Zaharoff's Signature Pour Homme is a very solid and enjoyable fragrance that always gets lost in my collection, not for any technical faults, but for its lack of personality. Subsequent flankers to the line (Royale, Noir and more) have stretched that base in enjoyable ways. That is not what happened here.
In Extrême, George Z & Claude Dir have placed the soul of the original inside a whole new animal. Leather, Smoke, Oud, & Birch growl and resonate against the clean soul (apple , rosemary, cardamom) at its heart. Basil, Sandalwood, & Fir soften this beasts growl and help the whole blend hang together.
On initial spray, the effect is unbalancing but exhilarating. The notes hit, rapid-fire, like a fighter looking for a first round knock-out. But the core gives you stability against which to assess the maelstrom dancing off of you.
It throbs and seethes from your skin for the first 5 minutes, but each pulse opens the darkness a little. By 15 minutes in, the blend enrobes you. Both virgin and reprobate, dark as ink but also gleaming in the light. The light and dark combine into a remarkable entity, intensely unique and unapologetic, surprisingly enjoyable despite the rough launch.
This is a statement fragrance with a strong personality. It creates a close cloud of enticement mixed with a heavy dose of "go f___ yourself". Apologies for the colorful language, but this handsome bastard demands it.
For all of its intensity, it is brilliantly balanced and it has a long story to tell. Sophisticated but rough hewn. If it resonates with you, it will intoxicate you. If not, it may repel.
