Altamir by Ted Lapidus

I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re under 35.

As a new arrival, I have to say it lasts almost nothing—barely an hour. This happens to me often because of my dry skin (which is why I prefer Arabic perfumes that use oils rather than alcohol). I like the scent, so I’ll wait for it to oxidize and see if it evolves further. I’m not very hopeful about the longevity.

Without wanting to offend anyone, I just have to say it reminded me of my grandmother’s gathering or the hairdresser’s clients my mother used to take me to when I was a kid. Setting that aside, I’m not going to wear this cologne again, just as I wouldn’t rub a roasted sardine all over my body even though I love them. There’s something about it that just doesn’t click for me, and it’s not a little thing. Anyway, I’ll use it to make people I dislike smell it, or maybe as a mosquito repellent this summer by spraying it on the curtains.

I was drawn to it because of its reputation for being similar to Gaultier 2. Having tried it courtesy of the master Jerry Drake, I must say it disappointed me because it’s very far from being a dupe of G2. However, it did remind me of Nikos Sculpture; the floral notes are very similar to my nose. In that sense, it seems much more polished and rounded than Nikos. Those white flowers are better settled on a musky amber base, not overly sweetened by tonka. Perfume lovers of Sculpture will probably enjoy this composition a lot.

I knew Gaultier 2 very well, as I worked on its launch here in Chile in 2005 and fell in love with its scent. I used two bottles, so I remember its elegant aroma perfectly. Yesterday I bought this Altamir looking for a similarity to G2, and wow!, they are very, very similar. G2 was more vanilla and sharp, almost peppery. This Altamir feels sweeter and almondier, without the sting. But to be honest, they are very similar; it’s like closing your eyes and traveling back to 2005. I don’t know how G2 evolved before its discontinuation, as I was a user at its launch and bought those two bottles that year. But the memory remains: it’s an excellent dupe, and I had never encountered a scent even remotely similar to that legendary and wrongly discontinued elixir by Gaultier. Altamir, don’t disappoint me. So far, you’ve left me amazed and full of nostalgia. (Decent longevity, moderate sillage, lacks power but it’s forgiven for being so affordable; in Chile it cost me about $20). It might be synthetic, but in an exquisite and balanced way. Highly recommended for G2 nostalgics, lovers of non-mass-market, sweet (but not cloying), and youthful yet elegant scents.

I loved the Gaultier 2 miniature; my wife told me to buy the original because it was discontinued. I looked up Altamir based on reviews, but it’s not the same. Altamir smells great, but it leans more toward Pegasus or Reflection Man—it’s almond-y, sweet, and soft with very little floral presence. Citrus at first, but it fades quickly, leaving just the almond note. I picked it up on Mercado Libre; they say it lasts a long time, and I think it does, even though my trail is short. It’s cheap, delicious, and I’m sure someone will love it. Gaultier smells like doll soap, while this one smells like sweet almonds. Lasts about 6 hours, I think it works better in cooler weather.

Ted Lapidus does not disappoint. We’re talking about $20 or $30 perfumes where two sprays last you 14 hours.

Although marketed as unisex because it’s for men, I don’t know a woman who would wear it on her own initiative. To me, it’s a vintage masculine scent with a slightly strong opening that can be irritating if you don’t spray it correctly. It has orange blossom, pineapple, tonka bean, and some woody base. It’s synthetic but executed very well. Given the ridiculous price, it deserves a try. It’s versatile for fall, winter, and spring when the heat isn’t aggressive. Good longevity and projection, great price.

This smells like ‘Barbie doll hair,’ meaning plastic vanilla. It has an addictive charm, though it’s linear. In the dry-down, something denser and darker appears, maybe teak, but it’s a highly synthetic scent leaning feminine, though I see it as unisex. Anyone looking for a masculine white floral is mistaken (that was my case). Cheers.

Like 80s perfumes, it’s potent, dry, and herbal; this one is powerful but sweet to death. You have to wear it with personality or people will take it from you; it lasts forever. A warm fragrance for very cold days; it’s overwhelming in summer (be careful), but if worn well, it could be the most elegant perfume.

It’s a very good oriental-floral, oily, warm, and enveloping. Perfect for cool temperatures year-round and especially great for romantic dates. It will be a huge hit. Inspired by the Altamira caves in Spain, but in reality, it evokes going out to enjoy and have fun. Its evolution is smooth, with a constant orange blossom note and an ambered, spiced touch from tonka bean. I love the sweetness; it gives the sensation of natural essences. Excellent price. It’s an honest perfume. It smells so much like orange blossom that it reminds me of the discontinued Gaultier 2, which was more ambered. A good fragrance.

Exquisite aromatic oriental fragrance with a warm sweetness that is not intrusive, persisting from start to finish. The blend of notes, especially woods, orange blossom flowers, Persian violet, and jasmine, creates a tantric experience. Overall, it’s a refined scent with good projection and longevity, suitable for any weather. Although it doesn’t seem ideal for hot days, on my skin it brings a déjà vu of the Middle East; seeing its box, which mimics a copper metallic wrapping, reminds me of a mysterious night in those landscapes with a female companion enjoying Turkish coffee in a copper pot. Definitely, Altamir is inspired by the desert; spraying it is an explosion of exotic spices. I conclude it’s the male equivalent of Guerlain’s Samsara.

What a delight, what a wonder. I had a first edition of Gaultier 2; I used one bottle and my mother used the other. When I realized that, they discontinued it, I suppose because as a men’s fragrance it was too feminine, and as a women’s fragrance, it didn’t have much market space. This Altamir is exactly how I remember that Gaultier 2, wonderful in its flirting between the feminine and the masculine… 10/10!

ALTAMIR (batch 2020) smells like orange blossom liqueur sweetened with amber and tonka bean; then I perceive a touch of jasmine, and finally a soft creamy musk base. Trail and projection: good for the first 2 hours, then they gradually decrease. Longevity: 6 to 7 hours (on my skin). Ideal for temperate to cold climates, day and night. For meetings, outings, parties, romantic moments… CONCLUSION: *Altamir breaks the classic scheme of Lapidus men’s perfumes, which are usually ultra-masculine, powerful, and dense. *Altamir is a delicate and refined perfume. *It smells like an expensive perfume. *Its star note is the orange blossom, perfectly accompanied by amber and tonka. *It is very sweet and seductive. *I feel it’s almost unisex. Cheers, LMF.

There are evident links between this beautiful perfume and my beloved Gaultier 2. But while the latter is a passionate hug, Altamir shines as a more subtle and friendly one, with a pat included or a sincere handshake. Don’t be fooled: it’s no less demonstrative or shy. It’s a constant, enveloping caress on the skin that never overwhelms, invades, intoxicates, or abandons. We know Gaultier 2 is based on amber, musk, and a cloying vanilla that transports me to a Parisian patisserie with my favorite dessert: crème brûlée (no great mystery, it’s vanilla custard with burnt sugar, but here I’ve never eaten one that excited me too much). That’s why I love it madly. Altamir has a different development than Gaultier 2, which is practically linear without an olfactive pyramid. Here there is lots of white floral: exquisite neroli, bergamot, orange blossom (one of my favorites, by far), and jasmine. The starring role of vanilla in Gaultier 2 is taken here by tonka bean in the final notes, but it hovers over the entire composition from start to finish, amalgamated with exquisite amber, domesticated patchouli, vetiver, and a sensual musk. The similarities give me the right to proclaim it unisex. White flowers are never alone nor smell absolutely feminine. I think that’s what Altamir is about: playing with typically feminine notes, but sheltered by others more present in fragrances for both sexes. Should I recommend it? Emphatically. I’ll double down and recommend it blindly too. The quality-price ratio is excellent. It can still be found (preferably at Rouge) at careful prices compared to the stars of the moment. Its performance has nothing to envy from Gaultier 2: moderate-to-high trail for about 6 hours and close-to-the-skin longevity that far exceeds 12 hours. Lovers of orientals/woody scents will appreciate it.