If you grew up in the 80s, you were probably familiar with Drakkar Noir, which was the Axe body spray of its day. Granted, the Drakkar smells SO much better than Axe body sprays that followed in the 90s (and still float in the atmosphere today. That much body spray is likely why aliens don't visit.). I never minded the scent of Drakkar back then, and this latest offering brings back some pleasant memories.While giving the various components of this scent helps a person pick a cologne or perfume that contains notes they prefer, a person's particular chemistry is what determines what a product will smell like after application. When I opened the bottle, all I could smell was warm, cinnamony vanilla. Not bad, but too sweet for my tastes. I had both my husband and adult nephew try this on and come back in 15 minutes so I could check out how the scent profile adapted to their personal body chemistry. I even tried it in myself. For my husband, the vanilla notes were gone but the sandalwood note was dominant, followed by the sage and bergamot. The suede was a subtle base note. Neither of us picked up any patchouli or lavandin (an earthier, more herbal scented form lavender), and we're thankful that the white vanilla wasn't as a strong as feared. Staying power is excellent, and the notes stay woven together as they fade so one note doesn't take over for a little bit, then another, and so on. It's so nice to have a scent that actually stays blended and true from the time it's first applied to when it's washed away. MmmOn my nephew, this time the vanilla did come through a little bit, but once again the sandalwood was predominant. There's was a hint of sage and suede and unexpected smokiness. No patchouli or lavandin again. On both guys, the scent mellowed to become an amazingly warm and comforting scent. You can imagine cuddling up with your guy next to a small fire in the fireplace or around a campfire in autumn, sharing a blanket and some hot tea or cocoa while watching the night sky for shooting stars. It's a very comforting and comfortable scent to be around. The man who would wear this is easy going, unpretentious, and friendly. You can tell this isn't the kind of cologne that screams “I'm rich and perfect so I want everyone around me to know so you all can jealous of the fact I wear the most expensive cologne ever, even if it smells like urinal spray.”For me, this Drakkar intense evokes a loving, enveloping hug that lets me know I'm safe and loved. This is a superb fall/winter scent. There's not enough clean crisp scents such as citrus to cut through the sensuous warmth of this cologne, but that's perfectly fine with me and the men in the family who have found a new favorite scent to add to their mix. If they choose to add in body wash and/or body lotion, sign me up.M
Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]