Condorpilot1

My impression of Davidoff regarding their perfume creations is that the brand was known, at least in the past (before the 2000s), for bringing very solid men’s fragrances to the market. Unfortunately, I have never experienced any of those vintage perfumes, which is certainly a bit regrettable. But the past is the past, and as for the present, it seems that Davidoff's releases are not really making a splash.

I have owned Cool Water, I have owned Hot Water, I still have Adventure, and (unfortunately) The Game as well, the latter of which was immediately "degraded" to gym scent. Davidoff has certainly worn out the "Cool Water" theme by now, and yet they seem to release a new Cool Water version every six months or so, which then quickly disappears from the lineup again. However, this review is not meant to focus on Davidoff's fails, but rather on a unique perfume from the house.

About two years ago, I stumbled upon Amber Blend in a department store in Leipzig, at a time when I didn’t even know about the Blend series. Of all three Blends (Leather, Wood, Amber), Amber Blend appealed to me the most by far. Unlike the other fragrances from Davidoff, you immediately notice a difference in quality upon the first spray. Sweet cinnamon, perfectly balanced spiciness, gives Amber Blend an oriental and warm character. You feel pleasantly enveloped in a veil, as if you were wearing a warm cashmere scarf.

A little personal digression on the topic of rum: On my last cruise, I participated in a rum tasting for the first time and only then realized how versatile rum can actually be in its aromas. Until then, I only knew the commercial rums from Bacardi and Havana Club, which don’t smell particularly high-quality and are best mixed into cocktails. However, rum can unfold such wonderful aromas in the nose, like vanilla, chocolate, coconut, fruits, honey, and more. Moreover, a rum doesn’t even have to burn when sipped neat, but can gently enchant the taste buds.

The same goes for the rum accord here in Amber Blend. It is subtly noticeable, very gentle and not piercing, creamy warm, and with a bit of imagination, comparable to a rum with vanilla and honey notes. Time and again, I detect tobacco in the background, which I would most closely associate with pipe tobacco. The woodiness in the base is not too dry, but also very gentle here. The perfume is absolutely harmonious and does not startle you with scratchy aromas.

I associate Amber Blend, for example, with a setting in an old large house, where there are many wooden accessories and decorations, old paintings, a fireplace, a large wool rug, and an old brown leather armchair. On the table, a pipe carries its sweet tobacco scent through the room from a distance. Oh yes, and the glass of rum must not be missing.

As you might already sense, I find the perfume fantastic. The sillage is quite strong, and I personally perceive it on myself for a long time. Longevity on the skin is around 8 hours or a bit more, on clothing easily 10-12 hours. The perfume is an evening scent for cold days, in a formal and cozy setting.

In any case, Davidoff Amber gives me the feeling that the house of Davidoff should not be written off for perfume creation just yet. At least not yet.

My collection of the Thierry Mugler A*Men line now consists of five versions, all of which carry a touch of the original A*Men bottle in their base. However, Kryptomint is the only perfume in my collection that has a mint accord, so comparisons to other mint perfumes are not possible for me.

We naturally associate mint with a refreshing, cooling sensation, especially on hot summer days. It invigorates and provides energy. Now, Kryptomint even speaks of frosted mint, meaning one can expect a double portion of freshness on the skin in a way. That’s exactly what happens, as the frosted synthetic mint truly feels like taking mint oil out of the freezer and applying a few drops to the skin. Alongside this, there is an earthiness that brings out the patchouli in the base. Although the very simple structure of Kryptomint lacks something like dark chocolate (and it is not directly perceivable), I find the associations from previous comments regarding After Eight chocolate absolutely convincing! This mint-patchouli combination makes Kryptomint a gourmand of a different kind. Not overly sweet like many other gourmands, but I still cannot deny the After Eight character. And because the perfume is not too sweet and certainly does not come across as warm, this really cool frozen cocktail is also perfect for summer.

The linearity of the scent progression is easy for anyone to understand; each sniff on the skin brings forth a new feeling of freshness. It is definitely a perfume that should be worn casually during the day. The After Eight touch makes it unique and stands out from the crowd. The sillage is not heavy like the original A*Men, but pleasant. The longevity is well extended by the patchouli, with the scent being perceivable on the skin for about 6-7 hours. I give a clear test and purchase recommendation. Even with a blind buy, I believe one will not be disappointed.

It seems that there are clones of Creed's bestsellers in abundance, here from Armaf, Al Haramain, Parfums Vintage, Mont Blanc Explorer, etc. Many want to offer a cheaper alternative for all those like me, for whom Aventus is simply too expensive (or just not worth the price). In the search for a clone, one inevitably comes across Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Men (CDNIM) in the community, which comes in two versions - with a silver (vintage version) and a black (current version) cap. The topic of reformulation or batch variations has become so over-discussed and scientific with Creed, unlike any other perfume. CDNIM is said to reflect the character of older, smokier batches the best.

I personally own the version with the black cap. It was a blind purchase, even before I knew that Armaf might have reformulated this perfume. The CDNIM with the silver cap is said to be significantly more aggressive and piercing in the opening and to have somewhat better longevity, while the current version with the black cap is said to be a bit softer and rounder. When sprayed on the skin, I am greeted by a very strong synthetic lemon scent, unlike the "original," which appears significantly more natural and weaker. Unfortunately, many compare the opening of CDNIM derogatorily to "toilet cleaner" - I wouldn't go that far, but it does hit you quite hard! So please don't be startled when you first sniff it. What then comes a few moments later is a decent portion of birch smoke, which noticeably pushes the lemon into the background. Ultimately, it even overwhelms the other top notes; I only perceive the rose in the heart note faintly and with a bit of imagination, as a slightly floral note hides under the smoke.

The interesting thing on my skin is that the pineapple (which is one of the very typical characteristics of Aventus) is not perceivable at all. Instead, I perceive it around me through the sillage as a smoky, grilled pineapple, which gives the scent a very characteristic and complex note. This is actually the kind of smoke/birch + pineapple that I totally miss in the current Aventus batches (too fruity and zero smoke). Overall, the sillage is quite strong; you have to be careful not to spray too much. The spray head distributes the scent broadly enough. Otherwise, you might fill an entire room with it.

The birch smoke remains constant in the drydown. Vanilla gives the perfume a pleasant sweetness after a few hours on the skin. Speaking of longevity: 8+ hours are definitely achievable.

The great thing about both Aventus and CDNIM is that the scents are so versatile. They are a good companion for almost every season (except deep winter) and most occasions (casual and formal). For example, I like to wear the Armaf in combination with a leather jacket because the smokiness matches the outfit. Additionally, I own samples from Parfums Vintage alongside CDNIM and must say that each really goes its own way. Those who want to stand out from the crowd are really well served by the punch of CDNIM, especially for the price of 25-30 EUR. For many fans, Aventus is the untouchable "King," and I would probably be lynched by those people if I said that CDNIM is, especially in terms of price-performance ratio, the clearly better option (at least on my skin), lasts significantly longer, and I personally like it even better. "Attacks incoming in 3...2...1..." ;-)

When I think about it, my Davidoff Adventure bottle has actually been sitting on my shelf for about 7 years now; it was one of the first perfumes I actively bought for myself. This long time is not meant to be derogatory or to give the impression that I don’t use the perfume because I don’t like it. I just haven’t worn perfumes very often for a long time. Back then, I was probably still too young for this scent DNA, but I was still excited and felt more grown-up.

I still vividly remember the TV commercial with Ewan McGregor - dry nature, Ewan McGregor on a motorcycle, wandering through various landscapes, leather jacket, alone, adventurous atmosphere. And yes, when I look at this bottle, that feeling arises in me that the scent fits a warm, dry environment. Nevada or Arizona, it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the USA where nothing grows, along with a ranch, a lumberjack shirt, a motorcycle, and a trip into the vastness. Maybe a trip on a motorcycle or an old Ford Mustang. But the road trip takes time, and therefore I need a long-lasting companion throughout the day that always evokes this feeling in me. That would be my dream scenario of how this scent would fit into the setup.

And now? I can’t say more than that I like it and appreciate how it is fundamentally created. Bright wood and even more wood, with a hint of pink pepper in the nose. Dried grass, warmth, and a slight sweetness, heat shimmer. But: why is it such a quick skin scent? You could do so much more, Davidoff Adventure! Where is the long-lasting daily companion that I wish for? I don’t want to have to constantly reapply the perfume on my road trip because it’s hardly noticeable anymore... The potential is absolutely there, but it lacks the punch. Something that hits with this perfume and conveys confidence. Something that embodies the man on his road trip through the vastness of dry Arizona and beyond.

It seems almost every man has had Armani Code on hand or in his collection. Rightly so, it has the image of an elegant men's fragrance with style. Somehow, it seems to please everyone. To what extent Armani Code has been reformulated and, for example, whether its longevity may have deteriorated, I do not know.

For me, Armani Code was for a long time a synthetic cocktail that was always appealing. Indefinable in its nuances but still rounded and pleasant. Although it has been one of the classics of designer fragrances for years, it still stands out from the crowd and does its own thing. This also makes it timeless; in my opinion, it is a perfume that can be worn almost anytime. A fresh, already synthetic opening that then comes with a hint of olive. Green olive, not black. At least at the beginning. However, the olive disappears relatively quickly, and the fragrance transitions into something darker. Wood, suede, a slight sweetness. And then the olive returns after about 30 minutes - black olive. This transformation of the olive fits the fragrance progression extremely well. In the background, there remains something medicinal that I cannot categorize, but it is not bothersome.

Well, a rounded, very well-made scent. If only it had a bit more radiance, that would be great. You can definitely go out to a nice dinner with it, have an evening date as well. Wearing a suit with it, yes, certainly. Office? On cold days, gladly. As a casual fragrance too, but not if you are dressed too casually. Armani Code has a bit of everything.