Icon Absolute Dunhill 2015

Well, with an Icon, there’s really nothing great to change or improve. It was and still is one of the best (high-end, price-wise) mainstream fragrances with excellent longevity. All the more was I surprised that there would be an Absolute version, which is now available. Without any special expectations or ideas, I signed up for the sharing and tested the fragrance.
One thing right off the bat, Icon Absolute has nothing in common with its predecessor for me. It is a completely different and independent fragrance (within the Dunhill line). Within the vast and wide fragrance world, it is not so unique, as the first comparison hits you right in the face...Oud Wood...and quite clearly. While Tom Ford's handsome fragrance consists specifically in the top note of delicious and sweet cardamom, here it’s more of a mix of oud, leather, and tobacco...at least that’s my suspicion. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a twin, but it’s closer than Versace's Oud Noir, and a bit further away than FFM 35. It’s certainly well made, smells valuable...but for someone who would love to douse themselves in Oud Wood by the liter, this doesn’t really knock you off your feet.
Moreover, there’s occasionally a musty note that appears, best described as reminiscent of old socks...that’s very unpleasant. In its defense, I must note that this note comes and goes and comes back again.
I often equate Absolute with being intense or longer-lasting...this principle does not apply here, as its endurance has decreased quite a bit compared to its predecessor. For those who detect the musty note, it’s a blessing...for everyone else, more of a curse. I also rate the sillage as a whole notch lower.
All in all, a fragrance that several brands now have in their lineup, it seems to be the curse of Tom Ford fragrances that they are often and willingly copied; I mainly think of Tuscan Leather and Tobacco Vanille. From the perspective of the regular Icon, it’s a moderate disappointment when considering where Dunhill has come from in recent years, a great fragrance. When viewed from the perspective of innovative perfumery art...a lackluster copy combined with a lot of unoriginality.