Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
03/20/2019
Elysium
817 Reviews
Elysium
2
Just feel like a bad-ass for a day
At the outset, the more I experiment and wear New Brand colognes, the more I am mad keen on this brand. No doubt, Exceed is closely akin to CD Fahrenheit, which made its debut during the late Eighties, the decade defined by great scents with bold personalities that took risks. For instance, think of Davidoff Cool Water, Yves Saint Laurent Kouros, and Chanel Antaeus. For those unfamiliar with this modern classic, unique, and masculine juice, Fahrenheit was packed with floral notes of the less traditional kind (hawthorn, honeysuckle, and a big hit of the violet leaf). The predominant leathery note, I reckon from styrax and musk in the base, perhaps blended with those unusual blossoms, also carried a sign of something abstract, like petroleum products, which is so dirty and addicting. It sounds odd, but it worked, and it is all but alien.
Exceed is the elixir for the Upper Crust only. It combines leathery-woody-floral-musk accords to create a scintillatingly sensual signature fragrance. Be prepared; it opens up with a blast of leather, a kind of like kerosene or gasoline odor, the intoxicating smell of fresh asphalt, a bit stronger than in Fahrenheit original, though, it even features the aggressive use of leather as a top note. Despite the presence of a few citrus fruits like mandarin orange, bergamot, and lemon, the opening is not zesty.
The middle, the second layer consists of nutmeg, honeysuckle, sandalwood, violet, and cedar. To my nose, the most predominant notes are the spicy nutmeg and the sweet-floral honeysuckle, and the violet leaves, of course. Although they linger in the background, sandal and cedar keep the middle stage away from being cloying, too floral or too sweet.
The base notes contain leather and vetiver, giving off those strong, earthy smells. In Exceed's dry-down, dusty cedar, sandalwood, and softened patchouli produce dry and warm aromas that remind me of a place where earth and rocks bake under a summer sun. Hours later, the remnants of this have become a skin scent that skews more traditionally masculine with rooty vetiver and animal musk.
I would say that each stage of this cologne is a pleasure to smell. It's more suitable for the fall and winter seasons, or in the colder months of spring. Because it is an intense, bold fragrance, I wouldn't wear it in the summer seasons, or any unusually warm days. Exceed is perfect for evening wear or a night out where you want to give off that overpowering, masculine smell. It is appropriate for men about 25 years of age or older.
As far as versatility goes, however, I would not rank this cologne high on that scale. It is undoubtedly not a cologne made for casual, everyday wear. The projection is reliable, and you won't have to worry if your cologne is working with this one. I would say it is on the heavier side, giving off those durable leather and violet redolences.
If you aren't a fan of those strong petrol notes, then you won't like this fragrance. I would not recommend this cologne to someone who prefers a lighter, fresher scent. This cologne, likewise Fahrenheit, is a divisive one, people love it or hate it, but it is an iconic men's cologne. If you need to feel like a well-groomed bad-ass for a day, try it!
-Elysium
Exceed is the elixir for the Upper Crust only. It combines leathery-woody-floral-musk accords to create a scintillatingly sensual signature fragrance. Be prepared; it opens up with a blast of leather, a kind of like kerosene or gasoline odor, the intoxicating smell of fresh asphalt, a bit stronger than in Fahrenheit original, though, it even features the aggressive use of leather as a top note. Despite the presence of a few citrus fruits like mandarin orange, bergamot, and lemon, the opening is not zesty.
The middle, the second layer consists of nutmeg, honeysuckle, sandalwood, violet, and cedar. To my nose, the most predominant notes are the spicy nutmeg and the sweet-floral honeysuckle, and the violet leaves, of course. Although they linger in the background, sandal and cedar keep the middle stage away from being cloying, too floral or too sweet.
The base notes contain leather and vetiver, giving off those strong, earthy smells. In Exceed's dry-down, dusty cedar, sandalwood, and softened patchouli produce dry and warm aromas that remind me of a place where earth and rocks bake under a summer sun. Hours later, the remnants of this have become a skin scent that skews more traditionally masculine with rooty vetiver and animal musk.
I would say that each stage of this cologne is a pleasure to smell. It's more suitable for the fall and winter seasons, or in the colder months of spring. Because it is an intense, bold fragrance, I wouldn't wear it in the summer seasons, or any unusually warm days. Exceed is perfect for evening wear or a night out where you want to give off that overpowering, masculine smell. It is appropriate for men about 25 years of age or older.
As far as versatility goes, however, I would not rank this cologne high on that scale. It is undoubtedly not a cologne made for casual, everyday wear. The projection is reliable, and you won't have to worry if your cologne is working with this one. I would say it is on the heavier side, giving off those durable leather and violet redolences.
If you aren't a fan of those strong petrol notes, then you won't like this fragrance. I would not recommend this cologne to someone who prefers a lighter, fresher scent. This cologne, likewise Fahrenheit, is a divisive one, people love it or hate it, but it is an iconic men's cologne. If you need to feel like a well-groomed bad-ass for a day, try it!
-Elysium
Jazzy76
Elysium
