DesirToxic by M. Micallef

Smells like Layton but with that recognizable menthol twist. People say it’s versatile, but to me, it smells dirty; nothing appropriate for the office.

I tried a 2ml decant and it smelled like a barbershop. Didn’t like it. I see many saying it resembles Layton, but I don’t see any similarity to the original. It feels more like a fragrance for people over 40.

The latest reviews I’ve read are 👌

I was interested for a while but never enough to buy blind. Then the good Mithrandir offered me a decant. The first thing you notice shortly after spraying are fresh, slightly cool, fruity blackcurrants with a herbal touch. Very new to me and I didn’t like it much at first. But now things improve with a blend of cardamom and lemon that blends perfectly. After the opening, it becomes a bit spicier due to cinnamon and cardamom, though it still smells fresh in the base; the fruits are less present. When it dries, it has one of the best shaving foam notes I’ve heard in niche: the fruits return, it becomes sweeter but not one-dimensional, keeping that real freshness that evokes a beautiful finish. Sexy, sweet, fresh, and masculine. You could say it reminds me of Layton, La nuit de L’homme, and Sauvage (each with different notes). It doesn’t smell uniquely incredible enough to be a scent revelation, but it’s interesting, a bit strange, and very skillfully composed, although just right in performance on my skin. PD: Cannabis is absent here. If you like that note, look for Azzaro Club Men.

After finishing an 8ml decant, this scent excited me enough to make the purchase. Just don’t expect to pay the official price; at €90, it feels like a solid deal. It has fresh, green, and spicy facets that blend beautifully, taming the tonka bean’s sweetness just right. Yes, it reminds me of Layton in the dry-down, but in its best form—the version that doesn’t rely so heavily on vanilla. If you like Layton but aren’t fully sold yet, I recommend trying Desirtoxic; it does it better and is easier to find at a better price than the original.

Neither here nor there. DesirToxic, which launched almost five years ago, hasn’t aged well and has faded into obscurity among fragrance enthusiasts; it lost its punch and deflated, much like when clowns inflate a hype balloon. Everything that rises… 🎈 ➡️ The opening is a sweet (vanilla-based) scent with a very aromatic note that smells like lavender (though it’s not listed), a touch of spice, and citrus in the top notes that welcome you in. It’s totally unisex, versatile, and easy to wear, reminding you of youthful designer fragrances you’ve smelled dozens of times in department store perfume aisles, at parties, clubs, gatherings, etc. Performance is modest. It smells like a designer fragrance but at a niche price of $229, which is what the bottle costs. Does it resemble Layton? No. Could it remind you of Layton? Possibly, due to the vibe it exudes: youthful, sweet, and aromatic, perfect for the same situations. An DNA I insist, you already know. Does it resemble YSL’s Opium? Man, you’d need a broken nose to call that nonsense. It offers nothing new, and its cannabis note shines by its absence. An offering that will delight users who aren’t demanding. No thanks.

It’s not that the perfume is bad or good, but for my taste, that dominant sugary note just doesn’t appeal to me.

I refuse to believe it’s the same as Layton; if I had to find a relative, I’d say it’s Sauvage Elixir with a sweet twist. Are they the same? Not by a long shot. While the cinnamon and cardamom are similar, Elixir is spicier and Desirtoxic is sweeter and more patchouli-forward. It had massive hype that faded into obscurity, and I don’t know why. After a while, the musk comes through—it’s nothing unpleasant like in Bad Boy Le Parfum, nor as realistic as Narcos’ Iris. Everything blends well in Desirtoxic, with a resinous base, probably benjoin. Overall, I give it an 8; nobody will tell you they don’t like it. Good longevity, though the projection is short. It smells different yet accessible, which isn’t bad; sometimes we overthink originality when the wheel was already invented. I never recommend blind buys, but if you have to, this is a solid choice.

You can definitely tell Layton is there, but with more complexity. In the end, I still prefer the original. DesirToxic smelled better on paper than on my skin, so I wouldn’t buy it.

I absolutely loved it. It has the Layton vibe but without the overwhelming vanilla that can sometimes be cloying. The dry-down combination is extraordinary. Exquisite aroma with tremendous longevity and projection. I see it as a PDM winter fragrance combo, all in one.

A curious fragrance, probably new given the lack of reviews. It’s an aromatic with character. At first, right after spraying, it smelled toxic and didn’t convince me, but after about 10 magical minutes, everything changed and I fell in love. Then you can really smell the bergamot, lime, cardamom, and blackcurrant. It’s my first cannabis-based scent, so I wasn’t sure if it would smell bad, but it doesn’t. Is it worth saving up for? Absolutely, every penny! For the price, longevity, and sillage, it’s excellent.

I’m wearing it right now and it has a very pleasant sweet citrus opening that gives way to an herbal touch, perhaps from the cannabis. It lasts quite well and leaves a delicious trail, though it doesn’t project much. After a month of use, I’m still obsessed with it.