Bentley for Men Absolute Bentley 2014

So here it is, the little insider tip, especially for fans of the old discontinued Gucci pour homme, whose spirit has been brought back to life here by Michel Almairac. The fragrance ekes out its thoroughly quiet existence in the shadow of its better-known brother "Bentley for men Intense", revealing its pleasant essence only to those who delve a little deeper into the matter, who look beyond the usual influencer Top 10 lists.

While the Intense is rather loud and flashy overall, the Absolute is the much quieter, more introverted representative of this brand's gentlemanly fragrances.

The fragrance reveals its spirit right from the opening. It is primarily woody. The associations with freshly sharpened pencils already noted here are clearly recognizable.
Anyone looking for sweetness in fragrances is out of place here and should rather try their luck with the Intense. The Absolute has such a dry effect that it feels like it can also rid rooms of humidity. The woody notes seem as if the material had been left to dry for 10 years in the Gobi desert before being processed. Whereas in other fragrances the woody note is rather subtle, here you get the squared timber rattling against your face with full force: It's not a board, it's a DIY store!
In addition, the note "Papyrus" makes perfect sense here and seems comprehensible. It goes harmoniously hand in hand with the woodiness and evokes associations with old scrolls, libraries and the smell of time-honored fat books.
The fragrance also exudes a certain degree of resinousness and earthiness. The idea of trudging through a dense forest in (dry) summer goes hand in hand with the fragrance. Some dust of dry, loosened earth is in the air, the trees around you give off a slightly resinous scent.
Frankincense lends the fragrance even more character, giving it a hint of pleasant, never scratchy smokiness, but at the same time calming and grounding the composition even further. I can confirm the sacred mood that the fragrance is able to evoke as a result.
To my nose, pepper or ginger are only very subtly perceptible at best. Here too, if ginger, then it has been cupboard-dried for 3 years and is no longer oily and ethereal.
The pepper also plays second fiddle and comes across as very gentle, almost muted, far from triggering a spicebomb-like attack of spice.

Overall, we have a very calm, discreet representative of his guild here, who always comes across as confident, distinguished and unobtrusive.
Even though the fragrance is clearly different, the Absolute somehow reminds me of an Encre Noir, as it shares certain characteristics with it. The accentuated woodiness, paired with fragrance notes that evoke memories of nature and/or the earth, the similar direction of mood in which the fragrances are used or which they create...

Unfortunately, and this brings us to the biggest point of criticism of the fragrance, the longevity and sillage also fit into the rather chic, confident and calm overall picture of this creation. If the rather subtle aura could still be seen as something positive and very appropriate for the occasion, the durability remains somewhat poor. In figures, it is perceptible on my skin for about 4 hours, of which only 2-3 form a really noteworthy sillage. The longevity is therefore at the level of an average fresh fragrance. Given the underlying DNA here, I would have liked a little more.
Be that as it may. Due to the great pricing, which the luxury car brand is showing here, over-spraying/refreshing is no drama. Especially as the really very chic and classy-looking black bottle, which simply comes across as solid, mechanical, industrial and masculine, looks so solid that you won't be scared to death even if you take it with you.

I see the fragrance as suitable for all sorts of occasions, apart from a party at the beach bar, where it could come across as a strange buzzkill. From fall to spring, work, leisure, official occasions - go for it. I would also avoid it in summer when the temperatures are really warm. Not because it could be overwhelming, but rather because of the rather matter-of-fact, calm, possibly serious mood it can create.
A fragrance for gentlemen or those who want to become gentlemen, for eloquent men of the world who prefer a stylish fragrance to a very loud one, who want to make a subtle but elegant statement.