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..definitely one of my favorites.
First of all, I should mention that I am not familiar with the legendary, highly regarded versions from the early years. I am 26, and my fragrance journey began after several high-profile scents from Rossmann ;) in the summer of 2014 with my first Le Male.
Since then, I've acquired quite a few (of course designer) fragrances. Some left faster than they arrived, while others were allowed to return once they were empty. It has been interesting to observe how quickly one's own nose can develop.
My first La Nuit de L'Homme joined me at the end of 2015. I had just turned 19, was doing a voluntary social year, and received a voucher for a larger shopping center here in the heart of Saxony-Anhalt for the Christmas party. I had tested the fragrance many times and fallen in love with it, so it was clear that the voucher would be redeemed at the Douglas store located there. For just about 20 euros left, I had the first 60 ml of my loyal companion in hand.
As for the scent itself, not much needs to be said; most people probably know it.
It starts sweet-spicy with a slightly citrus-fresh bergamot, which quickly dissipates. After the top notes fade, I primarily perceive cardamom and lavender, underscored by a not overly pronounced sweetness, which is likely the tonka bean. I am not an expert when it comes to filtering out individual notes, so I roughly follow the official fragrance pyramid. I perceive vetiver very subtly in the background. In my opinion, it gives the scent a subtle dry green-woody freshness that counteracts the sweetness a bit. But just very subtly.
This interplay of sweet spice and subtle freshness makes this fragrance universally wearable for me. It fits well in the colder days but is also not too sweet/heavy in summer. And that is exactly what makes it so special for me.
I can wear this scent anytime and always feel comfortable with it. I love the scent itself, and it never becomes too much for me. Whether at -30°C or at 30°C in the shade, it works and never overwhelms. It is a crowd-pleaser, sexy, elegant, and doesn't offend. It doesn't make a statement, but it doesn't want to either. You simply can't go wrong with it.
Of course, it's not a super natural niche fragrance, but you also don't pay niche prices for it. Yes, it could last longer. Yes, it gets close to the skin quickly. But that has never bothered me. The scent is intimate. It is not intrusive. Sometimes you don't want to be noticed by everyone around you. My favorites do, I do, and that's often enough. Primarily, I wear the scent for myself, not for others. And since I always apply at least 2 sprays on my clothes, I've never had issues with longevity.
I want to restructure my current collection a bit soon. Since Dior Homme Parfum moved in with me at the end of 2023, the decision has been made to focus more on quality and exclusivity rather than quantity. A few cheapies will stay, some will go. I won't completely turn my back on the designer world, but I will probably orient myself less there in the future. La Nuit will stay. And when it’s empty, it will come back.
Fragrances are supposed to reflect or emphasize one's personality. Depending on the weather, mood, occasion, etc., there are scents that do this better or worse at times. La Nuit de L'Homme does it for me every time. If I can't decide what to wear, I reach for this scent. It is always the right one for me, never wrong. And that is exactly what makes it a candidate for the "desert island".
I find it difficult to choose just one favorite scent, as there are so many and even more that you don't know at all.
La Nuit de L'Homme may not be "the" All Time Favorite, but it is certainly one of them.

So, I’ll write my first comment here on Parfumo. And which fragrance would be more fitting than my first great love?
Fragrances have always fascinated me in some way. As a teenager, I tried out half of the drugstore selection of scents, having fragrances from s.Oliver to Playboy to James Bond. There were some nice ones here and there, but none had completely convinced me yet.
In 2014, at the age of 17, it finally happened. I bought my first "good" one. It was the last day of my very last summer vacation. I was out shopping with my parents and then going out to eat. I was drawn to the store with the big D, and there it was. I had always liked the bottle, hardly any other stands out as much. I quickly tested it again, deemed it good, and bought it. Before dinner, I sprayed the fragrance in the car. That was love. A love that still lasts today.
I have always perceived Le Male as pleasant (but not too) sweet, spicy, and slightly bitter. Back then, it was a good way to distinguish myself from the all-encompassing 1 Million (which has since sneaked into my small collection).
I wore it daily for almost half a year, I practically sniffed myself to death with it. Nowadays, I wear it only rarely because of that. I recently bought it again and wore it for this comment.
What can I say? It is and remains my first great love, the first "good" one, the first that completely convinced me back then. Basically, my final entry into the world of fragrances. It MUST always be there, whether I wear it or not. I just love it.