Layton by Parfums de Marly

I could swear this is my favorite fragrance of all time, a very wearable sweet apple outing. I almost open the bottle almost every day just to smell this delight. Despite that, I don’t recommend buying it blindly—not because it smells bad, but because the performance doesn’t justify the price. The projection is potent at first but disappears quickly, not even lasting an hour clearly. The longevity is decent, but with that poor trail, you’ll have to press your nose to your neck to smell it and reapply constantly. In summary: Scent 10/10, the best I’ve ever smelled; Projection 4/10, unacceptable for the price; Longevity 6/10, it’s not water but no miracles either; Price/Quality 3/10. Conclusion: I don’t recommend buying it blindly, especially if you don’t want to be disappointed by a $300 perfume that you’ll have to reapply every hour. I do recommend trying it in a decant. If you have extra cash, I’d bathe myself in 200ml bottles of this delight.

First, I tried Layton Exclusif (2023 batch) and then the classic (2025 batch). The difference in performance is brutal. I don’t know if they reformulated it, but the classic lasts me about 2 hours on clothes and 8 on skin. The Exclusif is a gem; it smells better and performs better than the original. It works great in the cold, and given the poor performance of the original, I also don’t recommend it for hot weather.

A fragrance that makes me feel good. The first time I thought, ‘how sweet, is this Layton?’ and associated it with the vibe of Le Male and similar scents. But then it became addictive; sometimes I just unscrew the bottle at home to smell it. After that first outing, it transforms into something more vanilla-like that accompanies and comforts me on cool days, like wearing a smiling scarf. It smells high-quality, has a strong but not shrill balance, without that synthetic base that makes lesser niche perfumes sting. I use it in waves, but when it comes… Mmmmm…

Delicious. There is no other word. The opening doesn’t please everyone, but I love it.

What a rich thing, simply spectacular. No wonder it’s perhaps the most famous from PDM. It’s the first one I have, and I’m intrigued to go get the others.

Look, to be clear: subjectively, it doesn’t work for me; it’s just not my style. But beware of the ‘dolphin noses’ claiming it smells like medicinal balm or camphor—that’s false. The fragrance is noble and high-quality, even if I don’t enjoy it. What really bugs me is how this creates a false impression for people seeking honest opinions. We don’t demand perfect reviews, but we don’t tolerate blatant nonsense. I don’t know if it’s an olfactory issue, ignorance, or just unjustified hate against a great fragrance. If you want decants, go to a store and ask them to prepare it in front of you; don’t blindly buy expensive things that could turn out to be cheap ‘Vicks’ or ‘mentholatum’ diluted in alcohol.

The first time I wore it, it stole all the looks and non-stop compliments. It hits hard, elegant, and addictive from the very first second. The opening is a blend of apple, lavender, and bergamot—clean but with a characteristic sweet touch. Then comes a spicy base with cinnamon and cardamom, and as it dries down, it leaves a vanilla- and woody-scented trail that’s creamy and where it truly shines. On my skin, it lasts 8-10 hours with a powerful sillage in the first few hours. I’ve worn it outside and at meetings, and everyone says I smell incredible. It’s sophisticated, sweet without being cloying, elegant, and versatile for day or night. It makes me feel great every time I wear it. Rating: 9.5.

Warm and elegant. The opening combines vivid citrus with a green apple accord—fresh and attractive—that quickly gives way to an aromatic heart of lavender and spices. The evolution moves toward a warm and elegant profile, where vanilla and woods add robustness and maturity. As it dries down, the synergy between cardamom, vanilla, and woody notes creates an enveloping and refined texture, which is the reason for its popularity. It’s an intense fragrance with great performance that conveys confidence and sophistication without falling into the juvenile or party vibe. My rating: 9.5/10. A versatile and elegant creation, ideal for those seeking a perfume with presence and character.

It’s the sublimation of warm designer perfumes. It might clash at first due to those green notes that balance the vanilla, but once you know it, it captivates. It’s easy to wear and enjoy. Like everything touched by hype, the price has skyrocketed to the clouds.

Quality perfume, but it has a lot of hype; I wouldn’t buy it blindly. It smells like apple and cinnamon air freshener, very sweet; I prefer Greenly. Didn’t like it.

This fragrance was my first niche perfume, and I must say, nothing I’ve smelled before has surpassed it. It’s simply perfect; its blend of natural and synthetic ingredients creates an excellent, long-lasting scent. Fresh and very versatile, I wear it mostly during the day, but without issues, it’s a beast for night too. Box: thick cardboard with a normal design, pleasant and imposing solely due to the brand. 8.5/10. Bottle: beautiful, like painted ceramic, always cool to the touch. It’s heavy, showing quality; the cap is metallic and reflective, also high quality. It’s not impressive on its own but fits the perfume perfectly, subtle and quality. 9/10. Atomizer: excellent, quality is evident, though you can’t expect less at this price. 10/10. Price: its biggest weakness, exorbitant in my opinion (I got it here in Mexico for around $400 USD), though as the best of the best in niche perfumery it’s understandable, and in a way, it prevents everyone from wearing it and helps differentiate those who do. I don’t support these prices or the inflated market, nevertheless, this is definitely my favorite fragrance. 5/10. Longevity: about 8 hours with good projection and sillage; you feel comfortable wearing it; afterwards, it lasts up to 10-12 hours on the skin. 9/10. Sillage: excellent, very noticeable without being annoying, subtle without being discreet; personally, I’d like it to be slightly stronger, but it’s simply the best out there in general terms. 10/10. Compliments: never missing, if someone hasn’t smelled you before they say you smell good, if they know you, it becomes a part of you they don’t forget. That’s why I chose it as my signature scent despite the price. 10/10. Final Score 8.78/10. Conclusion: unfortunately, the price drags the score down significantly since it deserves a solid 10, but I think it’s very important to consider this factor. The fragrance is exquisite; if you have the chance to buy it, go ahead, and if you use a dupe, it’s also a good option.

Very interesting and rich aroma, good longevity and projection. I truly believe the price is too high for what it offers; however, I read other reviews and your nose must be very simple to say it’s nothing special. It has many facets, and that menthol gives it a special character, but the scent could get tiring with regular use.

A great perfume but ultra-overpriced. I wouldn’t pay what it costs in stores, even if I had to sing. An exquisite fragrance but, like many in designer perfumery. So I opt 100% for buying a decant of the fragrance. Green apple is the protagonist in the opening to give a floral citrus touch. Then it becomes sweet and woody, ending with a classic touch in recent perfumes. Exquisite perfume but I wouldn’t pay what it’s worth.

I can understand the hype of this fragrance because it really smells spectacular and I doubt anyone would dislike it. Now, I also understand the folks below who accuse it of lacking character and personality, and that it reminds them of a commercial creation (in my case, the dry-down patchouli leads me to Boss Bottled Absolu). Look, if you sniff well, you can pick out delicious nuances, but for any common nose, I think it’s fair to say it smells like smoked apple sweetened by vanilla and patchouli. The first thing that came to mind was a hybrid of YSL Y EDP and the aforementioned Boss. It’s a winning horse; it smells deadly and will please others, but in my humble opinion, for a niche fragrance and the price it has, I ask for more. With a decant, I’m more than covered.

Yay, finally getting into the good vibes! Right out of the bottle, that blend of three fruits with lavender feels a bit muddled with a spicy touch, then the floral and spicy facets emerge to create a sweet, super charming scent. The harmony is sublime; the ingredient quality is a caress to the nose. I see myself wearing this when I’m a bit more mature, so I’d say it’s for ages 25+; a young guy could wear it to generate tons of charm, especially in cooler weather. It has great projection and longevity, smells high-quality like Parfums de Marly usually do, but avoid it in the heat. At the right moment, it will work magic and become a memorable presentation.