Dark Akro 2018

I didn’t think it’s possible but I actually now quite over the moon for a chocolate-inspired fragrance. Akro Dark is not a decadent, foody chocolate in the least, but rather a dry, dusty, woody interpretation of cocoa. But it’s not some austere, unapproachable thing; it’s somehow both rich and restrained while also being intoxicatingly cozy, like the combination of a bittersweet cocoa nib-speckled cardigan and the earthy musk of a patchouli stitched afghan, while warming your toes in soft, smoky vanilla firelight. This is a composition that exemplifies the elegance to be found in simple pleasures when executed thoughtfully, creatively, and while also holding something back. With chocolate scents, I think perfumers tend toward a hyper-gourmand “more is more” philosophy, throwing every decadent, delectable note at their disposal into the mix, but Dark’s appeal, at least for me, is in its’ pared-down, gorgeous simplicity. You don’t smell like a ridiculous dessert, you just smell like a damn beautiful treat.

Akro Dark is one of the original six fragrances released from the Olivier Cresp-led brand in 2018, a well-named gourmand blend featuring dark chocolate with pinches of hazelnut, cinnamon, and vanilla. It manages to not be too sweet while having an air of mystery to it, something non-gourmand in what is clearly a mostly-gourmand element, so I like the name “Dark” for it since it is not hugely descriptive. Admittedly, I do not like it quite as much as the coffee-centric Awake but it’s still very well done. It’s quite rich and the performance seems to be pretty strong, perhaps slightly better than Awake.

Dark, like the rest of the brand, has EDP concentration and is sold in the US via Luckyscent (where I got my dabber sample) at $160 for 100ml, though it is also sold directly through its website, where there is a $80 for 30ml option as well.

7 out of 10

This is one of the worst perfumes I have ever smelled, and the worst of all the Akro scents so far. I rate a 0.5/5 because I was lured by the supposed "notes" - this was when I realised notes don't always smell like they say they will. Insanely smokey mixed with something nasty. Made me cringe and gag when I first smelled it. I call this Akro Dank. I would give this to someone I don't like.

Not a gourmand but no idea what this is supposed to be...Cacao ? No. Because why is it so smoky and heavy when the notes are not showing any type of incense nor smoke notes... There's no cinnamon, no spices, no sweetness, no hazelnut. It's super unpleasant and had to wash it off asap, it's not even bitter it's... I don't know, the notes are not matching the scent and it's disappointing. This scent is so aggressive smelling - acetone, like, why.

From the jump, its evokes a scene where Aunt Bessie asks, "would you like a tall, cold glass of Yoo-Hoo to go with your Tootsee Rolls?"

"Hell to the no no," I sing. I have unwrapped many a luxury dark chocolate bar and this is not what I've come to expect. The rest of it is irrelevant if I can't get past that dreadful opening.