Opera

II-II Mandala 2017

II-II Mandala by Masque
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7.6 / 10 157 Ratings
A popular perfume by Masque for women and men, released in 2017. The scent is spicy-resinous. The longevity is above-average. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Spicy
Resinous
Smoky
Woody
Green

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
FrankincenseFrankincense AngelicaAngelica NutmegNutmeg
Heart Notes Heart Notes
FrankincenseFrankincense CardamomCardamom CistusCistus CedarCedar CinnamonCinnamon CloveClove
Base Notes Base Notes
AmbergrisAmbergris MyrrhMyrrh SandalwoodSandalwood OakmossOakmoss

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
7.6157 Ratings
Longevity
8.1134 Ratings
Sillage
7.5133 Ratings
Bottle
8.4122 Ratings
Value for money
6.762 Ratings
Submitted by Michael, last update on 05/06/2025.
Interesting Facts
The fragrance is part of the "Opera" collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Contre Bombarde 32 by Filippo Sorcinelli
Contre Bombarde 32
Dhofar by Xerjoff
Dhofar
Arabie by Serge Lutens
Arabie
28 Peau d'Ambre by Pierre Guillaume
28 Peau d'Ambre
Amber Star by Xerjoff
Amber Star
French Lover / Bois d'Orage by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle
French Lover

Reviews

3 in-depth fragrance descriptions
7
Pricing
8
Bottle
9
Sillage
10
Longevity
9
Scent
Thewaterlog

26 Reviews
Thewaterlog
Thewaterlog
1  
Handsome
I first encountered Mandala at Perfumology, introduced to me very straightforwardly as a "challenging" scent. At the time, I was fairly new to the fragrance world, and it struck me as MESMERIZING, perhaps because I hadn't had much exposure to incense-y scents at the time. Nevertheless, Mandala captivated me.

I don't get the stoic, meditative experience the brand insists upon. For me, this one is assertive (some might say screechy) but not aggressive (thanks cardamom), refined, and quite classically masculine. That last part makes it really fun to wear in a gender-bendy kind of way when I want to feel extra hunky.
0 Comments
7
Pricing
10
Bottle
7
Sillage
7
Longevity
7
Scent
Raluko111

346 Reviews
Raluko111
Raluko111
1  
Lutens' Dent du Lait + Japanese Temple vibes.
The first time I sampled Mandala it seemed familiar because it smelled like old Kyoto temples. I could sense the incense infused tatami mats and cedar columns. In the background it was almost as if you could hear the mantra being chanted by grey-robed monks and the gongs signifying the end of prayers.

And then something odd happens that takes me completely by surprise: it becomes Dent de Lait from Lutens. Although aside from the incense the pyramid of notes doesn't seem to have anything in common, I feel the same coin pressing on my tongue, the same bloodied, freshly bitten inner cheek.

I got Dent de Lait in February as a blind buy, or rather a desperate buy. The airport in my city was recently rennovated and Shiseido opened a counter with Lutens perfumes. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, they were mostly sold out and I had to snatch one from the hands of a tourist who was buying them by the dozen.  Dent de lait is not the best Lutens, but beggars can't be choosers. It's not easy to find Lutens perfumes where I live.

Getting back to Mandala, while it is a very interesting perfume, I won't be purchasing it because I already have Dent de Lait and in that one the Heliotrope brings a freshness that doesn't make me feel as if I am attending meditation sessions at the temple.
Prima dată când am purtat Mandala am spus, "Ah, pe ăsta-l știu!" Pentru că miroase fix ca un templu vechi din Kyoto. Simt fumul de tămâie îmbibat in preșurile de pai tatami și în stâlpii de lemn de cedru. Pe fundal se aude mantra cântată de preoți, "Na myoho renghe kyo" și gongul semnificând sfârșitul rugăciunilor.

Și apoi se întâmplă ceva ciudat care mă ia complet prin surprindere: devine Dent de Lait de la Serge Lutens. Deși în afară de tămâie nu par să aibă nimic in comun, eu simt aceeași monedă pe limbă, același gust metalic, ascuțit, un pic de buză sângerată, un pic lactonică. Nu știu dacă face sens ce vreau să spun, dar cum zic Americanii, "You had to be there" ca să înțelegi ce bine se aseamănă aceste două parfumuri.

Am achiziționat Dent de Lait în Februarie, blind buy, sau mai bine zis un desperate buy. Unde locuiesc, parfumurile Lutens se găsesc foarte greu, dar după renovarea aeroportului din orașul meu Shiseido a deschis un counter cu parfumurile lor. Din păcate, pană când am ajuns eu acolo aproape toate erau sold out și abia am reușit să-l smulg pe ultimul din strânsoarea unui turist chinez care le cumpăra fără discriminare cu duzina. Nu e cel mai reușit Lutens, dar tot cum spun Americanii, beggars can't be choosers. In fine, Mandala e interesant, dar nu l-aș cumpăra pentru că deja am Dent de Lait și în acela heliotropul conferă o prospețime care nu mă face să mă simt ca și cum sunt la ora de meditație la templu.
0 Comments
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
7.5
Scent
Minigolf

540 Reviews
Translated Show original Show translation
Minigolf
Minigolf
11  
Fresh hay from the herb meadow
The smell of fresh hay is simply wonderful. And if it also comes from a herb meadow, you also have the diverse abundance of all the green and flowering fragrance dispensers growing there in your "luggage". Harvested in the morning shortly after sunrise, dried in the sun of the day, it has now developed its unique aroma, which can vary from meadow section to meadow section.
Minty chords with which the fragrance appears fresh are supported by grassy and some "austere" aromas. If you then smell yourself deep into it, you will also notice very bitter-earthy scents, also slightly bitter camphor-like undertones.
What makes the fragrance of "Mandala" so special is its long shelf life and its ability to change, which all elements, from cheerful - bright over herbaceous - bitter and spicy - dark up to earthy - grassy and almost medical - balsamic... etc...considered. There's not a minute of boredom coming up.
It is as if one were lying in the middle of such a freshly mown herb meadow, watching the train of clouds and getting the course of the day of a fragrance with awake senses olfactorically "kredenzt".
Also for my nose "Mandala" needs getting used to, because a perfume, which was created exclusively from spices, herbs and resins/woods, I had not yet smelled in the form.
2 Comments

Statements

6 short views on the fragrance
ItchynoseItchynose 6 years ago
8
Scent
A sweet and spicy cola-resin combo with smoky incense, green hay and bright ambergris. Strange, magical, wonderful. Tauer on LSD.
0 Comments
PedroCabralPedroCabral 10 months ago
9
Bottle
8
Sillage
9
Longevity
8
Scent
A great fragrance, definitely masculine, highlighting an experienced, rich, educated man. A lovely scent of ambergris and incense.
0 Comments
HolscentbarHolscentbar 1 year ago
7.5
Scent
resins and light smoky background. At times something bright but also dark
0 Comments
NicheOnlyNicheOnly 2 years ago
7
Bottle
6
Sillage
8
Longevity
6.5
Scent
Opens cinnamon/cardamom/spice pantry. Up-close a herbal, green tone flanks the spices. Mild resemblance to Lineage. Difficult to wear imo.
0 Comments
TaddyTaddy 2 years ago
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
7
Scent
Not sure which I dislike more: the heavy pseudo peppery woody musky ambergris note a.k.a. ambroxan, or the unpleasant long-lasting sourness.
0 Comments
SaturnalisSaturnalis 4 months ago
7
Bottle
6
Sillage
7
Longevity
7.5
Scent
spicy cinnamon, cardamom and frankincense. slightly herbal and green, peaceful cola. amber and cedar apparent throughout. i like it.
0 Comments
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