ActaNonVerba

I discovered this fragrance last spring. I was looking for a fragrance for the summer. I wanted it to be citrusy and fresh. When "Dior Homme Sport (2021) | Dior" was recommended to me in the store, I initially rejected it. I knew the Intense. The make-up box with lots of powder. Terrible. Final enemy. But I tested the Sport and was convinced.

After spraying immediately in the center citric. Bergamot is what I notice most. A slight woodiness is also noticeable. As it progresses, a pleasant resinous note joins in. Resinous citrus wood. And it stays that way until the end. What is impressive here is that the citrus does not simply disappear. It remains until the end. I do not perceive any aquatics. The performance is hammering for a citrusy fresh fragrance. It is perceptible for around eight to ten hours.

Basically suitable for all situations and occasions. Absolutely suitable for the office. More for summer and the warmer months. Although it also works well in cold weather thanks to its woody character.

Dior has really achieved a great success here. I like it very much. I will wear it again often.

The 90s were an era of monumental change. Politically and socially. There was a real sense of relief in the world at the time. The Cold War was over. It was easier to get through the day than in the 80s. These were probably more subliminally melancholy. The 90s were much more upbeat and lighter.

This was also noticeable in the fragrances of the time. The wind of change was blowing fiercely. Issey Miyake brought this out before Armani's blockbuster. The Aquatics were born.

This one opens citrusy, full blast. I don't know yuzu, but citrusy, fresh. Slightly bitter and very tart. Not sweet at all. No creamy base. It remains edgy here. The aquatics are present just enough for me to like them. Too much would spoil this one for me. It then becomes slightly floral in the middle section. But still rather citrusy and woody.
In the base, the citrus gives way to wood and vetiver.
It ends with a pithy finish.

The performance is great. It easily lasts 10 hours a day. Impressive for such a citrus water.

I really like it in summer. It will be worn often.

I actually can't stand aquatics. This one has just the right balance of aquatic, citric and woody. Great implementation.

The wind of change has struck here. Fresh, tart, bitter, citric.... A great summer fragrance for any occasion.

Lined up according to the different bottle sizes, 1881 can be found in almost every drugstore in Germany. Pretty frosted glass bottles. With the four numbers on the front. I often walked past it and occasionally sprayed it. At some point I took it with me.

In the opening, you first notice the citrusy note of bergamot. Surrounded by woody fruitiness. Then it continues slightly floral. The citrus remains. Beautifully composed and coordinated.
Later, it becomes green and mossy and a touch more woody. Something creamy blends into the progression.

The whole thing is not really long-lasting. But you do get half a working day out of it. The fragrance is never really loud. Restrained. Completely suitable for everyday and office use. Reminiscent of Italian colognes.

This is another impressive example of how great fragrances don't always have to cost a fortune. What you get here for a few euros is simply magnificent.

A truly beautiful summer freshness in the best Italian style.

I think it's great.

I have another blind purchase in front of me. One that surprised and convinced me again.

Right at the beginning there is a powerful citrus wave. Spices and lavender then swim in it.

As the drydown begins, the juniper note and cardamom are immediately noticeable. Lavender is more in the background, but perceptible.

In the base, green, mossy notes turn the spectacle into a feast.

It is round throughout. Aftershave-like, slightly green and adorned with a dry-lifting moisture of juniper berry.

Wearable all year round. In the cold season, it has enough steam thanks to the aromatic spiciness of pepper and cardamom. In the warmer months, the citrus and green base guarantee a fresh fragrance.

A fougere with a chypre twist. But without focusing too much on it. Wonderful as a fragrance for work.

The durability is OK. After five hours it becomes skin-deep. The radiance diminishes after two hours. However, it remains perceptible throughout the day.

The price is unbeatable. I would be surprised if you didn't need a firearms license to carry the bottle with you.

This is great. Belongs in every collection. Especially as the P/L here is great.

Thanks for reading.

First of all, I'm a big fan of Drakkar Noir. That great fougere from the early 80s. It was a style-defining fragrance. So when I bought Drakkar Intense at the local M*leer for €20 per 100 ml, I was excited. I only know the Noir from the series. Not the others.

The color of the liquid in the oval transparent bottle is clear and brownish. The cap looks cheap and the sprayer does what it should.

Citrus and herbs immediately after spraying. Lavender and then moss. The coriander at the beginning is peppery. The lavender comes into its own in the drydown. It is warm and ambery the whole time. In the base, a beautifully realized moss with clean musk.
I also detect vanilla here. Which is a big minus point. It makes the Intense simply interchangeable with many others. This sweetness ruins a higher rating for me here.
I often find vanilla overloaded and often used in an inflationary way in modern fragrances.

Nonetheless, a modern, warmly ambered fougere with a contemporary appearance. Solid. Not a particularly intense fragrance. Rather standard.

Can be done. Definitely worth a longer try as an everyday fragrance.

You can make the comparison with Noir, but you shouldn't. There are 40 years in between. I think the Intense is perfectly fine as an office fragrance for the colder half of the year.

Simply solid.

And to answer the initial question, no. Not a worthy successor. A solid, independent fragrance that is based on a classic but does not try to replace or copy it.

Thank you for reading.