10/10/2021

Elysium
866 Reviews

Elysium
Very helpful Review
9
An '80s Powerhouse of Booze
I have owned this perfume for almost six years, yet I have never found the mood to describe it. I put it in my fall rotation, and on this misty Sunday morning in October, I think the time has come to give it the glory it deserves. First, Bentley for Men is uncompromising in its onslaught. It sits close enough in the olfactory profile to the much-discussed Bentley for Men Intense flanker. While it’s easy to see why it was overshadowed by its more bombastic big brother, there are still important differences between them. Seldom there is such a great scent hype as that for Bentley for Men Intense. However, Bentley For Men is no exception.
The cologne has oriental and spicy aspects. It was released in 2013 and developed by Nathalie Lorson. Those who follow me should know that she is on the podium of my favourite perfumers. It’s almost a niche fragrance, which means it’s not available in so many retailers. All the Bentley perfumes I own I have bought blindly online. The perfume combination here isn’t the most unique, but it still sets Bentley apart from the average male cologne. Like an intense liqueur rich in very hot spices, the cologne combines wood with the sweet scents of Bourbon rum. And the note of refined leather warms you with the spices. Let’s get started.
For me, the bay leaf dominates in the opening, and it is the first thing I perceive. But the bergamot and pepper are immediately behind, with an incensed and smoky note in the background that emerges already a few minutes after spraying and is present almost to the end. Oddly enough, it does not mention the note of frankincense or olibanum, even though my nose smells it. The same goes for spiced bergamot, which lasts a lifetime. It’s almost spicy, and the peppercorn, oddly enough, can make you sneeze if you tend to smell the sprayed spot immediately. Then, the sugary alcohol calms down, and the woodiness takes over.
It takes almost a quarter of an hour to dampen the citrus and aromatic tones, after which the rum also begins to surface along with the woody accord. Thankfully, not everything is dark as the opening doesn’t last forever and begins to take its recognizable oriental shape, and the rounded edges smooth out. As soon as the tricky opening fades, leather and cinnamon join the game. While there are still plenty of avenues for the fantastic finish, the fragrance’s bold niche side appears. There are aromatic and green facets due to the sage, here it is so true with its fragrant and velvety leaves. The spicy, woody, alcoholic flavour begins to rise from your skin, and the brownish skin of birch and labdanum prevents it from getting too sweet. And the smoke is still present in the background.
All of that remains in the concoction after the base notes begin to emerge, except for the bergamot which dissolves completely in a couple of hours, a nice span for a citrus top note. When the protagonists, such as rum, leather and cinnamon, take a back seat, the glorious vanilla benzoin blends with the dark patchouli and makes the base delicious. Yes, the feel of cedarwood pencil shavings is present, although the amber and balsamic facets of the resins stand out more. And despite the patchouli plays a wiry role here, the notes of leather and cedar are still obtained.
Ultimately, the scent changes slightly during the first few hours, but at the same time, its core remains constant and very pleasant all the time. After about half a day, it is a little less spicy but still aromatic, sweeter, more sparkling and more leathery. It starts more as a daytime scent for the colder days of autumn and ends as a warm nighttime scent. It’s great considering it lasts and projects well for several hours and then continues as a skin scent.
Spicy yet light and woody but delicate at the same time, this fragrance easily got my approval. A more versatile and less self-centred version, I say self-centred as a compliment, of Intense. the rum component in both can make one look like a clone of the other but in my opinion, it is not. I think Bentley for Men is more to be worn for autumn, in winter there is more incensed and enveloping Intense that awaits. I got compliments from the guys ... “You smell so good, unobtrusive, just plain good!”
And you, do you like boozy perfumes? What do you think?
I base the review on a 100ml bottle I have owned since January 2016.
-Elysium
The cologne has oriental and spicy aspects. It was released in 2013 and developed by Nathalie Lorson. Those who follow me should know that she is on the podium of my favourite perfumers. It’s almost a niche fragrance, which means it’s not available in so many retailers. All the Bentley perfumes I own I have bought blindly online. The perfume combination here isn’t the most unique, but it still sets Bentley apart from the average male cologne. Like an intense liqueur rich in very hot spices, the cologne combines wood with the sweet scents of Bourbon rum. And the note of refined leather warms you with the spices. Let’s get started.
For me, the bay leaf dominates in the opening, and it is the first thing I perceive. But the bergamot and pepper are immediately behind, with an incensed and smoky note in the background that emerges already a few minutes after spraying and is present almost to the end. Oddly enough, it does not mention the note of frankincense or olibanum, even though my nose smells it. The same goes for spiced bergamot, which lasts a lifetime. It’s almost spicy, and the peppercorn, oddly enough, can make you sneeze if you tend to smell the sprayed spot immediately. Then, the sugary alcohol calms down, and the woodiness takes over.
It takes almost a quarter of an hour to dampen the citrus and aromatic tones, after which the rum also begins to surface along with the woody accord. Thankfully, not everything is dark as the opening doesn’t last forever and begins to take its recognizable oriental shape, and the rounded edges smooth out. As soon as the tricky opening fades, leather and cinnamon join the game. While there are still plenty of avenues for the fantastic finish, the fragrance’s bold niche side appears. There are aromatic and green facets due to the sage, here it is so true with its fragrant and velvety leaves. The spicy, woody, alcoholic flavour begins to rise from your skin, and the brownish skin of birch and labdanum prevents it from getting too sweet. And the smoke is still present in the background.
All of that remains in the concoction after the base notes begin to emerge, except for the bergamot which dissolves completely in a couple of hours, a nice span for a citrus top note. When the protagonists, such as rum, leather and cinnamon, take a back seat, the glorious vanilla benzoin blends with the dark patchouli and makes the base delicious. Yes, the feel of cedarwood pencil shavings is present, although the amber and balsamic facets of the resins stand out more. And despite the patchouli plays a wiry role here, the notes of leather and cedar are still obtained.
Ultimately, the scent changes slightly during the first few hours, but at the same time, its core remains constant and very pleasant all the time. After about half a day, it is a little less spicy but still aromatic, sweeter, more sparkling and more leathery. It starts more as a daytime scent for the colder days of autumn and ends as a warm nighttime scent. It’s great considering it lasts and projects well for several hours and then continues as a skin scent.
Spicy yet light and woody but delicate at the same time, this fragrance easily got my approval. A more versatile and less self-centred version, I say self-centred as a compliment, of Intense. the rum component in both can make one look like a clone of the other but in my opinion, it is not. I think Bentley for Men is more to be worn for autumn, in winter there is more incensed and enveloping Intense that awaits. I got compliments from the guys ... “You smell so good, unobtrusive, just plain good!”
And you, do you like boozy perfumes? What do you think?
I base the review on a 100ml bottle I have owned since January 2016.
-Elysium
2 Comments