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Notes12/02/2020
Carlitos01
293 Reviews
Carlitos01
Helpful Review
3
The poor man exquisite Oriental scent
In a sunny, cold and dry day like today, it was necessary to use an oriental perfume, preferably hot, humid and sweet. The choice fell on yet another Arabian perfume, in this case an Al Haramain. Urbanist Privé is a frankly interesting perfume and of a quality well above average. The price is inversely proportional to the quality, as this perfume can be bought for around 20 Euros.
The fragrance gives an impression of warmth and comfort associated with a certain lightness. The airy smoke of light oud, the warm lingering of sandalwood and hazelnut, the wrapping of moist tobacco and the sweetness of honey and vanilla make an ideal combination for a dry winter day that pushes people into a fireplace. The global aroma is quite consensual, suitable for a wide audience and, as it is not a blunt fragrance, it does not hurt the sensitivity of oriental perfumes detractors.
I must mention that it is an excellent choice for sandalwood lovers... it is the perfume strongest note, and it is of excellent quality.
Although it doesn't seem like an attempt to clone, Urbanist Privé is really VERY similar to Spicebomb, although it is less intrusive. Spicebomb does not have sandalwood, but its strong cinnamon note with leather and moist tobacco, projects a woody accord similar to sandalwood. Urbanist Privé does not have cinnamon, but the combination of hazelnut and sandalwood notes, moist cigar tobacco and a touch of oud, delivers a strong impression of cinnamon and completely mimicking Spicebomb. Aromatically the two perfumes are very close. Unfortunately I prefer the Spicebomb intrusiveness, but of course, for a price.
Spicebomb being a fragrance reasonably far removed from Noir Exquis, this Al Haramain invokes the dark ebony tonic of this L'Artisan, perhaps due to the impression left by the notes of moist tobacco, the strong sandalwood, and the dark hint of oud.
Although sober, the presentation is poor for those who like beautiful bottles. This is yet another oriental marketing disaster. It looks like an Axe bottle. Nevertheless the perceived value for money is quite high provided you don't care about the deodorant presentation.
The performance is sufficient, although below normal for this type of spicy and woody oriental perfume. Longevity lies between 6 and 7 hours with three sprays. The sillage is positioned at approximately 1 meter with an acceptable projection during the first hour and a half.
How can this fine "Oriental scent for the masses" be rated?
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
- Opening: 8.5 (Hazelnut and sandalwood imediate lingering)
- DryDown: 8.0 (Nice vanilla and honey sweetness on a pair with the wood scents)
- Longevity: 7.0 (less than 7 hours)
- Sillage: 6.0 (Up to 4 feet; it projects for 1.5 hours)
- Uniqueness: 7.5 (it does ressemble Spicebomb without its agressiveness)
- Usability: 7.0 (Mainly an cold weather fragrance)
- Versatility: 7.5 (general daily outdoor wear or to use in front of the fireplace)
- Compliments: 7.0 (Better than the average oriental arabian woody, smoky and spicy fragrance)
- Quality: 7.5 (average quality ingredients, with a high mark for the sandalwood)
- Presentation: 6.0 (sober acceptable presentation but resembling a deodorant flask)
- Price: 9.0 (100 ml / 20 Euros with web providers)
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Overall rating: 7.36 / 10.00
- between 7 and 8 = above average;
- between 8 and 9 = recommended;
- greater than 9 = do not miss;
Recommendation: An "all around" oriental perfume with a bit of oudy smokiness and a top sandalwood. If you fancy a discrete arabian perfume, go for it..
Blind buy? Why not, bearing in mind the low price. Getting a decant may cost you more...
Music: Michael Bublé - "Winter Wonderland"
The fragrance gives an impression of warmth and comfort associated with a certain lightness. The airy smoke of light oud, the warm lingering of sandalwood and hazelnut, the wrapping of moist tobacco and the sweetness of honey and vanilla make an ideal combination for a dry winter day that pushes people into a fireplace. The global aroma is quite consensual, suitable for a wide audience and, as it is not a blunt fragrance, it does not hurt the sensitivity of oriental perfumes detractors.
I must mention that it is an excellent choice for sandalwood lovers... it is the perfume strongest note, and it is of excellent quality.
Although it doesn't seem like an attempt to clone, Urbanist Privé is really VERY similar to Spicebomb, although it is less intrusive. Spicebomb does not have sandalwood, but its strong cinnamon note with leather and moist tobacco, projects a woody accord similar to sandalwood. Urbanist Privé does not have cinnamon, but the combination of hazelnut and sandalwood notes, moist cigar tobacco and a touch of oud, delivers a strong impression of cinnamon and completely mimicking Spicebomb. Aromatically the two perfumes are very close. Unfortunately I prefer the Spicebomb intrusiveness, but of course, for a price.
Spicebomb being a fragrance reasonably far removed from Noir Exquis, this Al Haramain invokes the dark ebony tonic of this L'Artisan, perhaps due to the impression left by the notes of moist tobacco, the strong sandalwood, and the dark hint of oud.
Although sober, the presentation is poor for those who like beautiful bottles. This is yet another oriental marketing disaster. It looks like an Axe bottle. Nevertheless the perceived value for money is quite high provided you don't care about the deodorant presentation.
The performance is sufficient, although below normal for this type of spicy and woody oriental perfume. Longevity lies between 6 and 7 hours with three sprays. The sillage is positioned at approximately 1 meter with an acceptable projection during the first hour and a half.
How can this fine "Oriental scent for the masses" be rated?
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
- Opening: 8.5 (Hazelnut and sandalwood imediate lingering)
- DryDown: 8.0 (Nice vanilla and honey sweetness on a pair with the wood scents)
- Longevity: 7.0 (less than 7 hours)
- Sillage: 6.0 (Up to 4 feet; it projects for 1.5 hours)
- Uniqueness: 7.5 (it does ressemble Spicebomb without its agressiveness)
- Usability: 7.0 (Mainly an cold weather fragrance)
- Versatility: 7.5 (general daily outdoor wear or to use in front of the fireplace)
- Compliments: 7.0 (Better than the average oriental arabian woody, smoky and spicy fragrance)
- Quality: 7.5 (average quality ingredients, with a high mark for the sandalwood)
- Presentation: 6.0 (sober acceptable presentation but resembling a deodorant flask)
- Price: 9.0 (100 ml / 20 Euros with web providers)
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Overall rating: 7.36 / 10.00
- between 7 and 8 = above average;
- between 8 and 9 = recommended;
- greater than 9 = do not miss;
Recommendation: An "all around" oriental perfume with a bit of oudy smokiness and a top sandalwood. If you fancy a discrete arabian perfume, go for it..
Blind buy? Why not, bearing in mind the low price. Getting a decant may cost you more...
Music: Michael Bublé - "Winter Wonderland"
Carlitos01
