The Race 2.0 for Him Carlo Colucci 2024

... at a drugstore I trust, I stumbled, as could be expected, into the fragrance section. I looked at the selection and my eagle eye spotted the flacons from Carlo Colucci. I liked them. So, I grabbed the scent sticks and sprayed a bit. UPS, he and his brother have something going on, and that piqued my curiosity. Without much thought, each flacon under € 30.00 and then an additional 10% discount, OK, you’re coming with me, no objections. Just the packaging and the flacon caught my attention, as they stand out for a drugstore fragrance.

Upon applying this scent, the first thing that hits the nose is a warm, slightly spicy pepper scent that is briefly played with by something fresh, before the iris makes its presence known with its powdery accent. In the background, something floral and resinous dances a little waltz, disappearing into a dark, smoky cloud. The pepper and the powdery notes are not pushed aside but rather unite with it. In the end, the woods also want to assert their influence. This scent thus acquires a strong masculine accord.

The longevity and sillage are good.

Here we have a masculine men’s fragrance that is slightly playful but still too mature to really be for teenagers, rather for guys with a decent beard growth; a bit of hair on the chest doesn’t hurt either. I can’t really imagine it on anyone younger. For the ladies, it is simply too masculine in my nose. It is an all-rounder that works well except on the hottest days. It can easily be classified as a mainstream scent that is just as suitable for daytime at university, in the office, while dining or shopping, as it is for an evening at a party, in a bar, in a club, or even on a date.

Anyone who enjoys a warm, spicy, masculine, powdery, floral, resinous pepper scent with dark smoky accords will find a good deal here for a small price, and for a drugstore fragrance that is not really commonplace.

Starts off somewhat fresh, but not like an aquatic, and the iris is immediately noticeable. Iris is also dominant on my clothing, less so on the skin. The whole thing is underscored by woods and incense, which increases or comes more into play as the freshness fades. It's not an extreme incense bomb, rather a pleasant mix of everything. Initially, there is still a synthetic note present, but that diminishes over time, and I wouldn't classify it as critical. Generally, the scent is rather lightly spicy/powdery, and I would categorize it as an everyday scent or office scent that suits any season except possibly summer or sports. It also works well for dinner, etc., without being too loud or too much of a disturbance. For €25 on sale, it's a no-brainer and clearly one of the best "drugstore scents" at the moment. However, it’s not overly complex or extremely unique, rather mainstream, but still smells more regal than shabby. Everything has a subtle, restrained sweetness. Those looking for the next extraordinary niche banger will not find it here. If you're looking for an office or transitional scent for autumn and cooler spring, one that you can also wear in a waiting room or bus, and for a modest price, you should definitely give this a try. A comparison is not easy for me, somewhere between Gentleman Givenchy Réserve Privée and "Shiyaaka Silver / شياكة | Khadlaj / خدلج" / Reflection Man, without being extremely close to any of the scents. More of a slightly creamy, lightly powdery gentleman's scent with a bit of spice, especially pepper.
I like it a lot, especially in this price range.

The bottle has a certain rough-around-the-edges vibe with (a bit of) money flair.
I kind of like it somehow.

The scent smells very strongly of incense to me. Quite church-like.
I also really like that somehow!

The opening is a bit piercing. (I notice this with almost all drugstore fragrances and many designers, so it might be on me)

Additionally, it is soapy, and later a bit of wood comes through.

After 4 hours on the skin, it's hardly noticeable anymore.

Conclusion: I don’t want to like it, but it has captivated me... somehow.

You can pick it up for €40 at Müller.