Bentley for Men Absolute Bentley 2014

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8.3 / 10 336 Ratings

Bentley for Men Absolute is a popular limited perfume by Bentley for men and was released in 2014. The scent is woody-smoky. It was last marketed by Lalique Group / Art & Fragrance. Pronunciation

Limited Edition

Scent goes well with Molecule 01

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Perfumers

Michel Almairac, Robertet

Fragrance Notes

Top Notes	Ginger, Pink pepper, Frankincense
Heart Notes	Papyrus, Sandalwood, Atlas cedar
Base Notes	Amber, Oud, Moss

Ratings

Scent

8.3 | 336 Ratings

Longevity

7.5 | 309 Ratings

Sillage

6.8 | 311 Ratings

Bottle

8.3 | 309 Ratings

Value for money

9.1 | 29 Ratings

Submitted by Freeestyler, last update on 26.02.2021.

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Reviews

01/02/2021

9
Scent 7
Longevity 8
Sillage 6
Bottle 10
Pricing

BeginswithaJ
19 Reviews

BeginswithaJ

When in doubt: buy Bentley

Being one of the lucky ones still owning a bottle of Gucci Pour Homme, resistance to an extensive skin test is futile. As a matter of fact, I have four bottles sitting in front of me right now: A fully black bottle of For Men Absolute born in 2018; a decant of the same fragrance from 2015; one GPH from 2003/2004 (in which the resins have started to solidify very slightly, but scent- and performance wise 100% ok); and one GPH from 2008. Please note I've tested these on skin and paper, and both give generally the same result.

Upon spraying all the different versions it seems that the top notes are more or less the same, the decant being a little sweeter of the four. The other three have the wonderful and well known—slightly tart—boozy punch in the face.

Drying down, both GPH's smell exactly the same with the prominent, complex wood notes we've all come to love. Ah yes, can't miss those wonderful pencil shavings. The 2018 Bentley is surprisingly similar (can't say I'm surprised) when smelling it by itself. When compared to the 'dryer' Gucci's, it gives off a somewhat sweeter and warmer resinous accord in the base. The amber is well represented here. Some soft supple leather is also a bit more pronounced. The only thing really 'off' with the Bentley is the synthetic oud that doesn't match the original very well.

Smelling the Gucci's again straight after exposes the well defined flowery heart which Bentley seems to miss. Although not apparent at first sniff. It does give the Gucci a more 'natural' feel overall but is easy to miss when you don't smell them side by side. All of a sudden we're able to spot a tiny jasmin flower between the lumber.

The decant from 2015 is the odd one out though. Smelling way sweeter than the rest, missing the mark on the oudy notes completely. As a matter of fact, there's even a tobacco note in there that I can't place in the other three. Not entirely unpleasant, but it reminds me a bit more of the sweeter leather of Bentley for men Intense. This needs more investigation: maybe a reformulation, or perhaps the Bentley changes over time... who knows?

The longevity is quite similar, only the Bentley seems to have a slight upper hand in this. Not surprising considering their age I suppose.

More than enough has been written on the olfactory experience of both fragrances so I won't go into that too deeply. All in all this fragrance is a very, very good interpretation of Gucci Pour Homme, even the 2015 version. And for a fraction of the current market price. Almairac really did his best here!

Bentley for men Absolute truly brings back the memories of it's sadly discontinued predecessor, and I very much enjoy wearing it. Even when owning the original, for me it's a definite 'must buy'. And so should it be for you.

12/21/2020

8
Scent 6
Longevity 5
Sillage 8
Bottle 10
Pricing

Nwhite
31 Reviews

Nwhite

Helpful Review 2

Bentley for Men Absolute

Clearly, Michel Almairac had a job to do and many with the exception of only the most ardent Tom Ford era loyalists will enjoy this Gucci Pour Homme I re-creation. If you have never worn the original then you won't know what you are missing anyway - WIN!

For around $30 you can experience this interpretation while patiently waiting for your Ebay search engine to find a vintage bottle of GPH. Then you will need to make the call - pay my rent or get this juice!? (100 ml New In Box can go for $500 +).

I have worn GPH I for years and for me Bentley for Men Absolute is not a clone, but rather an impression. There are many similarities, but ultimately the composition of the original Gucci is superior as apparently synthetic oud is de rigueur in men's perfumery forever more.

Nevertheless, I look forward to wearing Bentley this Fall as the cooler weather will allow it to shine.

3.5 stars

2 Replies

10/08/2020

6.5
Scent 7
Longevity 6
Sillage 7
Bottle

Chizza

Translated Show original

Chizza

Top Review 23

Whiskey-Cola from the Ruhrpott

Udo's alcohol problem was well known and actually Wolles Eleven aka the drunkards of Herne didn't mind very much, because they were never averse to an alcoholic drink. Wolle even went so far as to build a hiding place for a flask into the sole of his shoes, but that's another story. But at some point fate struck and Udo had to cut short on medical advice, his lover Intense from Bentley had to move out.
Udo had a hard time with that and the gang had to think about what to do: "Men, we need a new signature for Udo. What could one take like that? Yes? Bodo?"
"How about an aquata so that Udo only thinks about water?"
Hotte, as a direct neighbor, moved away and pulled a disgusted face. "Bodo, Udo is a bit too happy at the glass, he's not a mermaid looking for the next pond." Murmurs of agreement were heard.
"There's some fine ones with incense and stuff." "We don't want to baptize Udo."
"We're too late for that anyway", flattened Hotte and everyone laughed except for Wolle, who didn't understand the joke.
"No, no, think. No leather, we got plenty. Nothing more intrusive than the smell of that band, you know... Yes Sir, I can Boogie; you know what I mean?"
"What about old scents like Habit Rouge?"
"Totty....we already had that topic....(attentive readers know my Habit Rouge EdC-Post ;))"
l "II be quiet. Not that I have to throw my club clothes in the fire again today."
Suddenly one of the new ones got up from the lower panel and wanted to speak. Wolles Eleven had set up a kind of medieval table in Hotte's garden. The high table consisted of beer benches, the throne for Wool was a worn out sofa and the lower table was in the end made of stone tiles.
"Well, I know it sounds crazy, because I'm crazy, as you know. But do you know the Bentley Absolute? It reminds me of whiskey and coke." "Th-Th-This....is...genius! Diluted schnapps, exactly what Udo needs now to cut down! Tell us more!"
"So the Absolute is characterized by the fact that the ginger becomes slightly smoky due to the incense and the pink pepper - which is not real pepper - has a mild aroma and thus makes the fragrance easier to digest."
"Ah, that sounds rather limp to me so far. Only the aquatics were even more disconcerting."
"well, the scent has amber and cool moss added to it, and these seem to rub off on the other ingredients in such a way that this whiskey-cola impression occurs. In any case, the sweetish cool note is clearly noticeable, as is a dry paper wrap."
"Does that mean that when Udo drinks it, nothing actually happens? Is there no rum in it or something?"
"You can't say it like that either..."
"You heard him! We have the solution! The Absolute is healthy and Udo's solution! Nevertheless, he smells of liquor!"
The crowd roared and the Absolute was ordered in rows. Because of the presentation, they knew they had the solution because the bottle looked like a new-fangled Coke bottle from the brand with the not-so-funny range of motorcycles. At first they wanted to go to Salguod but nobody was able to get there on a sober motorbike anyway. Thanks to Sparky, the club's heraldic animal, nobody had the idea to order several litres online. Afterwards he grinned to Sparky in his head and thanked him well. The troupe didn't wonder why he sat in front of them nodding his head and grinning stupidly. "Sparky?" "If he's passed out like that, I guess he's giving him advice again."

17 Replies

09/25/2020

7
Scent 7
Longevity

Musikus70

Translated Show original

Musikus70

Here the oud is annoying

As an absolute fan of the Gucci Pour Homme - DNA I have owned and loved the Comme des Garcons Man2.
Due to the many comments on the net that the Bentley is even closer to the original I finally tested it. 28 Euro for 100ml, a joke!

Sprayed in the morning.
First impression: "Yep, absolutely right".
Gucci Pour Homme in a different "disguise".
But wait! There's something in there that I can't sooo remember and that bothers me. That's - Oud!
Was that in the "original" too?
Never mind. If it was in there then, it didn't bother me anyway.
And I don't mind oud. But I do mind the Bentley
After a few hours there is hardly anything left of the others to smell. But the oud remains persistent and is really annoying now!

Honestly, I was glad when I was back home after work and could take a shower.
Now I don't know what to do with that still full bottle?
Throw it away right away or keep it in the cupboard until the next day?

Conclusion: for me "Comme des Garcons Man2" is and remains the best alternative to Gucci Pour Homme. Period!

08/31/2020

9.5
Scent 7
Longevity 6
Sillage 8
Bottle

MrHonest
80 Reviews

MrHonest

The strong and silent type

With autumn fast approaching, I was inspired to pick this one up as a daily-use alternative to my ever-waning partial of Gucci Pour Homme. True, I never expected it to be a carbon copy of Almairac’s original creation, but the fact that it’s received so many accolades since its release certainly coloured my optimism. In the end, I’m happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed.

Immediately from the first spray, I get a creamy cedar and sandalwood – a bit muted if I’m honest – but it only takes about 15 seconds for the ginger and frankincense to appear in full force. Compared with GPH, the cedar note is virtually identical – dry, arid, almost powdery and certainly not the sappy, piney kind you might find at a lumber yard, nor the rum-soaked pet-store variety dominating the majority of Bentley For Men Intense. Within a few minutes, the combination of incense and papyrus begin to form the same cumin-esque accord I also get from GPH on my skin. To the untrained nose, the effect is somewhat analogous to mild body odour, yet not exactly unappealing, nor very potent.

In fact, beyond the settling of the incense, ginger and creamy woods into an almost-sweet amber in the drydown, there isn’t much development to the fragrance at all. Within 30 minutes, it’s basically a skin scent and I don’t get any of the pink pepper, oud or moss. From top to bottom, the whole thing feels like it sits incredibly close to the skin (standard for a base-heavy composition) and most of the spiciness, including the quasi-cumin accord aren’t in the sillage at all. Yet, despite the 7-8 hours of longevity, the projection remains the most wonderfully peculiar and unpredictable aspect of the fragrance.

Sometimes, it seems like BFMA stops projecting at the 1 hour mark. At others, I’ll suddenly get a generous waft of that wonderfully creamy, incensed wood from 2 feet at the 3 hour mark. Several minutes later, another hint of an unexpectedly simple, yet sexy skin-like woody amber. As I go in for a close sniff, it's clear that the entire fragrance in its full, spicy splendor is still there; yet, in the projection and sillage, random assortments of notes seem to present themselves at will, varying with skin temperature and atmospheric humidity.

It’s a peculiarity for sure, yet it certainly doesn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the stuff. There’s just something incredibly attractive about its humility, its discreet aptitude – a modest portrait of the strong and silent type. If PdM's Galloway is the smell of a sawblade burning through wood, BFMA is the carpenter's workshop - a dense, full bodied aroma of freshly made furniture. No, it’s not nearly as complex as GPH, nor as potent, but therein lies its relaxing and simplistic charm. I can absolutely understand why some people would consider it an introvert’s muse – a fragrance for personal reflection, not ostentation.

Nevertheless, I can also imagine that for others, the overall experience of BFMA might be rather underwhelming. Composed of almost exclusively mid and base notes, the effect is more like a woody secretion produced naturally by the skin rather than an outright perfume that announces one's arrival. It’s understated; basic; perhaps even leaning synthetic in the drydown; and despite being a very decent representation of GPH up close, the projection can be weak, lacking resolution and bafflingly inconsistent.

But the fact is that I love it to bits. To me, it’s a fragrance to wear when I don’t feel like wearing a fragrance - you know, those days when less is more, when intimacy reigns, and silence is golden. Would I recommend it? Yes I wood. Pun intended. Especially now, with the average life-span of formulations approaching 2 years, sooner is always better than later once demand settles at discounters. And for the steadfast GPH fan, who knows when the next decent smell-alike will ever appear? Almairac? Parle moi.

Batch: 104526G19 (Tester)

07/30/2020

10
Scent 9
Longevity 8
Sillage 5
Bottle

Rquill67
199 Reviews

Rquill67

Dark and stormy...

Bentley for Men Absolute is definitely a dark fragrance, and best for fall and winter. I agree with Ken Tavr's review wherein this fragrance smells like pencil shavings and burnt electronics. But not in a bad way. Very unique!

I immediately felt like I was sitting in the back of a car with leather seats. While there is no leather in this fragrance, there must be notes creating leather; and a different leather from say Ombre Leather, Tuscan Leather, La Yuqawam Homme Rasasi, etc. This is a car leather. Not a purse leather, jacket leather, and is very dry. No sweetness in this fragrance. I really enjoy it.

I really don't get any smoke or amber. This fragrance is very different from Bentley for Men Intense (which I also own and love). I give Bentley for Men Absolute an 8/10.

Great for anyone's fragrance collection!

05/20/2020

10
Scent 7
Longevity 7
Sillage 8
Bottle

Mombasa

Translated Show original

Mombasa

Less helpful Review 5

Who knows GUCCI I remembers

I had read a commi about La Martina Pampania Noble
It also described that a similarity with GUCCI I
...to be determined. At the same time also Bentley absolute
mentioned.
So I went and got both scents The La Martina Pampania noble has in my opinion little to even
to show no similarity.
But with the Bentley man absolute is a good one for me and besides that
inexpensive alternative arose.

4 Replies

02/08/2020

8.5
Scent 7
Longevity 8
Sillage 8
Bottle

Volker1964

Translated Show original

Volker1964

Helpful Review 3

A really nice scent, absolute...

After the Intense my second Bentley fragrance Here we go Top note
This is, not too strong, spicy and smoky. The smoke is not too dominant. Overall quite balanced and well present.
Heart note
Here successful wood notes come into play, the wood is slightly smoky. Oud is intimated.
Base
Oud is coming through. The fragrance gets a sweetish touch. The whole thing is rounded off by a well-integrated moss note. Very pleasing.
Conclusion
An overall quite successful and pleasant fragrance from beginning to end. I like to wear Bentley Absolute at Wimter in my spare time. It lasts with me for about 5-6 hours.
P/L very good.

3 Replies

10/28/2019

9
Scent 9
Longevity 6
Sillage 8
Bottle

MrTee
12 Reviews

MrTee

Helpful Review 1

Love at first sniff!

Love at first sniff!

its not too often that I pull the trigger on a fragrance right after I've smell it for the first time, this was an exception.

This is a fragrance for you. You wear it when you wear it because at that moment in time, you are feeling a certain way. I wasn't expecting it to be versatile, but it is. Its not loud but it lingers around for a long time. I think it would be perfect for close encounters. I also think it would be most ideal for the office environment.

This is a gem in the rough, a steal if you ask me.

01/01/2019

9
Scent 8
Longevity 7
Sillage 9
Bottle

Elysium
418 Reviews

Elysium

Helpful Review 5

It Smells Like Sherlock Holmes's Apartment

To begin with, I've read quite a few reviews here and there making a comparison or stating that Absolute is the perfect replacement for the discontinued masterpiece Gucci Pour Homme... Albeit it is a child of the same perfumer that created Gucci Pour Homme, and as you can see the notes are very similar, but they are a bit different, yet I will not express any opinion here being I had no chance to get together with Gucci, sigh, my bad.

Bentley for Men Absolute is a story I have had my eyes on since its release communication over a year ago after being highly impressed with Bentley for Men and even more-so with Bentley for Men Intense. I've waited a while to try it, it was not available here in Italy, and online the price was still too high. Swiftly, a few days before Xmas I came across it on eBay from an Italian seller, it was relatively new, just tested with few sprays, and bought it. I like Bentley for Men, Intense, and all the other flankers very much, but Absolute makes its mark at all. Ain't similar to the original, nor to Intense or any other flankers. The first two are more about the leather and rum, along with a different bay leaf note. Absolute is an entirely different scent. Absolute is dry, is woody and spicy, is ashy and resinous, is unique among all Bentley's colognes and all of my collection's artifacts.

If I were asked to describe Bentley Absolute in one word I’d say smooth! Oh man, is this juice just smooth. It smells luxurious and positively masculine. The notes of incense and freshly chopped wood remind me too much of the traditions and holidays of my childhood in past winters. And, to wear this fragrance in any other season but the winter, to me, seems plain wrong, unless you're on a cold fall which is fine, either. It is a classy and luxurious scent in a mysterious dark way like its bottle, and I do have the all black one.

But, let's jump into the smell. The opening is divine! Hands down the best overture of any cologne that I own. That blast of fresh pencil shavings magically blended with pinchy pink pepper and smoky and spicy incense. I adore this opening and wish there was no scent development with Bentley Absolute, just that opening. Don't get me wrong, I like the dry down too, but I love the initial accord most. When this juice does dry down, it’s dark and muggy and smooth. This redolence is the smell of an Arabian prince, Ali Baba I think was wearing this if he were a real man. This treasure feels less like cologne and more like a scarce and expensive anointing oil. It is initially bone dry resinous pepper with fresh birch sap in the background that initially brings to mind. All the while I detect slightly pungent ginger and papyrus mix and ever so slightly sweet pink pepper orbiting around the main notes of bone-dry oud and olibanum dripping into a flame.

Absolute, I will call it this way from now on, uses precious woods and natural essences to define an experience of pure luxury. Michel Almairac did a great work here. The top note surprises, with a spicy cocktail of fresh ginger and pink peppercorns, and a hint of mystical frankincense. As aforementioned, it is not citrus, yet clean and tasty and smoky from the very beginning.

The fragrance announces its uncompromising extravagance within just a few seconds. After several minutes the heart note unfolds with elegant woody aromas of papyrus, cedar, and sandalwood in a way that is remarkably powerful and masculine. Atlas cedar is noticeable in the top notes, and the pencil sharpener accord is outstanding as in LeLabo Santal 33. Papyrus intensifies this dry and bare accord more, whereas sandalwood adds creaminess and balances the heart.

Absolute smells like incense, the resins put under heat and are just at the brink of giving of smoke but it hasn't yet. It's warm, it's natural... this is gorgeous. This is not the incense stick kind; this is the same high-quality resin smoked to perfection.

The base note includes the most seductive essences in the world of fragrances: Oud. It is agreeable and not too sturdy, this time blended with other resins and woods rather than bitter saffron, amazing rose or luscious vanilla. The sensual ambergris and elegant harmonies of moss surround the golden resin for a gorgeous and longlasting dry down. I've read a few reviews stating that Oud is not noticeable at all... That is not true to me, Oud is there and gives that far east touch to this cologne without being too medicinal.

It is not a firm or heavy scent though it is warmth-inducing.
It is almost linear even though dominant notes appear here and there during its development, the pepper note is more pronounced in the opening then it fades slowly, but ginger, oud, and olibanum remain virtually until the end. The dry down is a tangible woody and dry smell with a little sweetness.

I think the longevity is just a bit more than average, it is quite a beast, you could smell it the day after on your t-shirt or sweater, yet the projection and sillage are moderate, not offensive. The scent lasts for many hours on my skin and sits reasonably close. I love it, and I have been wearing it every day since receiving it. Absolute is very masculine, very sophisticated and very in line with the Bentley brand promise. In my own words and after only a week I own it, I am blown away by this fragrance. It is the wafting smoke of a red-hot saw blade struggling to cut through some old hardwood.

Ultimately, about the title, somehow I get that association. The wooden and leather chairs, the old books, the smell of all sorts of tobacco, the coziness and the vibe of all the visitors coming and going. I find this very attractive, not necessarily in a sexy way but still somehow intriguing. It has class and style in a rather old-fashioned, yet not dated way. It is not pushy nor boozy like the Intense when applied with caution, and the longevity seems to be slightly above average. Good juice this!

Absolute made my day!

-Elysium

3 Replies

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