Aramis by Aramis

Forget the reformulations everyone keeps talking about; let’s talk about the bottle I have. About 7 years ago, my father-in-law came to town and as he got out of his truck, he let off a powerful blast that I didn’t like at first, but it was a scent I had never smelled before (Aramis). Over time, in a casual conversation, he told me it was his fragrance since his youth, so out of curiosity, I bought my own. Although I used it, I couldn’t find the right moment and put it away for almost a year and a half; the scent didn’t improve, but now that I’m using it again, it gives me a sense of peace and abundance that’s hard to explain. We all want to smell good, project well, and get compliments, but the feeling this fragrance gives me is far superior to everything else. The best part is that it comes in large sizes (120 and 200 ml), so it lasts a long time, and it’s very affordable.

The ‘absurd’ comparisons many make between famous, expensive fragrances from my adolescence led me to investigate them like an archaeological dig. It’s a losing battle from the start, considering how much they’ve been reformulated since their original versions. However, I want to share: ARAMIS ARAMIS is a fragrance that I didn’t love at the time, but it didn’t disgust me. I met it at age 15; some friends used it, knew each other, and we hung out in the same circles, school, etc. I always assumed they were those kids whose moms, aunts, and grandmas bought everything from socks to perfume; well, the ones who wore cologne because many, even if they had money, didn’t use it, and if they did, they used their parents’. One of those guys sat at a desk right next to mine, and I smelled him for three years, no mistake. I don’t know what he used before, but I remember that like many other guys after 15, we switched to something more ‘adult’; I had just switched from MONIEUR BALMAIN to EAU SAVAGE. We lived facing the Caribbean with summer temperatures all year round. The ARAMIS line offered other options I never heard mentioned among my friends, yet they were equally renowned. Today I’m 63. These perfumes, the three named in this text, were recommended and considered ‘very youthful and light’ for adult men with beards in my teens… ¡¡¡ Ejejjejjejeej !!! Today, young people perceive them as smelling like old people; they either knew them used by their elders or because they fall outside the olfactory schemes of the new century. Reformulations make it impossible to judge these fragrances correctly. Today they are a pale reflection of what they were, and it’s not a matter of nostalgia. Some of them are proposed to me as ‘replicas’ diligently and skillfully reworked by private perfumers experts in bespoke scents from ‘other times’, and smelling them, when possible, is a delight… INCONCEIVABLE. My generation, among those who were privileged, bought originals in Paris, London, or New York, in that order in my case. ‘Imitations’ existed, but they only applied to fragrances with less important brands; lawsuits for plagiarism were economically unfeasible. My generation and circle were very, but very lucky; we grew up smelling exquisite fragrances without thinking much about the milliliters consumed daily… no bottle came with a spray. Eight out of ten of those people from my youth still hold a love for perfumes, and the truth is it’s not easy to access quality nectars unless a trip to Europe allows us to visit a few houses that preserve the Art. My desk-mate friend has lived in Europe for 35 years, and just hearing ARAMIS ARAMIS mentioned makes him frown, while for me… well, it makes me smile; it corresponds to a dear period of my past.

Several formulas or vertical tasting. Result: If you want a good modern formula of an elegant leather scent, go to Bel Ami. Don’t go paying fortunes for a vintage Aramis bottle on eBay. Here’s what needs to be said: the new Aramis formula, I suggest you don’t buy it, unfortunately, it’s anything but good, but that’s not Aramis. The Aramis sold now resembles Denim, or what they sell now as Cerruti, Lancetti, Quorum; it’s not snobbery, it’s that buying that is throwing money away to hate perfumery, get bored, and get lost. Edit: Oh, as for the price, Zara’s Leather Jardin turns the current Aramis formula upside down.

What I like about this fragrance. I wear the vintage version that says ‘Cologne spray’ on the bottle, and it reminds me how rare it is to find something so bold and, at the same time, so well composed. It comes with everything: aldehydes that sparkle like cut glass, artemisia and bergamot that bite, and then a heavy, animalistic warmth that unfolds with overwhelming confidence. It doesn’t tiptoe or flirt. It arrives with shoulders firm, shirt half-unbuttoned, and challenges you to face it. What I like most about Aramis is how it manages to be animalistic and polished at the same time. It has a slightly sweaty note, of lived-in skin—probably castoreum—that gives it that sensual edge, but it’s balanced by clove, sage, patchouli, and a floral mist like a barbershop that keeps it elegant. It’s not as brazen as Kouros nor as enveloping as Bel Ami; it’s sharper, more compact, more angular… but it remains profoundly human. Last night I wore the current version of Bel Ami, which is rounder, softer, with a more marked balsamic touch, and I love how both fragrances feel like cousins with very different temperaments. The leather in Aramis doesn’t overwhelm; it vibrates in the background, constant, like a well-worn belt or the interior of an old car. Even now, almost 60 years later, Aramis feels current—not by following trends, but like a good suit or a bottle of aged whisky: things that simply don’t go out of style. This is worn when you don’t need to give explanations. It lasts all day, evolves with your skin, and leaves in its wake a kind of respectful silence. It’s not for everyone, and that’s exactly the point. This fragrance doesn’t seek to please the masses—it’s about presence. And Aramis has plenty of that.

My nose gets tired with this perfume; it’s very strong, for older men who like very masculine scents.

This 60s version is like Kouros but spicier and more characterful. The YSL is rounder and finer, while Aramis is rough, tough, and very masculine, which is why I don’t see it on feminine skin. That roughness is its signature—something that fit the 80s but today only appeals to nostalgics seeking potent scents, far from the YouTuber compliment culture. It’s a piece of history worth smelling and wearing if you dare or love the good smells of the past and present. Decent performance, but be careful not to overdo it in enclosed spaces.

It belongs to that category of vintage perfumes that are a pain to wear. Ideal for someone who doesn’t care about compliments and enjoys pre-modern perfumery. Strong opening with aldehydes, then it settles into florals, but the leather and patchouli kill any feminine vibe. Duration and performance are decent. A must-buy for lovers of the old school. If you prefer scents like Invictus, Y, or One Million, stay away.

Is Aramis Cabochard? Have you ever smelled Clinique’s Aromatics Elixir? I think Lauder uses the same formula with minimal changes. Aramis lacks Cabochard’s dark softness but has the brutal edges of Aromatics Elixir. It feels like an American interpretation of a classic French animalic scent. The modern version is quite wearable, especially if you layer something more dimensional on top. Perfect for those who don’t want to smell like mainstream perfume. I imagine the original was more potent, so if you’re looking for that, use Clinique’s Aromatics.

This fragrance is, as most comment, a proper vintage with a very classic, masculine aroma. I like it for being different from current trends. What disappoints me is the longevity and intensity: it’s not as long-lasting or intrusive as I’ve read. I think it’s quite soft and wearable; I’d add more punch. I’m talking about the 2023 version. It’s available at a good price, so I recommend its rich spicy and woody aroma, classic with depth. It’s not heavy or just for older men. It can dress a young man well who wants to stand out. It dries nicely, and you can tell it’s quality because it’s not overly alcoholic.

A classic and quality scent. With me, these types of heavy, spicy aromas don’t work, but it’s just a matter of taste. However, I can’t stop highlighting its longevity and sillage, which surprise me and speak of a quality fragrance.

I don’t get why anyone would call this fragrance outdated just because it doesn’t fit into that boring pile of citrus-vanilla scents everyone wears. I agree with my colleagues: the opening is a disaster, but the magic happens during the dry-down, where it calms down and smells like luxury soap. I love it because it brings back old olfactory memories and feels unique in its concept. It’s elegant and performs better in the cold. Another gem in my collection. Cheers! If you like my reviews, follow me on TikTok: Chuliá Parfum Reviews @chulia.my13parfums

Boss of the chypres, damn it. No half-measures; it smells like an older person, like moms. It’s not that it’s bad, but it’s truly vintage, timeless (even though my collection is vintage). Damn personality, though it doesn’t project much, it’s a heavy and invasive scent. With so much personality, it requires damn pants to carry it. To my taste, it’s a Calandre or Cabochard for men, damn aldehydes, aggressive herbal top notes. There’s no rose, but it has a potent rose nuance, and in the base, old leather with earth and classic moss from the era. An extraordinary salute.

It’s one of those vintage fragrances that reminds you of someone from when you were young; maybe that gives it a bias. I like it a lot; it’s strong and has personality, but it smells like decades ago. I like it and I’ll keep using it as long as they make it. Since it’s strong, not recommended for heat. Its scent is unmistakable, very gentlemanly.

The first time I tried it, I was speechless due to its originality, even though I know it’s an older fragrance. In this 2021 version, I don’t detect the clear notes; it smells like leather, wet earth, or herbs. For me, it’s hard to wear and I’m not sure what occasion to use it for, but it’s a bottled surprise. I wore it once and didn’t get any compliments. It lasts 6 hours on skin and 8 on clothes. The price is great; I found it for 950 pesos. It’s not bad, it’s actually good and versatile, but it’s not a current scent for young people. I’ll keep testing it out.

Yesterday I tried Aramis out of curiosity, and to sum it up, it’s Cabochard. Since I sprayed it on my arm, it hasn’t stopped reminding me of the other one; for me, they’re the same. I’d even say Aramis, a men’s fragrance, feels more feminine to me than Cabochard, which, despite being a women’s scent, is drier and tougher, leaning more masculine. Aramis seemed sweeter and cloying to me. It’s curious that being so similar, I like one and not the other much. Maybe the day wasn’t the best because it was hot and it bothered me a bit. On Fragrantica there are 282 votes for similarity against 100 for difference, and those 100 people who don’t see the connection seem like a lot. Then I saw that the perfumer is the same, Bernard Chant, and I imagined a funny scene: Bernard’s wife asking him how he’s carrying the new perfume for Monday while it’s Friday, and him scratching his belly. Damn perfume, he puts on the formula, adds a bit of tarragon, removes this and adds that, smells good, and there it is. Great, so what are you going to call it? Eh, well, since I just made it up right now, I can call it… Aramis. ARAMIS!!