CH Men Privé Carolina Herrera 2015

... I get a compliment“

Short disclaimer, if you want to go straight to the fragrance description, please scroll down a bit:

With everything you read and see, you should always keep in mind that perfumes, like all other things, are a matter of taste.
Just because person x gives their opinion,
no matter how renowned they are or how many thumbs up, trophies, reviews, or (un)helpful ratings
there are for that opinion,
you should always take matters into your own hands.
You can read up on knowledge and experiences, but then:

Test it yourself in the field, on your own skin, with your own nose, ask yourself the question “Does the scent suit me or what I want to embody” and then form your own opinion based on the overall picture that emerges.

Don’t just buy because someone on the internet said that one person and their 79 likes find this scent amazing.
For example, I found many things that Jeremy recommended fantastic, others trivial, and some horrendous.
In the end, I sold many things I ordered semi-blind.
Beware of blind purchases.
Now, onto the fragrance.

With the title, Jeremy is right, at least in his and my world.

Prive starts with sweet cardamom, which is balanced by bitter grapefruit.
No cotton candy vibes; the bitter sweetness gets a seductive, naughty touch from whiskey and (subtle) leather in the heart, instantly reminding one of bar evenings in an Irish pub. The cardamom remains present, and for about 2 hours, an absolutely alluring scent lingers in the air around the wearer, which, when applied to the neck, brings a compliment with almost every hug.*
In the drydown, woods and tonka bean join in, providing a gentle conclusion.

The strength of the fragrance lies, in any case, in the top and heart notes.

On long evenings or for dancing, the fragrance may need to be reapplied, as it is only perceptible close to the skin after a maximum of 4 hours. The sillage decreases quickly after the first two hours.
*Of course, it depends on the setting in which the fragrance is worn!
Atmosphere:
It smells of sweet alcohol, tobacco haze, leather jackets, and bad decisions. Irish pub, bar tour, or clubbing.
Privé is purely a going-out fragrance and is significantly better received in cooler temperatures above 15C. In the height of summer, I would choose something else.
It’s also good for a date, although personally, I would still opt for something less sweet, as whiskey and cardamom in combination can be quite forward, creating a very attractive but also challenging combination. As mentioned, it’s more suitable for partying.

One final small comparison:
Privé often has to compete in lists of the “Best Date Scents.” Here, The One and LNDLH should be mentioned.
While The One comes across as too sweet for me, almost childish, LNDLH is too powdery/heavy for my taste.
Privé strikes a balance between the two and, because it’s mostly available online, is also something you won’t smell very often - anyway not, because the sillage is not room-filling.

Absolute test recommendation! Tip: Give the fragrance some time and wear it a few times before you judge. I also needed several tries before I learned to love it.
Looking forward to the exchange, have a good time, cya