ScentExplorer
05/24/2025 - 05:23 AM
16
Very helpful Review
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8
Pricing
8
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
8.5
Scent

Castley - When fragrance becomes the crowning glory of the day

It's the year 2025 - and even though spring has got off to a slow start this year, a glance at the calendar tells me that the hot days are not far off! Vacation plans have long since been made, and you want to smell fresh and clean after a day at the beach on the Costa Brava.

Two months ago, I spread the good news here in the forum that PdM would soon be launching a new fragrance called Castley. Further research revealed that this could well be a freshie.

Here on Parfumo, opinions on the PdM fragrances are often divided into 2 areas. Some are of the opinion that PdM can't do good freshies and should stick to fragrances for the colder months. After all, Carlisle, Oajan and Herod have made the house what it is today! And then there are the others, including myself, who also appreciate their spring/summer creations and find them really cool.

A glance at the fragrance pyramid of Castley suggested to me that it could be a great replacement for my too heavy Bois Impérial Eau de Parfum. And since it had been too overpowering for me for some time, I decided to replace it with the new Castley. Brief spoiler alert...my plan worked!

Thanks to a lucky circumstance, I was able to call a few 5ml bottlings my own many weeks before the official release. Greetings go out to this dear Parfumo !

I had quickly emptied my first 5ml filling - and just as quickly it was clear to me that this freshie could also move in with me. In the meantime, it has taken its place in my fragrance wardrobe, and as I write these lines, it is lying gently on my skin! Just this morning, on a cool 10° Saturday morning, he was allowed to accompany me on my weekly shopping trip. But first things first...

Parfums de Marly is a French perfume house that saw the light of day in 2009. The noble perfumes of this niche brand are based on the era of Louis XV and are intended to tell of his passion for furious horse racing and extravagant fragrances. The sophisticated fragrance creations are intense, rich and multi-layered. Visually, the fragrances are presented in lavishly decorated bottles featuring images of racy horses.

Parfums de Marly aims to revive the memories of pompous festivities that entertained the royal court at the Château de Marly. The name of the noble brand is derived from this very manor house and pays homage to the bygone era in which Louis XV lived.

Well then - here it is in front of me! This transparent, gray bottle. The color could not be more appropriate for this fresh, slightly metallic fragrance. The design runs like a red thread through the "Masculine Signature Collection". It is timeless - and elegant at the same time!
Let's move on to the first impression: the aforementioned glass flacon can be seen as soon as the fragrance is removed from the traditionally simple but harmonious outer packaging. The simple design and the horses and logo cast into the glass make an impression and are extremely appealing. The lid is manufactured to the usual high quality, is solid and weighs a lot! As with all PdM fragrances, the sprayer is absolutely top-notch and distributes the fresh water excellently.

Castley is a great fragrance! One that is not only great to wear in the warmer months. Rather, it is an everyday fragrance that masters almost every situation and is suitable for every conceivable occasion. And that all year round. Immediately after spraying it on, this very fresh, spicy-metallic fragrance spreads. A peppery ginger-bergamot blend meets agikala. I immediately notice clear parallels to Bois Impérial Eau de Parfum. However, it is not nearly as overwhelming and much softer. This right dosage of agikalawood, as I perceive it, gives this fragrance its recognizable note. Please don't get me wrong. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, it's not innovative and you won't smell any fundamentally new fragrance DNA. But the way in which the individual fragrance components are interwoven is what makes this fragrance so special. It's a great wearable mix of Sedley and Bois Imperial!

After this sparkling, metallic opening, the finest neroli and petitgrain accords are added as the fragrance progresses. The peppery spice remains well dosed at the start and accompanies us for quite a while. Woody support is added later in the drydown. The labdanum gives the whole thing a touch of ambience, while the benzoin adds additional balsamic notes.

The fragrance does not undergo any major changes and is relatively linear in its entirety. It's a mix between Bois Imperial & Sedley and I don't mean that in a negative way - on the contrary, I really like what I smell. In my opinion, it has what it takes to become a signature fragrance. It's a fragrance that will definitely go down well out there. If you like more experimental fragrances, you should try this one first. If you are looking for a crowdpleaser with a charming bolt of character, you can buy it without hesitation.

Anyone who loves the fragrance DNA of a Bois Impérial Eau de Parfum but finds it too penetrating in the long run will find a more than worthy replacement in Castley. Because it is much more wearable and a lot more pleasant for those around you!

Whether the high price is justified is ultimately for everyone to decide for themselves. In any case, it is not cheap. And the expectations of the end consumer are probably in line with the price. Many will say that it is simply too expensive for what you get. For me, however, this fragrance almost has signature quality. Precisely because it smells so high-quality and is a blatant all-rounder.

In terms of longevity, Castley does not disappoint, because the H/S is good to very good for a fresh fragrance of its kind. It lasts 6-8 hours on my skin. That's all I need for a fresh fragrance of its kind. How it lasts in really hot temperatures and whether it will even find its application at over 30°C I can't say at the moment. However, I will report back here at a later date.

In my opinion, Castley has a moderate projection, which means that the fragrance can be perceived very well for many hours in a reasonable radius. It is definitely not a room filler like Bois Impérial Eau de Parfum - and that's a good thing! Due to its Sedley vibes and the associated feeling of freshness, it is guaranteed not to offend those around you. Quite the opposite!

Conclusion: Both thumbs up! The Castley convinced me and has found a permanent place in my collection. You can at least try out this niche fragrance to form your own opinion and not be put off by the price.
2 Comments
MrSerious96MrSerious96 1 month ago
First of all, great review!
Sounds just like what I'm looking for in a fresh fragrance!
I absolutely love both Bois Imperial and Sedley and I do hold PDM in high regard despite the heavy criticism that the house gets from certain people. I associate PDM with high quality, long lastnig and sophisticated fragrances that are a joy to wear and smell eventhough they might not be ''groundbreaking''. One must keep in mind that most people care about smelling good and enjoying their fragrance and don't need extreme olfactory experiences in order to rate a fragrance.
I will definetly give it a try.
I do have one question though, does it have the signature PDM musk accord that ancores the fragrance to the skin and rounds it off with a smooth finish?
This is something that can make or break a fresh fragrance in my opinion so I would really like to hear your thoughts on that.
ScentExplorerScentExplorer 1 month ago
1
Vielen Dank für deine Zeilen. Freut mich das dir meine Rezension gefällt. Zu deiner Frage kann ich folgendes schreiben....
Moschus ist im Castley gar nicht gelistet. Im Sedley hingegen sehr wohl. Moschus riecht überwiegend warm, subtil und komplex, mit einem Mischung aus pudrigen, süßen, holzigen und erdigen Aromen. Diese Akkorde habe ich im späten Duftverlauf dezent wahrgenommen. Ich nehme den Duft im Ausklang aber eher ambriert und balsamisch und weniger pudrig wahr.