getting all of them. Maybe cumin, but just maybe. Besides unnamed spices, the suede leather gets more intense, and the sweetness intensifies, making it an excellent choice for a different kind of clubbing or a regular night-out winter fragrance.
BASE NOTES
And, now, the dry down. Powdery vanilla, benzoin, amber, and an overload of smooth tonka bean(first mentioned on Scent Grail) are what I get. The violet, leather, and rum are still present, but this massive amount of vanillic notes, accords, and notes kills this one for me. I may have grown tired of these kinds of perfumes, or I’m at a different stage of my perfume journey, but the vanilla extreme will get tiresome to almost everyone after enough time has passed.
OVERALL
In my opinion, this is Dior’s third-best “Parfum” release, after Eau Sauvage Parfum and Dior Homme Parfum(also overhyped), but better than Sauvage Parfum. It’s a safe blind buy that you can easily wear during the colder months and chilly nights to gather a positive impression. But remember that this edition is far from as good or original as the one and only Fahrenheit Eau de Toilette.
Read the full review at scentgrail.com
TOP NOTES
What made me smile was not that “gasoline accord” but a beautiful mandarin orange in the opening, which both EDT and EDP now share. I also get slight hints of something spicy and aromatic, along with the newcomer to this blend: rum.
This rum smells more like those little rum bottles you would use for baking than a classic rum alcohol drink, which is a nice touch.
HEART NOTES
I wish the opening had lasted longer since it was original and pleasant, but from then on, it is nothing new and nowhere near the level of the 80s legend. As some other reviewers have said, unnamed spices are here, but I would love to hear from them about where they are getting all of them. Maybe cumin, but just maybe. Besides unnamed spices, the suede leather gets more intense, and the sweetness intensifies, making it an excellent choice for a different kind of clubbing or a regular night-out winter fragrance.
BASE NOTES
And, now, the dry down. Powdery vanilla, benzoin, amber, and an overload of smooth tonka bean(first mentioned on Scent Grail) are what I get. The violet, leather, and rum are still present, but this massive amount of vanillic notes, accords, and notes kills this one for me. I may have grown tired of these kinds of perfumes, or I’m at a different stage of my perfume journey, but the vanilla extreme will get tiresome to almost everyone after enough time has passed.
OVERALL
In my opinion, this is Dior’s third-best “Parfum” release, after Eau Sauvage Parfum and Dior Homme Parfum(also overhyped), but better than Sauvage Parfum. It’s a safe blind buy that you can easily wear during the colder months and chilly nights to gather a positive impression. But remember that this edition is far from as good or original as the one and only Fahrenheit Eau de Toilette.
Read the full review at scentgrail.com
The best alternative to Creed Aventus on the market!
Before I start to describe this scent profile, you should know a couple of things before buying this fragrance. Ultimately, this is not an original release, but its smoky undertones strongly resemble those of Creed’s most popular fragrance. It is also the best bang-for-buck alternative since it can be purchased for little more than one-fourth of its retail price on fragrance discounters. Now then. Let’s get into its note breakdown.
TOP NOTES
To my nose, it opens with a beautiful, photorealistic note of pineapple-like juicy bergamot, comparable to the most expensive niche fragrances on the market. There is an undertone of pink pepper in the opening, just enough to add a touch of piquancy to the citrus. The comparison to the Creed is most apparent here, and I believe most fragrance enthusiasts will see the closest similarities.
HEART NOTES
The best part is the fragrance heart, where we are introduced to the smell of Mediterranean cypress. I love how they took a different route here, adding something new to this genre. It adds depth and character and starts shifting in an aromatic and woody direction, a wise move from Micallef. Jasmine plays a subtle role and adds a touch of delicate indolic sweetness without ever becoming overpowered.
BASE NOTES
Combining smoky patchouli and oakmoss provides a nice woody contrast to the citrusy opening and aromatic heart.
I love how the brand achieved these denser notes while feeling light enough and never entering old-school masculine territory. On some other websites, leather has been mentioned as an included note, but it’s not here, and it’s better not to expect it rather than be disappointed by its lack. Musk plays a supporting role in the base, providing a smooth and sensual finish.
OVERALL
It is a fragrance that exceeded my expectations, which I set according to what this product is. It’s a great alternative to Creed’s masterpiece and something always good to have in the collection when you want to smell better than your average designer scent. This M.Micallef creation is more like a sharp suit – classic, sophisticated, and guaranteed to turn heads.
Read the full review at scentgrail.com
TOP NOTES
To my nose, it opens with a beautiful, photorealistic note of pineapple-like juicy bergamot, comparable to the most expensive niche fragrances on the market. There is an undertone of pink pepper in the opening, just enough to add a touch of piquancy to the citrus. The comparison to the Creed is most apparent here, and I believe most fragrance enthusiasts will see the closest similarities.
HEART NOTES
The best part is the fragrance heart, where we are introduced to the smell of Mediterranean cypress. I love how they took a different route here, adding something new to this genre. It adds depth and character and starts shifting in an aromatic and woody direction, a wise move from Micallef. Jasmine plays a subtle role and adds a touch of delicate indolic sweetness without ever becoming overpowered.
BASE NOTES
Combining smoky patchouli and oakmoss provides a nice woody contrast to the citrusy opening and aromatic heart.
I love how the brand achieved these denser notes while feeling light enough and never entering old-school masculine territory. On some other websites, leather has been mentioned as an included note, but it’s not here, and it’s better not to expect it rather than be disappointed by its lack. Musk plays a supporting role in the base, providing a smooth and sensual finish.
OVERALL
It is a fragrance that exceeded my expectations, which I set according to what this product is. It’s a great alternative to Creed’s masterpiece and something always good to have in the collection when you want to smell better than your average designer scent. This M.Micallef creation is more like a sharp suit – classic, sophisticated, and guaranteed to turn heads.
Read the full review at scentgrail.com
Still going strong
One thing you should know about AHS is that a 20-year gap between a release and now does many things that usually make that older fragrance smell less original. That’s how things are and how the perfume world works. So, to put it simply, AHS is not as original as it might have been ten or twenty years ago. The most important question that one should ask himself before spending that big money is, what do I want from a summer-oriented release? Do I want a slightly generic-smelling but high-quality versatile fragrance I will use, or something like Orto Parisi Bergamask, an artistic niche beast, but you’ll never finish the bottle? If you asked me ten out of ten times, I would choose AHS. That is my opinion, and I have grown from these too artistic fragrances that I rarely use.
TOP NOTES
AHS opens up a refreshing burst of citrus that instantly awakens the senses. I love it, and a few other citrus-oriented fragrances(designer or niche) rarely come close to it. The main note here is a juicy, photorealistic orange that is to die for, and after all this time, it still retains its original “allure.” This vibrancy is complemented by the brand’s signature note of immediately detectable aldehydes, which are done in a masculine way, as in, for example, Dior Homme Sport 2021.
HEART NOTES
As the fragrance settles, we are greeted by floral touches of neroli that sit below the apparent marine accord.
Although I love these “sea notes” from the 2000s, they are starting to show their age, since in the last decade we have seen many more natural recreations of this accord, yet I don’t mind it when I consider the whole package. I’m glad to report that by the time the composition reaches its base notes, all is good regarding the blend, but thinner than before.
BASE NOTES
So, what do I get in the base? Well, that warmness from the original Allure is still here since you can detect that vanilla, along with the other dominant notes from the opening and the heart. Marine accord works especially during the hottest days of the year, but with the price of being devoid of other darker and woodies notes that used to be stronger. Finally, white musk joins the party, leaving a subtle hint of “something sexy” that sticks around long after the citruses and aldehydes fade.
OVERALL
It would be unfair for me to place AHS anywhere other than in the Holy Grail category. It has endured the passing trends of perfumery and will continue to be the signature fragrance of millions of men around the world. It is my favorite from the whole Allure line, and it is the one I will gladly return to in the coming years.
Read the full review at scentgrail.com
TOP NOTES
AHS opens up a refreshing burst of citrus that instantly awakens the senses. I love it, and a few other citrus-oriented fragrances(designer or niche) rarely come close to it. The main note here is a juicy, photorealistic orange that is to die for, and after all this time, it still retains its original “allure.” This vibrancy is complemented by the brand’s signature note of immediately detectable aldehydes, which are done in a masculine way, as in, for example, Dior Homme Sport 2021.
HEART NOTES
As the fragrance settles, we are greeted by floral touches of neroli that sit below the apparent marine accord.
Although I love these “sea notes” from the 2000s, they are starting to show their age, since in the last decade we have seen many more natural recreations of this accord, yet I don’t mind it when I consider the whole package. I’m glad to report that by the time the composition reaches its base notes, all is good regarding the blend, but thinner than before.
BASE NOTES
So, what do I get in the base? Well, that warmness from the original Allure is still here since you can detect that vanilla, along with the other dominant notes from the opening and the heart. Marine accord works especially during the hottest days of the year, but with the price of being devoid of other darker and woodies notes that used to be stronger. Finally, white musk joins the party, leaving a subtle hint of “something sexy” that sticks around long after the citruses and aldehydes fade.
OVERALL
It would be unfair for me to place AHS anywhere other than in the Holy Grail category. It has endured the passing trends of perfumery and will continue to be the signature fragrance of millions of men around the world. It is my favorite from the whole Allure line, and it is the one I will gladly return to in the coming years.
Read the full review at scentgrail.com
