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Awake Akro 2018

7.6 / 10 317 Ratings

A popular perfume by Akro for women and men, released in 2018. The scent is spicy-gourmand. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Spicy

Gourmand

Sweet

Creamy

Woody

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Brazilian coffee Lemon

Lemon

Heart Notes

Green cardamom

Base Notes

Vetiver

Perfumer

Olivier Cresp

Ratings

Scent

7.6317 Ratings

Longevity

7.5255 Ratings

Sillage

7.1253 Ratings

Bottle

6.8231 Ratings

Value for money

7.1170 Ratings

Submitted by Curacao, last update on 10/23/2025.

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Reviews

23 in-depth fragrance descriptions

11/25/2020

8Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

Landshark321
743 Reviews

Landshark321

Top Review 4

Wearable, balanced sweet and spicy coffee fragrance at a great value

Akro Awake is the fragrance from this house that I was most eager to try, as it’s described as a coffee fragrance. Given the note breakdown, which includes coffee, cardamom, lemon, and vetiver, I did not expect it to be sweet, but it’s quite sweet, in addition to having the earthy, spicy, citric undertones provided by the other notes. It’s sweet to the point that it seems like there is chocolate in the mix, frankly, but it’s not over-the-top heavy or sweet or dessert like, and the sweet coffee aspect is significantly tempered by the other trio of notes.

The coffee/lemon pairing in particular is slightly reminiscent of the discontinued Armani Attitude, but Awake is a bit sweeter and more coffee-dominant than Attitude. Comparing it to other coffee fragrances, it does not have the dark and sweet extremes of Kerosene Follow, nor is it as subtle as Legendary Fragrances Barista, nor does it have the particularly intense rum bite of Sebastiane Espresso Royale. Overall, it’s a balanced sweet and spicy coffee fragrance with enough coffee to satisfy lovers of coffee fragrances but not likely enough to scare off the coffee- or sweet-averse. It’s a coffee fragrance that’s fairly easy to wear and versatile, surely more apt for cold weather but not too heavy for mild or warmer weather.

The only point-of-sale in the US is Luckyscent and like the rest of the line, has very reasonable pricing of $160 for 100ml. Particularly at that price, I see a bottle in my future.

8 out of 10

02/05/2023

Grizzlyscent
11 Reviews

Grizzlyscent

3

Coffee perfected!

Anyone who knows me knows that I survive on caffeine. Energy drinks, caffeine pills, I'll take anything and everything to keep myself running.

However, my favorite way to get my buzz has always been coffee. From pour overs, to moka pots, from espresso to the "all frills included" milk based drinks, I really can't get enough. And it's not just the taste either. I can't get enough of the smell of coffee.

I find the wafting aroma of a freshly pulled shot equal parts intoxicating and comforting! It takes me back to my childhood where getting coffee was a treat to be savored, and where the scent of freshly brewed coffee was almost always inextricably linked to that of books (but I digress).

It makes sense, then, that I've been on the hunt for a perfume that is able to elicit the emotions I feel when I enjoy a "cup of joe." My craving led me far and wide and I tried many different fragrances from many different brands, but nothing quite scratched that itch. Some were too sweet, some had no coffee to speak of, and some came very close, but just fell just short. Very picky, I know, but I wanted nothing less than the one to rule them all.

And after ages of fruitless searchu, I'd nearly given up on my quest. That is, until I got my nose on the marvel that is Akro's Awake. It is, in my humble opinion, the best coffee fragrance available, bar none. (And quite by chance, it mimics my own daily coffee routine, which I found to be quite a lovely happy accident!)

Awake opens with a blast of thick, deep, rich, dark roasted espresso, with the lightest spritz of lemon adding some lift to the brew! The coffee is photorealistic, smelling exactly like a perfectly timed shot of espresso would. The dark caramelized nature of the beans, the froth of the crema, the sweet bitterness of the drink itself, all come alive! This beautiful aroma persists to the very end of the olfactory journey, and make no mistake, it IS a journey.

A little later, a nice dose of sweetness begins creeping in as the lemon fades. It also starts gaining an earthy character from this phase on, which I will assume is the Vetiver, because I get none of it otherwise. The coffee in this phase most closely resembles a Cafe Cubano (which for those who don't know, is a drink made with stove top espresso sweetened with demerara sugar), and is utterly delicious!

Towards the middle of the wearing, the earlier sweetness is in full swing, taking on a vanillic character as well. Here, the earlier, robust coffee aroma has mellowed losing some of it's intensity, and none of it's character. In fact, in this phase, I find that the nuttier, chocolatier facets of the coffee reveal themselves, with the slightest hint of spice creeping through as the cardamom makes it's entrance. Here, I find it most similar to a cortado (which is a drink with equal parts espresso and steamed milk, and quite a nice mid afternoon drink to have on any given day!)

And as we approach the drydown, the cardamom and coffee have mixed perfectly with the vanillic sweetness, and mellowed into what I find to be closest to a spiced latte. Which in my opinion is one of the best ways to close out the day. It is warm, with the aroma of coffee taking a milky character now, dancing with the sweetness of the cardamom in a lovely waltz, as the curtains drop and the scent fades to black.

Awake is a beautifully cozy fragrance, easy to wear and enjoy, yet lacking none of the nuance that makes coffee and perfumery such an interesting indulgence. It is likeable enough for everyone to pick up and spray, and has enough for the fragrance junkie to keep coming back for more. And it's something that I'm happy to have on my shelf.

Bravo Olivier Cresp. What an absolute masterpiece!

04/21/2023

9Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

BamBamNYC
33 Reviews

BamBamNYC

2

Lemony coffee residue

This smells like coffee candy or the dried residue in a coffee cup rather than a freshly brewed cup of coffee, which is impossible to capture in perfumery (at least, if you want longevity). I wear this as a pick-me-up when I feel tired in the morning.

The cardamom reminds me of Turkish coffee. The lemon weirded me out at first (who drinks coffee with lemon?), but after multiple wearings I now appreciate the brightness that’s retained as the coffee note fades away.

03/11/2023

9Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

Marizelag4l
4 Reviews

Marizelag4l

3

Coffee Addiction

I got the discovery kit from this house, it came with 6 samples. As it said in the description, six provocative fragrances. Addictions turned into perfume.

Awake represents caffeine (coffee).

The fragrance Awake by Akro is a one-of-a-kind scent that offers a unique olfactory experience that captures the essence of coffee in a concentrated form. This fragrance is a result of blending bitter coffee notes with other aromatic ingredients, resulting in a complex and multifaceted scent. When you first experience the scent of Awake, you'll immediately recognize the potent and heady aroma of coffee. However, upon closer inspection, you'll notice that this fragrance is more complex than a simple coffee scent.

Awake begins with a burst of aroma that reminds you of a cappuccino or a chilled coffee beverage, rather than a freshly brewed cup of coffee. The scent is rounded out with a hint of sweetness, giving it a creamy and smooth quality that is both alluring and comforting. This fragrance is perfect for those who love the invigorating aroma of coffee but want something that is more sophisticated and complex. As you wear the fragrance you'll notice that the coffee notes begin to blend with the other aromatic ingredients, creating a complex and multifaceted scent that develops over time. As the fragrance settles on your skin, the initial bitterness of the coffee notes begins to mellow out, making way for the sweetness to become more pronounced. This sweetness gives the fragrance a warm and comforting quality that is both pleasant and addictive.

Overall, Awake is a journey that begins with the intense energy and wild spirit of coffee and ends with a warm and comforting aroma that lingers on the skin. The fragrance has a moderate longevity of around 5 hours, making it a great option for a daytime scent or a refreshing pick-me-up during the workday. It is perfect for those who want to make a statement without being too overpowering, as the scent is both complex and subtle.

02/21/2025

Chlooek
19 Reviews

Chlooek

1

Less than realistic

I get the coffee note but it's not as realistic as I expected. I hoped it would be like smelling coffee beans straight from the bag but it's more like black coffee with a dominant dose of hazelnut or caramel syrup. In the drydown, it becomes a little more reminiscent of coffee ice cream but still not quite.

There's a muskiness in the base that makes it less of a gourmand to me, maybe that's also what is throwing me off and making it seem less realistic.

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