Antiquity II Areej Le Doré 2025 Extrait de Parfum

I was initially wary of Antiquity II as I thought it was going to be one of those "historical" perfumes that tries to revive the traditional French ultra-powdery soapy chypres. But it is a far cry from traditionality of any kind. The closest fragrance that it reminds me of is Figment Man, almost an indie version of that one, with its animalics and heavy earthy notes, but it also has another component, a fruity slightly smoky Hindi agarwood, combined with the peach aldehydes to give a bit of a sour note which works really well. And the aldehydes don't come across as soapy which I was wary of, especially when they're usually combined with patchouli, bergamot, and oakmoss, but bright and uplifting, and give this creation a new dimension. Tough to wear, but a fascinating scent and wonderful bit of olfactory art.

Antiquity Part II, perfume Extrait.

I’ll go and say straight-up, this feels significantly less “antique” than the original. I don’t think it’s a faithful resurrection. The DNA is there, but not entirely, while the “musty,” “dusty,” “old-world,” “rugged,” and “medieval” bits were thrown out of the window together with the leather accord. If the original smelled like a Medieval library with old, dusty, musty wood and leather book coverings, this new version smells closer to a vintage perfume from the beginning of the 19th century. So, it still smells vintage and retro, but I believe it lost its wow factor, its special touch. While the original felt like a standalone composition, Part II reminisces about classics like Mitsouko and Femme, even modern takes on that DNA, such as Diaghilev and, to a lesser extent, Adam’s Ambre de Coco. I also get a strong association with Sultan Pasha’s Encens Chypre. Do I like it? Oh yes, very much. As I like and love all of the previously discussed. But do I love it? No, I don’t. But that’s because the original had such an impact on my olfactory map that the bar was raised too high, perhaps never to be pushed further or matched ever again. I think Part II is a gorgeous spin on the classic Fruity-Chypre DNA, but not the wow factor I expected. Not the soul-stirring experience the original offered.

The question that will now cross most people’s minds is: Does it feel redundant if I own one or more of the other perfumes mentioned? Yes and no. It comes down to how much you enjoy that DNA. There are a few unique touches that set Antiquity II apart, such as the brilliant pair of Angelica Seed and Carnation and the use of natural oud and musk. Especially the angelica seed, which is a rare and scarcely used material that has the most peculiar sweet-spicy and herbaceous aroma, and pairs so well with the carnation accord. So it has this dusty, floral, spicy, oily, and herbaceous nuance in the middle that sets it apart from the rest. The natural deer musk adds a nice texture and purr to the base while not feeling too animalic, and the Cambodian oud stretches the peach-like feel throughout the life of the fragrance.

While I hoped for this to be similar to Part I, it is not, unfortunately. However, I like it very much, and since I no longer own Mitsouko, Femme, and Encens Chypre, I feel this will make a perfect pair for Diaghilev, being more luminous and velvety. Also, I never wore Part I in public as I always felt it was not meant for that and would have been wasted, not to mention the weird looks. Part II is a more posh and wearable version, one that I wouldn’t mind wearing in society. It may lack the personality, but certainly not the class.

I’d say this is not a faithful resurrection to the original, but an excellent spin on the classic fruity-chypre genre that giants like Mitsouko and Femme have already consolidated.

IG:@memory.of.scents

I have bought this bottle more out of curiosity to see what the famous “Antiquity” is, because I haven’t had a chance to try the original version. I have not yet decided whether it will stay with me or go to someone else, but my first impressions are nevertheless positive.

In my opinion, it is a very well composed fragrance, according to the art and rules of craftsmanship. The reference to the old French school is evident here. You certainly have to like this specific retro vibe to be convinced by Antiquity II, as it is a kind of olfactorial journey through time. However, for those who find themselves in such a convention, testing this perfume will certainly be an enjoyable moment and evoke specific images of years gone by. For proponents of a more contemporary approach to perfume creation, it may end with a grimace on the face and disapproval.

The different phases of the fragrance's development on the skin are very well thought out and one has the impression that Russian Adam tested the moments of transition from one phase to another with a watch in hand before releasing Antiquity II on the market, in order to plan them perfectly As far as I am concerned, there are even more phases here than the ever-mentioned 3 (opening, heart, base). This is a fragrance that is undoubtedly changeable and offers a whole spectrum of sensations. On the other hand, the transitions between the various phases are extremely smooth, giving a sense of coherence. One follows from the other and is a natural continuation.

The opening is bergamot and aldehydes. However, this is not a citrusy-peachy nose shot, but a subtly fruity opening. As far as I know, the first version of Antiquity offered a stronger experience from this angle. At least if those who have had the opportunity to compare the two versions are to be believed. In the case of Antiquity II, it is very comfortable right from the start, expressive but at the same time unobtrusive. In the background, although it's a rather discreet aspect, there is a slightly animalic note that I'm not quite sure what it's from, but it lends a slightly harshness, so that the beginning may not appeal to everyone.

As for the next phase, I have come across comparisons to Ottoman Empire. In fact, there is a distant echo of that fragrance, but it is just a small similarity. Here, sweet patchouli takes the lead and is woody and creamy. In this phase, the fragrance is most easy to ware and can be enjoyed by people around you. After about 3 hours, one might get the impression that the aroma is already muted and loses its power. Nothing could be further from the truth. At a certain point, the musk slowly comes to the fore, taking over after a while and playing a major role in the entire composition. It is not particularly dirty, but nevertheless quite expressive and intense, showing a slightly animalic character. However, it is a tame animal .

The base is not the same all the time, and even this phase can be divided - two or even three additional stages can be distinguished from it. The musk dominates for a long time and introduces a distinctive vintage atmosphere. While the beginning and the heart phase is about reaching back in time, the next phase is definitely a journey into the past and associations with an earlier era. It's in this phase that I like the musk the most, and while I'm not a big fan of deer musk, here the ingredient has been used justifiably, fitting with the whole Antiquity concept.

When it seems that nothing more surprising awaits us, suddenly oud comes to the fore, which harmonises very nicely with the musk. Admittedly, the oud does not play main role for a single moment, but it serves here to underline the whole and give the final touch to the composition. In the base, however, it fulfils its purpose.

Projection is solid. Longevity - many hours. And this is where I have a small problem with Antiquty II. At the very end, after many hours, the fragrance is still present on the skin and I personally associate it with urine or lack of hygiene I don't know if it's the musk that sticks or the combination of several ingredients that gives this effect. I had similar feelings with Oud Zhen or Russian Oud, for example. In Antiquity it is much less intense and doesn't even bother me that much. Nevertheless, I am 29 hours after applying the perfume, I am writing this text and, despite showering and washing my hands several times, the “stench” is still present and nothing is able to get rid of it. While the whole olfactory journey of Antiquity II has been interesting and pleasant, the smell that remains after this journey does not necessarily bring a smile to my face, although I try to accept it .

Antiquity II is by no means a revolutionary fragrance, so for someone looking for something they haven't sniffed before, this is not necessarily the way to go. On the other hand, this retro vibe is at the same time a certain hallmark of Antiquity II and, if only for this reason, the composition can be appreciated and deserves attention. On the plus side, moreover, the performance, variability and fidelity to the old school of perfumery. It is simply a well-made and well thought-out vintage-style fragrance.

Do I understand the Antiquity phenomenon? Both yes and no. Assuming that original Antiquity is similar, I confirm that it is a fragrance worth checking out and is a successful work by Adam. However, I find no justification for the horrendous prices that the original reaches (around €900 for a flacon). I know and value equally or even more several other compositions from Areej le Dore, which are certainly not inferior in any way to Antiquity, and whose prices have not been so inflated. Will the bottle stay in my collection? Yes, for sure, it is some peace of art for me. I don't regret the purchase and I'm glad I was able to test the Antiquity II, as it's a very interesting experience for someone who has a perfume hobby.

Let me tell you my first wearing didn’t go so well... Fragrance was not balanced. It had this very prominent, strong, bitter wormwood tea smell. Same can be found in Ottoman Empire III. I was getting angry even (my closest friends for sure got plenty of early personal opinions on this fragrance lol). It was like 80% similar to Ottoman Empire III with that bitter note and like 3% similar to the OG Antiquity. I was very disappointed. Good thing I took my time to write this review though. My second wearing was very much different. The Ottoman Empire III wormwood note is still there but it is much tamer, feels balanced, and not as annoying. Similarities to Ottoman Empire III overall toned down quite a bit but are still there. Similarities to the OG Antiquity grew but still not that similar, maybe 5/10. I would consider this least similar to the original of this collection. Especially doing A-B testing from one hand to another, differences are pretty clear. I would say this fragrance smells antique—even more antique than the OG Antiquity. But it is not that similar to Antiquity OG. New one is way harsher, more aggressive. Less sweet. More animalic. OG was a loving old dusty soft blanket at your grandma’s house wrapping you up in the living room on a sunny Sunday morning. Antiquity II is you being locked up in the attic for 5h because you broke your grandma’s favourite vase. Overall it’s a good fragrance. Ingredient quality wise, I would say Adam spared no expenses in constructing this one. Very good projection, good longevity, plenty of depth and lift. For me this one is the most polarising of the collection—you either love it or hate it. Buying it to replace the OG sadly is a plan that is not meant to be.

This is an ethereal scent. This scent is reminiscent of snow white when she was in the forest, and the forest animals, specifically the deer, came to surround her. Now imagine you're snow white eating a peach while this event transcends.

In the air, this is a prominent earthy, animalic, chypre. Up close, the peach note is very pronounced and sweet. Beautiful composition and use of naturals to give Russian Adam's spin on a chypre.

Unfortunately, I don't see myself picking up a bottle. I associate chypre's with very grand or formal events. And for these scenarios, I would imagine I would reach for something like Roja's Diaghilev or RDHP, any year. Nonetheless, amazing scent, excited to explore more of ALD's offerings.