Cologne Intense by Houbigant
Men 2015
Main accords
Description
Houbigant Cologne Intense is an aromatic citrus fragrance for men. Launched in 2015, the nose behind this composition is Luca Maffei. The top notes feature Paraguayan petit grain, Sicilian lemon, Calabrian bergamot, and neroli; the heart combines tarragon, Indian jasmine, pink pepper, and lavender; while the base notes reveal yerba mate and incense.
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When to wear it (votes)
Key notes
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Top
Paraguay Petitgrain
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Heart
Tarragon
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Base
Yerba Mate
Community
258 votes
- Positive 68%
- Negative 25%
- Neutral 7.0%
The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
Compare the results and tap an answer to add your vote.
In the collection
Leading answer I own it
654 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Love it
258 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Spring
300 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Day
139 votes
Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.
Fragrance profile
About Cologne Intense
Houbigant Cologne Intense is an aromatic citrus fragrance for men. Launched in 2015, the nose behind this composition is Luca Maffei. The top notes feature Paraguayan petit grain, Sicilian lemon, Calabrian bergamot, and neroli; the heart combines tarragon, Indian jasmine, pink pepper, and lavender; while the base notes reveal yerba mate and incense.
Green, herbal and fougère Spices Flowers Woods and mosses
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
More from Houbigant
Related editions
More from Luca Maffei
How it wears
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Longevity
Leading answer Moderate
138 votes
Sillage
Leading answer Moderate
172 votes
Character
Leading answer Traditionally masculine
87 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Fair price
79 votes
Have you worn Cologne Intense?
Tell us how it opens, how it settles on your skin, how long it lasts and when you wear it.
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Olfactory Memories
It starts as a citrus bomb on the opening. But watch out: these aren’t sugary or synthetic citrus; they have an acidic edge that screams realism (Calabria bergamot and Sicilian lemon), making it clear the ingredients aren’t second-rate. Shortly after, among the citrus, green notes emerge from petitgrain and neroli. In the dry down, there’s a classic touch that lingers, likely lavender and jasmine, lending evident elegance, all integrated with what seems to be cardamomo. I also detect a spicy note, perhaps from pepper and dry tones, driven by yerba mate and Indian incense from the official list. It creates elegant old-school accords, overflowing with Parisian gentlemanly charm from the 50s/60s, the best kind. It’s like a time machine in a bottle, which by the way is beautiful, elegant, and sober with matte gold and yellow tones and an antique design. It’s a mature, gentle, distinguished scent. Not for very young people. But it has a modern touch in some parts that gives it a rare shine and warmth, perhaps aided by that oriental note that makes it special. Bravo, Houbigant.
Olfactory Memories
It starts as a citrus bomb, but watch out: these aren’t sugary or synthetic citrus. They have an acidic edge that screams realism (Calabria bergamot and Sicilian lemon) and prove the house doesn’t use second-rate ingredients. Then green notes emerge from petitgrain and neroli. In the dry down, a classic touch with lavender and jasmine lends evident elegance, all integrated with what I believe is cardamomo. I also detect a spicy note, perhaps from pepper and dry tones, driven by yerba mate and Indian incense. It creates elegant old-school accords, overflowing with Parisian gentlemanly charm from the 50s/60s, the best kind. It’s a time machine in a bottle, which by the way is gorgeous, elegant, and sober with matte gold and yellow tones. It’s a mature, gentle, distinguished scent. Not for very young people. But it has a modern touch that gives it a shine and warmth, perhaps aided by that oriental note that makes it so special. Bravo, Houbigant.
Bofifa
What I love about Cologne Intense is that, being my first cologne in this genre, it lasted on my skin for over half a day and projected decently. Its explosive opening with citrus, florals, and herbs is very pleasant, in the classic line. However, in the heart, there’s a potent sandalwood mixed with something that seems like tea, probably to fix it. Together, they create a dry saliva smell that becomes more noticeable over time, though the alarm bells ring at first. This rare note ruins the rest and makes it a failure. Rating: 4/10.
Marcus_001
A retro floral-spicy scent that follows in the footsteps of Guerlain’s L’Instant pour Homme (I prefer that one for the cocoa; I know yerba mate well, and in my opinion, this Houbigant doesn’t showcase it at its best). It’s a spring-autumn fragrance, best worn during the day. It conveys a serious, formal message without much charm, though it carries class. Don’t mistake it for an Italian summer cologne because it isn’t. Projection and trail are medium-low on my skin. Try it before buying.
Kobyeray
What a beast! Basically, it takes the ingredients of a classic men’s cologne, elevates them to the highest level of elegance, and adds a sophisticated, distinctive touch with yerba mate. Plus, its longevity and projection are outstanding. Thanks, Houbigant.
Kobyeray
What a beast! It takes the base of a classic men’s cologne and elevates it to the highest level of elegance, adding a sophisticated and distinctive touch with yerba mate. Plus, its longevity and projection are brutal. Thanks, Houbigant.