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Elysium
Helpful Review
4
A British Sophisticated Gentlemen's Cologne
Having purchased an increasing number of Dunhill fragrances, Icon the most recent, I was looking forward to adding a favourite from my collection. What attracted me to this perfume? Well, Intimately Beckham has been tempting me for a while now, and several reviews compared the similitude to Dunhill Pursuit. Since the notes in common are very few, I wanted to blind buy them both to try this hypothetical similarity on my skin and write my honest thoughts without prejudice of both. I was very impressed when I first tried it, so I couldn't wait to write the review!
The horizontally developed minimalist bottle and heavy metal cap with an engraved orange compass are eye-catching for starters. It fits well with the Dunhill design, with its sleek profile. Also, the orange juice inside is beautiful to look at. As the nose behind this cologne is Michel Gerard - perhaps you know him for the most popular 1 Million by Paco Rabanne and other creations - my curiosity increases.
In the opening's blast citrus accord, I catch a pronounced note of sparkly yuzu, a zesty fruit that I got aware of thanks to Trussardi Light for Him, and a delightful mandarine orange. Immediately I get a kind of resinous amber along with woods and slightly smoky incense. A sweet and sour aroma is all I get from the introductory stage.
The initial harsh accord wears off relatively quickly; the booziness evaporates and leaves the seat to a more intense lavender, which is very popular in English or British colognes. Interesting is how lavender blends with cinnamon and amber accord, the latter rounds of the sharper edges of the aromatic herbs. There is a bite of cardamom, yet it does not dominate the heart. Meanwhile, a dry and musky note of ambrette seeds reveals itself from the spicy and oily bouquet. The savoury spiciness of the heart is a pleasure for whom it may wear and smell it. It is a very aromatic scent, and not your typical spices. I pick up all the base notes here, notably the cedarwood.
Pursuit dries down to a lovely mellow scent with a smoky vibe; I get an interesting unmentioned incense accord, which is practically present in the background through the fragrance's entire life. Perhaps that smokiness is oozing from the blend of blond woods, sandal and cedar, the refined patchouli, and the earthy vetiver. With that amber and woods accords, it makes it smooth and honeyed, yet not cloying.
November just began; I know in this season I prefer woody, leathery, and oriental fragrances as they are very masculine and react well with chilly and misty days. You can smell the incense, amber, and musk vibe in this fragrance, which gives the scent that extra secrecy. This fragrance is a must for any men's collection and is perfect to wear on a night out as it has excellent staying power because of the notes of dark notes. Notwithstanding, it wears well for the office because it is not intrusive at all. Very classy, mature, I'd say, for a 30-50 aged man. In terms of sillage, Pursuit is rather fleeting and leaves only a limited trace. While projection is slightly more effective, it is still short-lived, just like longevity. Luckily, this one's longevity is better than its younger brother Custom, which does not last on my skin. On par with Dolce & Gabbana's The One, Pursuit is a classic autumn fragrance that also works well during winter. Thanks to its smokey and oily properties, it reflects the season well and reassures both the wearer and his entourage. It merits more recognition as it's a fragrance that's not just overlooked but largely forgotten. I'd say if you can find this one for the right price and can wait around to the middle and base notes, you may find this fragrance enjoyable to some degree.
This review bases upon a 100ml (3.4 fl. oz) bottle I own since October 2020.
-Elysium
Top Notes 
Yuzu
Mandarin orange
Bergamot
Heart Notes 
Spike lavender
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Ambrette seed
Pink pepper
Base Notes 
Sandalwood
Vetiver
White cedarwood
Vanilla
Patchouli
Elysium
