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Top Review
Oud for Half-Greatness
When the original "Oud for Greatness | Initio" came onto the market, I wasn't even born yet (here on Parfumo). I only had the chance to smell it last year at the Wigger perfumery in Dortmund. When I first sprayed it, I was completely taken aback, but I took the scent strip home with me. On the way, I kept sniffing it. By the time I got home, I was already in love, so I immediately bought the "Oud for Greatness | Initio" here.
The original "Oud for Greatness | Initio" is pure greatness. I won't say much about it here, as many of you know it (and probably like it - I definitely do). I associate it with a young, mid-20s version of myself, full of energy, a "me" that always wants to party, always wants to be in the spotlight. For me, the original has the same energy as, for example, Ombre Nomades.
Between the original and the Neo, six years passed quickly - the "me" got a bit older, calmer. I work and like to look for an everyday scent, perhaps a signature scent, one that isn't too loud (disturbing), but still has that "quelque chose." This is where the Oud for Greatness Neo comes into play. Not every flanker is as good as the original. And here it’s about the same. The magic is about half gone. The beautiful musky opening is gone. Wasn't that what made the "Oud for Greatness | Initio" so special? Instead, at the beginning, there's a citrus note, here referred to as bergamot, paired with a masculine lavender. I can smell the lavender for the next 2-3 hours, in the background with an oud. In the middle, I smell a saffron, but not a strong one like in BR540, rather shy, well blended among the other notes. The whole combination is extremely masculine, well balanced between fresh and sweet. Very elegant, serious, I dare say even sexy.
Later, I smell a warm musk and the fir balsam.
If I were to organize the scent notes, it would be like this: Top notes: bergamot, lavender; Heart notes: lavender, saffron, oud; Base notes: fir balsam, musk.
Performance, the eternal comparison to the original.
The sweet, spicy, gourmand notes always become stronger than the fresh notes. It's the same here, which causes the Oud for Greatness Neo to lose from the start. The lavender-saffron-oud combo feels a bit weaker than the musk-saffron-oud. And I noticed it in the sillage. Good at the beginning, but not as loud anymore, it fades quite quickly. The longevity is there, comparable to the original. On my skin, it is still noticeable for hours after spraying.
(Helpful info: the initial "Oud for Greatness | Initio" had an alcohol content of 77%, nowadays it is marketed with 80%. The new Oud for Greatness Neo has 78% alcohol content.)
The Oud for Greatness Neo tries, in my opinion, to be all-season. While I would wear the original more in the evenings, when going out or on colder days, I can also imagine the Neo on warmer days as well as at work. I find it ideal for the office. It could even become a signature scent.
I am totally in love with the original. I rated it a solid 9. I would give the Neo an 8. The longevity is comparable for both, perhaps 0.5 points less for the Neo. Sillage is also 1 point less for the Neo.
Price/performance - buy/not buy, yes/no/maybe.
Here, I would give the Neo a 7. Good scent, but I can't justify the price.
It currently costs €315. The original can be found for about €200. Given the performance delivered, I personally wouldn't buy it (yet). Maybe at half the price.
Here’s a parenthesis about the P/L:
Many fragrances are rated 10 and 9 for scent-longevity-sillage, but then receive a 6 or 7 for the P/L ratio. I find that unfair. If I find a scent rated 9 to 10 that is really very good, lasts long, and projects strongly, then the price is completely worth it for me. Even if it costs €2-3-, even €400.
Thank you for your patience! It would be nice to read more opinions about the new Oud for Greatness Neo here.
Best, Segel
The original "Oud for Greatness | Initio" is pure greatness. I won't say much about it here, as many of you know it (and probably like it - I definitely do). I associate it with a young, mid-20s version of myself, full of energy, a "me" that always wants to party, always wants to be in the spotlight. For me, the original has the same energy as, for example, Ombre Nomades.
Between the original and the Neo, six years passed quickly - the "me" got a bit older, calmer. I work and like to look for an everyday scent, perhaps a signature scent, one that isn't too loud (disturbing), but still has that "quelque chose." This is where the Oud for Greatness Neo comes into play. Not every flanker is as good as the original. And here it’s about the same. The magic is about half gone. The beautiful musky opening is gone. Wasn't that what made the "Oud for Greatness | Initio" so special? Instead, at the beginning, there's a citrus note, here referred to as bergamot, paired with a masculine lavender. I can smell the lavender for the next 2-3 hours, in the background with an oud. In the middle, I smell a saffron, but not a strong one like in BR540, rather shy, well blended among the other notes. The whole combination is extremely masculine, well balanced between fresh and sweet. Very elegant, serious, I dare say even sexy.
Later, I smell a warm musk and the fir balsam.
If I were to organize the scent notes, it would be like this: Top notes: bergamot, lavender; Heart notes: lavender, saffron, oud; Base notes: fir balsam, musk.
Performance, the eternal comparison to the original.
The sweet, spicy, gourmand notes always become stronger than the fresh notes. It's the same here, which causes the Oud for Greatness Neo to lose from the start. The lavender-saffron-oud combo feels a bit weaker than the musk-saffron-oud. And I noticed it in the sillage. Good at the beginning, but not as loud anymore, it fades quite quickly. The longevity is there, comparable to the original. On my skin, it is still noticeable for hours after spraying.
(Helpful info: the initial "Oud for Greatness | Initio" had an alcohol content of 77%, nowadays it is marketed with 80%. The new Oud for Greatness Neo has 78% alcohol content.)
The Oud for Greatness Neo tries, in my opinion, to be all-season. While I would wear the original more in the evenings, when going out or on colder days, I can also imagine the Neo on warmer days as well as at work. I find it ideal for the office. It could even become a signature scent.
I am totally in love with the original. I rated it a solid 9. I would give the Neo an 8. The longevity is comparable for both, perhaps 0.5 points less for the Neo. Sillage is also 1 point less for the Neo.
Price/performance - buy/not buy, yes/no/maybe.
Here, I would give the Neo a 7. Good scent, but I can't justify the price.
It currently costs €315. The original can be found for about €200. Given the performance delivered, I personally wouldn't buy it (yet). Maybe at half the price.
Here’s a parenthesis about the P/L:
Many fragrances are rated 10 and 9 for scent-longevity-sillage, but then receive a 6 or 7 for the P/L ratio. I find that unfair. If I find a scent rated 9 to 10 that is really very good, lasts long, and projects strongly, then the price is completely worth it for me. Even if it costs €2-3-, even €400.
Thank you for your patience! It would be nice to read more opinions about the new Oud for Greatness Neo here.
Best, Segel
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