Layton Parfums de Marly 2016

I've only just decided to write a review of this particular scent and it's because I sold my Layton today. The parting was not easy for me, but I have survived more difficult farewells and life will go on without Layton.

Layton was my first "niche" fragrance and also the first fragrance I spent so much money on. I thought it would stay in my collection forever. Today I had to find out once again, wrong thought... Although I first Herod and later also Percival inspired, I have struck first with Layton. I have to admit that I was influenced by all the praises on Parfumo and Youtube and just had to have this fragrance. It was not a blind purchase, because I have tested the fragrance first in a perfumery and then also got me 2 original samples to convince me of its quality and uniqueness.

In the beginning, I went with Layton very sparingly, even though I owned the 125 ml bottle. It was so unique to me that I only wore it on special occasions. In the beginning, I already thought that the fragrance is so great that it will rain compliments and I will surely be asked about my fragrance often. Well, wrong again. In the past two years, I haven't been asked about Layton once and there haven't been any compliments either. Strange, isn't it? With Valentino Uomo Intense or D&G Light Blue Intense, it's quite different and there are always compliments and inquiries. The compliments are also not so important to me, but after so many praises I found it very strange.

Layton opens very fruity, but also mentholated and then becomes slightly woody and very sweet later on. Layton has for me a very nice DNA, however, it is very monotonously sweet and you smell only a few individual fragrance components out. The most distinct I smell is a very nice vanilla in the drydown and otherwise it's the apple in the opening, the lavender and probably guaiac wood. I don't smell any other fragrances out here. Layton to me is like a sweet fruit basket doused with lots of nice vanilla. I realized over time that it's just too sweet for me and for that reason, its adult brother Layton Exclusif will probably replace it in my collection.

The second reason Layton had to go is called Détour Noir by Al Haramain. Through this fragrance I started to doubt the quality of Parfums de Marly and I couldn't explain how it is possible to make such a similar clone for so little money. I immediately sold my Detour Noir because I'm not a big fan of dupes, but it left a bitter aftertaste and I started thinking about the quality of Layton and the price. If I hadn't tried Detour Noir, Layton would still be in my collection. So they both had to go and I will probably only give Layton Exclusif another chance.

I will also not change my rating here, because Layton will always be special to me and this fragrance DNA is really very nice, but I will not wear it again.

Thanks for reading and a nice weekend to all!