A*Men Les Parfums de Cuir (Pure Leather) by Mugler

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I’ve had a small sample of A*Men Les Parfums de Cuir since the end of last year. I’ve worn it a few times, but never got around to doing a full review. Apparently, this was a limited edition release from Mugler, back in 2012.

It’s also known as, Pure Leather, which is what you’ll find it for sale under much of the time. Anyway, in this post I’m going to break down my experiences with it. How it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a try.

What does Mugler Pure Leather Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, patchouli, peppermint, bergamot, coriander, lavender, coffee, musk, tonka bean, and cedar

Click here to try: A*Men Les Parfums de Cuir

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Pure Leather does indeed have a bold leathery aroma. However, the top is much more a blend of other notes, with a somewhat sweet warmth coming off of it. When I really pay attention to the opening act, I distinctly pick up: peppermint, bergamot, and lavender.

The bergamot is very very light, but you can pick it up during the opening 15 minutes or so. I’d say the peppermint is the strongest of the three and creates a surprisingly refreshing blend with that leather note. Along with that, there is patchouli and coffee, which grow stronger as it dries down.

Those two notes are present during the opening, but are more bit players, adding to that rough masculine warmth. The further along you get into the wear, the warmer and sweeter it becomes.

It never achieves a super sugary sweetness, but the coffee and tonka bean, do produce a sort of chocolate-like scent with the patchouli note.

Most of what I get is the leather. It’s a nice leather note, but not amazing. Though, I think most of its weakness, is covered up by the other notes which flank it. Ultimately, you are left with: leather, mint, patchouli, lavender, tonka bean, and some of the coffee. It’s a minty leather/tonka bean scent with patchouli.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff hits really hard. The sillage on this fragrance is completely beast mode. You really won’t need very much of it. Mugler scents are usually pretty strong, but this one is massive.

This one creates a massive scent trail and had a nuclear projection off of my skin. Spraying it on a shirt, I can smell it in the next room easily. Pure Leather doesn’t skimp on the sillage.

The longevity is also top notch. I’m not really sure how long it kept on my skin, but I could still smell it 12 hours in. This Mugler cologne, is definitely a performer. If you like the scent, you get a ton of value with this cologne.

Seasonally, this is an autumn and winter scent. Don’t even bother in the warmer months, as this will turn pretty nasty. However, in the cold it’s great.

For me, this would be more of a nightlife fragrance. Casual, yes. It might be too strong to wear in the office. It’s more of a sexy masculine type of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Parfums de Cuir

Overall, do I like A*Men Les Parfums de Cuir (Pure Leather)? Yes, I think that it is quite good. I’m not totally in love with this fragrance, but I liked wearing it. This one is not going to be for everybody, however.

Coffee and tonka bean are aspects that I enjoy here. The peppermint is a solid addition. For some reason, I’m not too crazy about the leather note, which is the crux of the fragrance.

You will definitely need to be a fan of leather and be able to handle bold scents. I could see how this could end up, being bothersome for certain guys. Other folks, will absolutely go crazy for this. It does have a sexy smell and can be very attractive on a colder night.

The performance is among the best that I’ve ever encountered. This was so strong and long-lasting. Is that a good thing all of the time? No, but when you want a powerhouse this Mugler delivered.

I’m sure it’s not even available anymore, since they’ve completely redone their line of fragrances and this had a limited run. So, you’d probably have to pick it up at an inflated price. To me, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Desire by Alfred Dunhill

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Desire by Alfred Dunhill enjoyed plenty of popularity after its release in 1997. That popularity has waned some since then, however, that doesn’t mean that it has suddenly become a bad scent. This is a rather unique cologne for men, which will fill a certain niche in a man’s inventory of scents or become a daily wear for a certain type of guy.

In this post, I want to explore my thoughts about Desire, after wearing it around for a few days in the past week and whether or not I would recommend it.

What does Dunhill Desire Smell Like?

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Notes include: rose, vanilla, apple, bergamot, orange blossom, lemon, teak wood, musk, and patchouli

Click here to try: Desire By Alfred Dunhill For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

My Full Wear Review

The immediate opening of Desire strikes me as a unisex fragrance bordering on a women’s perfume. The fruit and rose notes are immediately detectable and have a delicious quality to them. It is bright and dynamic when first applied, with an underpinning of the musk and more woodsy notes.

Along with the rose, I get orange blossom, as an additional floral note. The floral presence is moderate, but definitely not overwhelming. In the opening act, you get apple as the main note, with a grab bag of citrus aromas coming in. Again, pretty unisex, at this point in time.

Desire, as its name suggests, is a cologne which is set up to be seductive and bring women closer to you. I definitely get that kind of vibe from this scent, it has a unique and attractive profile, that should perform well on nights out on the town.

There is a exotic/oriental type of spice which develops after a few minutes of wear. I think it is the combination of vanilla and musk which provides this light spiciness.

After about an hour, the fruit notes begin to lose some of their potency and Desire evolves into a more woodsy and oriental type of fragrance. It is still sweet, but you get more of the teak wood and musky base.

In the end, I am left with rose, vanilla, musk, wood, and some lingering sweetness from the fruit notes. It’s nice with a warm sweet/spice blend, quite attractive overall.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection also seems to die down after a while, the cologne is still detectable but it’s definitely not as loud as it was during the opening phase. Strong opening sillage, then, much more moderate.

I don’t don’t find this cologne to be super long-lasting, but it seems to perform rather, well throughout the day. You’ll get around 7 hours, out of it. That seems to be the consistent result, from my testing. Though, I wouldn’t put it at the top of the list of longevity.

For this price range, it’s really more than what you get with other comparable fragrances. No real complaints because Desire is still is above average in sillage and longevity.

Desire for Men is a pretty versatile scent. It has a pleasant enough aroma to be mass pleasing, yet, it is unique enough to stand out from the crowd. It can be worn in almost any season, though I would avoid the hottest days of summer.

The citrus allows it to venture into the warmer weather, but it won’t perform near it’s peak when it’s blistering outside.

It is safe enough for daily office wear, if needed. It can also venture into the nightlife. I would probably reserve it for casual wear or other social events, but it does have the ability for other purposes.

One further thing to mention is this does have a unique vibe. Even back in the late 90s this one was pretty different. Now? It’s miles away from most designer offerings. There aren’t too many men wearing Dunhill Desire and it’s formula is just distinct.

Overall Impressions of Desire

Overall, I would say that Desire is worth a try. It might not fit every guy’s style but I think it will be appreciated by many and is appealing enough to attract the ladies.

The fruity rose part, does have a unisex if not a women’s level of sweetness and style. But, that musk and vanilla dry down is better for most guys. When it becomes woodier, less sweet, and more balanced overall.

It has grown in appeal, because you can pick up bottles of this stuff for under $30 nowadays, which makes it a bargain. Even updating here in 2023, it’s still around for the same price.

It smells good and provides solid performance. This would never become a signature scent for me, as I’m not that big on rose as a note in this, but it is something that I wouldn’t mind wearing some more. Desire is a good cologne, that has the potential to be great, for the right guy.

Sauvage Parfum by Christian Dior

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So, a new Sauvage fragrance has been released. It will of course be talked about a lot and probably end up a best seller. Naturally, I had to start testing it out, in order to write up a review and determine if this juice is worth a shot. What does Parfum smell like? How long does it last? When should it be worn? Was even worth Dior releasing it?

What Does Sauvage Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean, ambroxan

Click here to try: Dior Sauvage Parfum Spray for Men 3.4 Ounces

My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review, let’s see what Dior has to say about Sauvage Parfum: A new, highly concentrated interpretation of Sauvage, melding extreme freshness with warm oriental tones and wild beauty that comes to life on the skin. The fragrance is a new frontier: an interpretation with a rich, heady trail that celebrates the magic of wide-open spaces.

Sauvage Parfum opens up with its citrus top notes. We have the familiar bergamot, found in the rest of the Sauvage lineup, and mandarin orange. The mandarin adds a nice touch of juiciness, but this opening isn’t as sharp as, the original EDT Sauvage.

It’s interesting, that the mandarin note, is the citrus that hangs around the longest for me. It stays a surprisingly long time during the wear.

One thing that is immediately noticeable about Parfum, is that, the ambroxan here is tempered. The EDP had a strong ambroxan, as did the original, so this will be an option for guys who want something calmer. It’s a really smooth scent, without the same periods of in your face intensity, as the others.

The next layer that hits me, is the sandalwood led middle, with vanilla and tonka bean coming through. Parfum doesn’t have that pepper spiciness, but it does have a warm and creamy quality, that the EDP has elements of.

Parfum begins to feel a bit dry, smoky, and the amber come through more.

The final dry down, Parfum is a dark and somewhat sweet, woody cologne. The cedar and sandalwood, are covered by a smoked vanilla with a hint of mandarin juice, and dipped in ambroxan.

Refined and smooth with a dry freshness, Parfum has just the right amount of light spice, and sweetness.

Sillage and Longevity

Perhaps, it is because this isn’t as sharp, but it can feel as if Parfum isn’t projecting as much as it actually is. The sillage is strong, but not monstrous, and the latter stages are pretty moderate.

It’ll probably reach about 6 feet for much of the time, away from the wearer. I’ve put on 5-6 sprays and it didn’t seem to be a problem. Early on, it’ll have more of an impact. Overall, it’s well above average and will give you a very nice scent trail.

The longevity is really good, it’ll go for over 10 hours, on my skin. Better than EDT and about the same as the EDP version. Definitely not one that disappoints in its performance.

Even if you’re not a fan of the Sauvage line, you still get your money’s worth, in terms of how long it will stick around.

Versatility

Parfum is a more refined version of this namesake, as such, it can be worn on many occasions. I actually like it best, for nighttime. It has a dark and a more mature vibe.

However, it wouldn’t be a problem, formally or in an office environment. Just don’t go crazy with the sprays.

Seasonally, it’s good year round, outside of the summer. Actually, summer nights, it’d be okay but avoid the daytime. It will be at its best in cooler temperatures, though.

This is another strength of the Sauvage line, you get plenty of opportunity to wear it, rather than just being restricted to colder weather.

Overall 

Do I like Sauvage Parfum? I do. I still prefer the EDP, to this, but I think it exceeds the EDT. Parfum is a gentler formulation, so, guys who didn’t like the intense/sharpness of various ingredients in the other versions; should enjoy this one.

Actually, now that Elixir has come out too, I’d go with that or EDP over Parfum. If you want a more traditional interpretation of this formula, go with EDP. If you want the bold spiciness, Elixir can fit that bill.

The performance is great, I like the development of the scent, and its dark richness. The vanilla, mandarin, and the ambroxan doesn’t feel as oppressive (which is a downside for me, with the original).

You are paying Dior prices, but the value it still there with its use case and longevity. Dior Sauvage ‘clones’ (or at least attempted) have been popping up for years with the EDT version, and might make you reconsider that original. But, that’s less of a case with this Parfum edition.

If you like the EDP, I don’t really see why you’d need this, but give it a try. You might find this to be a more enjoyable version.

Sauvage Parfum is interesting yet familiar, but not completely redundant. It could be the version of Sauvage some folks need, to actually enjoy this title.

Gentlemen Only Intense by Givenchy

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I have already reviewed many scents this week, including Gentlemen Only. Since I’ve also got a mini size of Gentlemen Only Intense, I thought that I’d go ahead and do a review post on it.

This is another cologne from Givenchy and one which is masculine and suited toward the cooler months of the year. How does it stack up? Is it better than the original? Please read below for my full take on this scent.

What Does Gentlemen Only Intense Smell Like?

gentlemen only intense

Notes include: tonka bean, birch wood, mandarin, patchouli, leather, amber, and cedar

Click Here to Try:Givenchy Gentlemen Only Intense Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

OK, so after trying the original Gentlemen Only and enjoying it, (only to later be disappointed by its longevity), I was looking forward to trying the Intense version of this cologne. As it turns out, I actually like this one much better.

Let me state beforehand that I love sweet/spicy/leathery fragrances in the fall or winter months. I am a fan of tonka bean (Versace Eros), leather even in something like Dirty English, and the sweet/spicy incense of something like Body Kouros. As such, I was drawn to this fragrance right off the bat.

The opening is a sweet blend of tonka bean, amber, and the leather note. This is an interesting departure from the original which featured more of the birch wood, mandarin, and vetiver, which are downplayed a great deal in Intense.

The opening has a bit more fresh spiciness, than this one will later feature. You get some of the mandarin, mint, and pink pepper.

The composition is pretty inverted from the original. As such, you are hit with a different sensibility and less of the dry sweetness than Gentlemen Only.

Intense presents itself as much more of a sweet/incense take on the original, that at times seems somewhat gourmand without going overboard (like in Very Irresistible by Givenchy)  but keeping an underlying smokiness.

Again, this one might not be for everyone but if you enjoy that kind of sweet/leathery/masculine type of scent this could be a good look. The dry down becomes a woody, sweet, leathery, creamy/amber-laden affair.

It has that Gentlemen Only dryness, spice, and smokiness but those are relegated to bit players. It all comes together, as being super smooth. I really enjoy the way that it smells, even if the development isn’t too complex.

Sillage and Longevity

Projection wise, it is pretty good. It’s not a beast but it is better than Gentlemen Only, though, I believe Intense is a misnomer…it’s not intense but quite moderate. Even with that spiciness. It’ll project itself 4-6 feet from the skin for a while, before settling back down, closer to the skin.

Longevity was the drawback of the original and honestly, Intense isn’t much better in this regard. 4-5 hours of life at most. The only saving grace is that I feel that this is a nighttime fragrance and so that longevity might be enough in that situation.

However, it really should be better than that and I’m disappointed that it isn’t. Shouldn’t an ‘intense’ fragrance, have a strong sillage, and staying power?

I think others have gotten a slightly better result with this one. For me, it refuses to stick around for very long on my skin, which is usually fine with not ‘eating up’ colognes.

When Should Gentlemen Only Intense be Worn?

Again, to me, this is a nighttime fragrance. The original was more of the office type of daily wear, while this one is a sexier evening wear option. On a cold evening, Intense is actually really awesome, and will get complemented.

Well, at least for those first few hours. It is a mature fragrance and will generally be a better fit for those in their late 20s and up.

Overall Impressions

Overall, is it worth a buy? Maybe. It smells really good, in my opinion, but the longevity questions remain. The fragrance itself is an awesome blend of sweetness, woods, leather, and spice. On that end of things, Gentlemen Only Intense is pretty brilliant.

It’s not an all-time great or anything, but this had the potential of being a under the radar favorite. The tonka bean and leather combination is so good here.

It’s one that I could definitely find a place for on occasion, but, at the price I could get something else that is a much better performer. It’s not a bad fragrance, actually quite good, but it could be magnificent.

Updating this post, a few years after the initial review, I think that it’s been discontinued.

I still have a mini bottle of this, wear it occasionally, and still cannot believe what a missed opportunity this was for greatness. You might be able to pick up a cheap bottle, at the discount sites now, and it would be worth a shot.

Newer Update: I just saw it going for around $100 when I looked it up, which is a bit of a stretch in my opinion. So, you’ve probably missed out on getting this one for anything reasonable.

Weekend for Men by Burberry

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Burberry is a line which usually sports very good and universally appealing fragrances at a moderate price point. I have already gone over the best Burberry colognes here, and I left Weekend for Men, off of that list.

I don’t remember being impressed by it, however, when I received a mini bottle of this cologne, I thought that I would give it another shot and post a review. Did it change my mind, this time around? Read below for more.

What Does Burberry Weekend Smell Like?

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Notes include: tangerine, citrus, musk, rose, iris, sandalwood, oakmoss, ivy, honey

Click here to try: BURBERRY Weekend Eau De Toilette for Men, 1.7 Fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review

Burberry Weekend, opens with a lot of citrus, and it sticks around for the duration of the wear. I get a ton of lemon, in this one, and some bergamot underneath. The other fruits, just seem to blend together, with one another and create a generic cloud.

After like 15-20 minutes some of the oakmoss and sandalwood type of notes, do start to emerge. This gives Weekend, a bit of an earthy/woody body, but this is mostly a citrusy affair. Ivy is fairly noticeable, which provides a grassy sort of smell, it’s not super powerful but you can pick up on it.

To me, Burberry Weekend really doesn’t ever get anymore complex than that, just a blend of citrus and some woodsy notes in the background. On my skin, it is mostly lemon with some ivy, sandalwood, and a bit of dry oakmoss. It’s extremely linear on me.

I suppose there is some honeyed sweetness, in there, but not very much. If you’re not into the smell within 10-15 minutes, you probably won’t ever be.

How Long does it Last? What’s the Sillage Like?

It’s projection and longevity are both moderate. It’s not a beast with its sillage, but it at least, isn’t completely weak. It’s projection is a few feet from the skin, for most of the wear, so don’t expect folks to be able to smell you from across the room or anything.

The longevity clocks in at about six hours or so. Again, not impressive, but passable at the right price.

Versatility

This is a casual wear for the spring/summer months, all the way. It would seem out of place, during the rest of the year. It’s not a nighttime beast, nor a formal type of fragrance.

Weekend for Men is a scent you can throw on, when the temperature goes up, and smell fresh and citrusy.

A cologne to feel clean and somewhat refreshed, not a scent that’s going to bet getting massive complements or be seen as ‘sexy’.

Overall Scent

This is a very short review because quite frankly, Weekend isn’t all that impressive. If you’re a big fan of citrus, then maybe it’s worth getting a hold of.

Otherwise, I really don’t get who this is aimed at. I think that it smells okay but the citrus is just too prevalent and the other notes never seem to fully wrestle control away from it.

As a result, it can take on too much of a bathroom cleaner type of scent…it’s not totally chemical but you can definitely detect a resemblance. Is it an awful cologne? No, but it isn’t a very good one.

Even for this type of summer-centric release, it’s not very good. Below the D&G Light Blue flankers and other designer efforts in the same space.

There are much better options, from the line of Burberry scents (see: London and Burberry for Men), and other ones that are much better choices for summer weather (Burberry Summer line, usually smell better at least, with poor performance). I’ll probably pass on wearing the rest of this mini bottle.

Update: Yeah, I never finished it before getting rid of this mini. This still floats around for cheap, so, it might be worth spending $20-30 on. I still wouldn’t personally, but if you wanted an easy to wear summer citrus, this is passable.