Dior Homme Parfum Dior 2014

Before I dive into the perfume, I have to quickly mention my little luck, because my parents were on vacation in France last week (Provence, lavender fields, etc.) while I was stuck in the lab. And since I always mess around on the internet during incubation times in the lab, I inevitably stumbled upon the Dior Homme perfume hype. So I sent my dad a WhatsApp message right away: "Please check it out and bring it back!" and the next day I got a picture back saying "Got it." That was simple. :)

But now to the perfume. Dior has already released parfum versions for Eau Sauvage and Fahrenheit, and I find both damn solid. Therefore, I was optimistic and was not disappointed. What I find pretty cool is that Dior is also releasing perfumes (real Extrait de Parfums) for men in the "mainstream" segment, even though Extrait de Parfums - at least in the "mainstream" - are considered somewhat typically feminine. I still think that the original Dior Hommes (Dior Homme and Dior Homme Intense) were just a good marketing move, as some people wouldn't consider this scent to be stereotypically masculine, unlike the sea of sporty-fresh Procter & Gamble waters that together shape the mainstream. But if you write "Homme" on it, it just works.

It becomes really clear to me with Dior Homme Parfum.

Unlike how Showdown described it, I would say that I personally recognize more of Dior Homme Intense here than Dior Homme.

The description will be very synesthetic, as Dior Homme Parfum feels like a "darker" version of Dior Homme Intense, less sweet, with more weight on the iris/lipstick accord and wrapped in incense/myrrh and orange, with the orange here feeling very sweet and "warm".

You won't think of freshly squeezed orange juice here, but rather of those dried slices that you put on the heater in winter or that lie around with cinnamon and cloves and smell good.

This element, combining citrus with a heavy, oriental base, reminded me - also in terms of scent - of Guerlain's Shalimar.
In Shalimar, you also find a lot of vanilla, a leather-lipstick accord, and a bit of citrus that takes some of the heaviness off at the beginning.

I would conceptually see Dior Homme Parfum as a hybrid of Shalimar and Dior Homme Intense, with the addition of woods (maybe a synthetic oud base? It’s definitely a wood, but I can't identify which) and something smoky (incense/myrrh?) that takes the whole theme away from the feminine.

Furthermore, I see a similarity to 24 Gold through the combination of "woods" and the "smoky" element, except that this balsamic amber base has been completely kicked out and a sweetened Dior Homme Intense has been used instead.

What I also think I can smell is vetiver. At least after showering, there was still a certain crisp, green note on my skin that I know from Dior Homme, Dior Homme Intense, and also from Chanel's Edition Blanche, which in these three is definitely and unmistakably attributed to vetiver (or more precisely, vetiveryl acetate?). And it’s usually exactly this note that women say, "Yes, hmm, there’s something rugged, masculine in there," and then unfortunately don’t wear it. And as I said, I think I can also smell that in DHP, even though it's not listed in the pyramid (which is anyway just a guideline).

In terms of performance, Dior Homme Parfum is extremely long-lasting, but in terms of projection, it's only moderate yet pleasant, perfect for chilling with some gem in bed/on the couch and watching a movie, possibly a bit too subdued for the club. But very long-lasting, as I said, I can still smell parts of it after showering.
Maybe I could just be mistaken and actually smoke out everyone else in the office, I will find out and possibly add to that. At some point when it really is autumn/winter.

Thus, DHP contains something new and something old, but the quality is very good. I have paid almost no retail price for any fragrance in my collection if it can be avoided (something like Nasomatto, for example, will never be found cheaper), but I find all the Dior Hommes so good that I would willingly pay more. That would have the bonus that even fewer people would wear it. :D

But my expectations for a solid fragrance were met, so I am happy with it (besides, my parents got the thing for me at the Dior counter in Printemps Marseille, I found the item on my desk in full Dior presentation, i.e., gift wrapping, bag, and samples). It’s just marketing, but I did have a brief feeling of having received a piece of prestige as a vacation souvenir.

Oh, and women: Please try it out! It will work wonderfully on you, for sure!