Potion Dsquared² (2011) Eau de Parfum

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7.5 / 10 378 Ratings

Potion (Eau de Parfum) is a perfume by Dsquared² for men and was released in 2011. The scent is spicy-woody. It was last marketed by Angelini Beauty.

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Perfumer

Annick Ménardo

Fragrance Notes

Top Notes	Angelica, Mint, Thyme
Heart Notes	Gentian, Pepper, Rose, Cinnamon
Base Notes	Amber, Cashmere wood, Musk, Patchouli

Ratings

Scent

7.5 (378 Ratings)

Longevity

7.2 (258 Ratings)

Sillage

6.3 (252 Ratings)

Bottle

6.3 (259 Ratings)

Submitted by Kankuro, last update on 18.10.2019

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Reviews

05/12/2018

4.0 8.0 8.0 4.0/10

Mariendorfer
0 Reviews

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Mariendorfer

Less helpful Review 2

Cellar scent

If I had to match scents to part of a house, I'd see this one here in the basement. Smells kind of musty. An acquaintance - 28 years old - said that he smells like "old man". No compliments either. Probably my nose will change as I get older, so at the age of 80 it could be something for me. At the moment I find him very penetrating and unpleasant. I had bought it on trial in the net to get there cheap. Afterwards I felt sorry for the little money.

04/08/2018

7.0 6.0 7.0 7.0/10

Smora
141 Reviews

Smora

Helpful Review 2

Relaxing

In Potion I can sense Annick Menardo's touch. Some herbal aspect reminds me of Lolita Lempicka Au Masculine. Also it strongly reminds me of Gucci Pour Homme, but more introverted, herbal, sweeter and with less obvious note layers. The opening is herbal and heavily aromatic, like a childhood cough syrup. Cinnamon, pale incense and gentle rose like Lutens for beginners, come ahead of strong amber, vanilla and musk.
A meditative mix that seems like it's coming from Diptyque house. The scent of autumnal relaxation in your favorite robe. Sheer magic.

Rating: 7/10

11/26/2015

5.0 7.5 5.0 7.0/10

K1
121 Reviews

Modest replica of Gucci Pour Homme

Potion is an exciting lush cinnamon on integrated woody amber smoldering smokiness. Smells like when you discover your things from past kept in a wooden cupboard for years. Also smells a bit like guitar case too!

The base of the fragrance meets peppery wood with pale cinnamon and sweetness, and plush marine musky theme emerged from ambroxan; most probably. Potion is not that enormous in longevity to guarantee for half a day. It also has medium projection.
7.5/10

1 Replies

11/01/2015

7.5 5.0 5.0 5.0/10

Omid2am
25 Reviews

Omid2am

cinnamon festival

i am a user not a collector and as a user i can say good price good smell but weak longevity and sillage is moderate .

08/25/2015

ColinM
516 Reviews

ColinM

Greatly helpful Review 7

Gucci pour Homme goes sweet & exotic

Another fairly-priced mainstream fragrance I’ve ignored for years until reading some positive reviews by a few contributors I trust. And again, they were right: Potion is a true little gem, quite unrelated to the averagely mediocre quality of other Dsquared scents, not to mention their hideous fashion side. First of all, many mention Gucci pour Homme from 2003 as a reference for this, and if you want my opinion, they are quite similar indeed. And in some way, even if there is some substantial differences notes-wise, Potion may work as a good replacement if you miss Gucci. The two fragrances may not be identical, but the quality is definitely (and surprisingly) on the same level – which is a quite top-notch level. And they definitely share a really similar vibe in my opinion. Potion has the same smooth, sheer and sophisticated woody-amber-incense structure of Gucci, adding to that a consistent dose of crisp, minty and delightfully pungent aromatic herbs, a fantastic musk note (“fantastic” because it’s musk, but a quality one - way different from the usual, sticky, everlasting musky base you get in many cheap mainstreams) and some spices, mostly a peppery cinnamon note.

So it’s basically a sort of spicier, sweeter and muskier version of Gucci pour Homme (with a far echo of another giant of designer perfumery – the herbs-amber accord of YSL M7); less “mature” than Gucci, but quite close to it nonetheless. More “tasty” and aromatic, slightly sweeter (I guess thanks to the subtle floral notes), less austere and less smoky than Gucci, overall more easy-going, but totally refined as well, showing Annick Menardo’s talent with spices and sheer, subtly elegant harmonies. I think I also get something reminding me of Body Kouros, but I don’t know what precisely. Anyway as I (and many others) said, Gucci pour Homme is the more evident close sibling to Potion. And the key similarity for me is their level of quality, which makes stand both quite above the rest of the “woody-amber” class of masculine designers. The quality of Potion is truly elevate on every level – materials and composition. A bit close to skin (maybe too much, at least for the EDT), but it works. A true must for the price.

8-8,5/10

08/29/2014

10.0 5.0 7.5 6.0/10

MasterLi
367 Reviews

MasterLi

Very helpful Review 3

Review for the Eau de Parfum...

Potion is a fragrance that I really like. It is not too different from past male orientals in that it is spicy and sweet and very pleasing. I do however prefer it to most designer fragrances marketed for men with a predictable "aquatic" vibe. Potion is the opposite of an aquatic. It is dry (from the black pepper), sweet (from the amber) and woody (from the cashmeran).

Created by Annick Mennardo, who is known for her almost signature style use of woods and resins in most of her creations. Potion is no exception. It is sweet and ambery and soft and faintly spicy, and blended together really well. Drying down to a musk, amber & patchouli base with a touch of mint to give it a hint of "freshness" throughout.

For the most part it's a skin scent, I have not compared it with the Eau de Toilette, but this has a moderate projection and lasts for a good while. I think it works better when there is body heat, so it would be a good one for more intimate situations in close settings. Would also be perfect for formal as well as work, casual and intimate settings, along with romantic encounters. Something different for men which isn't a typical "aquatic" or "sports" fragrance. Worth checking out.

11/08/2013

10.0 2.5 5.0 7.0/10

Teadot
26 Reviews

Teadot

Helpful Review 3

"Double, double, toil and trouble"...William Shakespeare.

Droplets of brew from the cauldron of Macbeth's 3 witches.
Complete with eye of newt, and wool of bat...
CINNAMON stiks on ANGELICA, stacked.
A sprig of MINT. A dash of ROSE.
Over AMBER warmth, from cinder... Grows.
An ancient remedie for the heart, decants.
Diluted, to a transparent, modern,
Seducer... Of a scent.

Complexity, without announcement.

Recommended for those who prefer intrigue, over Drama.

(EDT version closer to a skin-scent. But all the better ; )

06/17/2013

Boszka79
11 Reviews

Boszka79

Very helpful Review 7

Surprisingly good smoky amber.

POTION by DSQUARED is a really big surprise for me, actually I don't know why I have not try this beauty before. If somebody show for me this fragrance without label, I tought it would be some Annick Goutal perfume or it's made by one of niche perfumeur.Actually when I applied it in the back of my hand Ambre Narguilé by Hermés came to my mind as I inhaled Potion in the first minutes.

In Potion- quality meets with style and charm, the blend of the notes layered perfectly with warm spices and smoky woods.Whiff of rose, a shrug of thyme and pepper,faint cinnamon- they are sitting on a rich woody-smoky amber base.Pleasantly sweet and just exactly as spicy, what is turns the scent sufficiently piquant. Potion is an enthralling UNISEX perfume with excellent sillage and longevity.Just simply perfect for autumn due its slightly oriental and creamy elements.

Potion by Dsquared2 is an echo of intimacy and sensuality.Probably one of the best mainstream release of the 2011's year.

I definitely can see myself to wearing this scent in the autumn.

12/20/2012

7.5 2.5 5.0 8.0/10

Drseid
671 Reviews

Drseid

Very helpful Review 7

Great Scent, Terrible Distribution Strategy...

Potion edp opens with just the faintest hint of mint over light spiced amber, before developing into a combination of cinnamon, black pepper and a deeper more vociferous amber heart. The base adds a nice woody accord that differs from the usual cedar, combining it with musk and more of the amber in the heart notes with subtle touches of patchouli. Potion edp is definitely on the sweet side of the spectrum, but it never veers into the dangerous territory of being overly sweet or cloying with the amber beautiful in its balance. Potion is pretty linear in its development, but it smells extremely refined and well-blended. Longevity is average to above average (I am getting a minimum of 9 hours out of it) and projection is minimal (just a hair more than a skin scent, but not weak at all).

This was an overseas blind buy, and in my case it paid off big time. I find Potion edp to not be earth shatteringly different that many others on the market (although different from most designer releases of the past 5 years), but rather polished, well-made and extremely satisfying and wearable. It gives me an almost Ambre Sultan vibe after the initial notes with its spiced amber heart, but it is not a clone at all. One of the best designer releases in years and easily full bottle worthy, IMO. Why DSquared2 is keeping this one from the US (and many other outlets) is perplexing beyond belief, as it is definitely a winner. 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5.

01/05/2012

5.0 10.0 10.0 8.0/10

Cory
22 Reviews

Cory

Helpful Review 4

Today they serve Potion on the Christmas Market

at least Potion by Dsquared takes one to an olfactory journey through both. In any case a very interesting fragrance which already has charmed me.
Rarely I encountered a that big dicrepancy between the scent on the test strip in comparison to the scent on the skin. The scent on the test strip was all sweetnes (like in cotton candy) until some woody notes appeared. On the skin it´s different: the start is also VERY sweet, until a herbal, spicy note rises and a little bit later some "stable" woody notes appear.
All in all this provides for a charming scent and reminds of fresh christmas baking like almond biscuit. The scent encloses the skin surely. Interestingly, it doesn´t smell as absurdly as it might sound...
This Eau de Parfum last up to one day on the skin and it works stronger then I first thought.
With this fragrance I have got a Potion which I really love; now it is up to me to find the right purpose for it...