Althaïr by Parfums de Marly

It’s a chocolatey version of By The Fireplace. Ideal for night and cold weather. In the tropics at noon, it would be heavy and cloying. It’s a fragrance for dinner, something casual. It’s not a work of art, but it’s interesting for those who like sweet and spiced gourmand proposals.

It’s a delicious perfume, one of those that hugs you on cold days.

I bought Liquid Brun six months ago and loved it, so I decided to thank PDM for this invention by buying the OG. They smell the same with almost no change for 100% of noses in the street, even if ‘experts’ claim to notice a difference; I still haven’t met anyone who can tell them apart. For my nose, it’s: a dry, slightly smoky woody base. On top goes an exquisite and enveloping vanilla with praline, toned down a bit by bergamot, but still sweet, not cloying. Nothing or very little gourmand for me. Many thanks PDM for bringing us such a great perfume. Epic for winter and autumn, both day and night. Longevity and projection aren’t beast mode, but they deliver and last their 6-8 hours on my skin. 10/10

My favorite of all. It makes me think of winter or an American autumn (there aren’t any in my country 😞). If I have it close, I stay smelling it like it’s a drug. It has a sweetness and elegance that leave me smelling it until I get sick of it from doing it so much. I love it. But keep in mind, at these prices, the perfume must enchant YOU. For me, it’s amazing, but not $300 worth of amazing, so with Liquid Brun my slightly unexpert nose is just as happy.

From the first spritz, Althair envelops you with an intense spicy opening, where spicy cinnamon and cardamom add a sensual and sophisticated warmth. It’s an opening that catches you instantly, with that sparkly and seductive touch that announces something special. As it progresses, the fragrance softens and a creamy vanilla appears, perfectly balanced with woody and resinous notes. It sweetens just enough, without becoming a gourmand perfume. Rather, it conveys elegance, comfort, and an enveloping presence that doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s not a fragrance that evolves much, but it doesn’t need to; its scent is so round and pleasant that it creates a hypnotic and addictive olfactory experience. On skin, its performance is spectacular. In my case, 10 hours of longevity with powerful projection during the first hours. Plus, it’s a genuine compliment bomb. Those are the perfumes that draw attention effortlessly; people come closer, ask questions, and always leave a mark. Ideal occasion for night outings, dates, or days when you want to stand out without being cloying. With a warm, elegant, and addictive style, Althair is a fragrance that impresses with its balance between strength and sophistication, capable of turning a normal day into a memorable olfactory experience. Note 9

I tried it recently on a friend’s recommendation, and it became one of my favorites. It’s fresh at first but gains depth over time. I’ve received tons of compliments. It’s a sweet, very sexy, and playful masculine scent because it becomes more intense as it evolves. Highly recommended. Since I couldn’t buy it immediately, I ended up taking a sample of Twist instead.

Another fragrance that truly deserves its hype. I’m not a huge fan of this house, except for their women’s scents which are fantastic; this is the only one that breaks the mold, their best work. It’s sweet, eye-catching, looks like a designer perfume but with excellent quality. It’s masculine and stays on your skin for hours. It doesn’t have massive projection, but it has presence, which is what matters.

At first, it smells intoxicating and reminds me of Nicolas Cage in Ghost Rider: adventurous, strong, fun, and rebellious, throwing a different kind of flame. It opens strong with citrus and spices (cardamom, bergamot, cinnamon, lime, green apple, and praline) that don’t fade quickly, giving way to vanilla, guaiac, tonka bean, and musks. In the dry down, I detect tobacco, dried fruits, cured leather, and olibanum incense, all very balanced. I love it; it’s a modern fragrance that most will enjoy, a bit gourmand but not cloying. It smells sexy and attractive on men, shines at night in cooler weather, though I’d also wear it during autumn/winter days. It’s novel and far superior to mainstream options like JPG or Arab dupes. The price is debatable; everyone values differently, so don’t buy blindly (a decant is better); don’t waste money. I enjoy it immensely. It generates many compliments (girls love it), though I choose based on personal enjoyment. P.S.: I don’t collect, but my vanity is filling up. What would this world be without so many olfactory experiences?

I use it with gifted samples, and it’s an exquisite vanilla fragrance. The opening is SPECTACULAR and adheres to the skin incredibly well. It’s gourmand with good creamy, sweet presence. Be careful with the sprays as it can become cloying. It doesn’t project much, staying in a close bubble but powerful at body contact. The vanilla touch reminds me of the Jean Paul Gaultier line (Le Male or Scandal) but a thousand times more potent and better crafted. I own Scandal Absolu which gives a similar note (sweet with vanilla), so I’m hoping it finishes soon or plan to gift it to buy this one and add it to my collection, as owning so many vanillas is redundant. 8/10.

This perfume is an absolute beast. From the first spray, it’s powerful, enveloping, and has an overwhelming presence. It’s gourmand, easy to wear, and pleasant for most. The projection is invasive in the best way: if you spray it and stay in one spot, prepare to soak everything. The longevity is impressive, lasting hours without reapplication. It’s one of those perfumes that marks territory with powerful and lasting sillage. ⚜️ Scent: 10/10 ⚜️ Longevity: 10/10 ⚜️ Duration: 10-12h ⚜️ Projection: 10/10 ⚜️ Final Score: 10/10 ⚜️

I’ve had this for three weeks and in one word: VERY WEAK. It smells nice—a blend of vanilla, cinnamon, bergamot, and spices—but after 15 sprays on skin and clothes in cold weather, the projection and sillage are non-existent. PDM gave 400 units to influencers to sell the idea that it’s a bomb with just 4 sprays, but they’re laughing at us, which is normal for almost every brand. Longevity: 3 hours on skin and 6 on clothes. Don’t wait any longer. Great scent, but the longevity and projection are disappointing. Would I buy it again? Not a chance. If you’re on the fence, don’t fall for the hype-filled reviews like I did.

Spectacular, 10/10. A saffron leather, raspberry, apple, salty tones, sandalwood, amber, and a touch of Ambroxan.

I tried it last September and loved the smell so much. I’m glad it won Best Men’s Perfume on this site.

As a Spanish reviewer said, it stings the nose at first due to low-quality cinnamon. It happened to me: when I applied it, I couldn’t hold back a sneeze from that sharp opening. Afterward, once it dries, the cinnamon calms down (thank God) and turns into a vanilla that’s also not top quality; for the price, you expect more. It’s not worth the hype or the inflated price for me. There are better vanillas with better performance. Parfums de Marly truly thinks this will attract everyone, but only a few who like mainstream stuff. Anyway, try it before using it, don’t give it the hype it deserves, and be careful with the opening—it will sting you for sure.

Magnificent perfume. One of the best of 2024.