Dark by Akro

I’ve used it on the cold mornings in Bogotá, and it makes me feel warm as if I were drinking a cup of chocolate. It has good sillage; I’m perceived when I move, and I’ve received many compliments, especially from men. Its longevity is good… It’s worth buying.

I was looking for black chocolate and stumbled upon the scent of a freshly opened pack of Nobel cigarettes. Those tobacco leaves are exquisite, please. I’m still hunting for pure chocolate gourmands. If any show up, I’ll let you know.

Dark represents a chocolate addiction, and as several others mention, I agree it’s one of the most realistic accords; it makes you think straight of chocolate. I’d put it in the same line as Gallagher’s perfume, though this one adds more vanilla and orange. Akro’s is dustier, sweet without being cloying, and has correct longevity. If you love chocolate and want something realistic, this is a strong option. Personally, I think gourmands usually have limited use cases, but both this and Awake are very wearable. Perfect for cold weather and dates. Rating: 8/10. Tested from the Discovery Set.

It’s the most realistic chocolate-smelling perfume I’ve ever sniffed. I got a sample and honestly, I was blown away. As an olfactory experience, it’s a 10, but I wouldn’t buy it to wear on skin or clothes. Longevity is more than satisfactory, though it dries down with a masculine tint on at least my skin.

Spectacular chocolate perfume, the most realistic if you want; it’s one of those gourmands that makes you want to eat it. Decent longevity, but for me it evokes a masculine side, perfect for winter climates.

A natural black chocolate perfume, slightly toasted with hazelnut and spices. It’s fascinating how it behaves on me: while in the air it smells like a sweeter, vanilla-leaning cocoa, close to the skin I perceive it as more bitter with a smoky touch. Either way, it’s a 100% gourmand, realistic, and rich aroma. Its opening can seem a bit more masculine, but I find it 100% unisex. That said, I do like it more on my partner than on myself. Suitable only for cold temperatures and occasions where you don’t need to go unnoticed, because this perfume announces itself… and leaves no one indifferent. Longevity on my skin is over 10 hours with heavy initial projection and sillage, then settling into medium intensity for most of its evolution. In that regard, it’s excellent. While I might still rank Cacao Porcelana higher on my wish list for cocoa aromas, I’ve loved it immensely and don’t rule out buying it someday. Akro does not disappoint.

I stick with Aurum’s chocolate by Xerjoff a hundred times. Here, the chocolate is too bitter for my taste.

Very well-executed aroma; the notes fit perfectly. Nothing sweet or cloying; if you’re looking for supermarket milky chocolate, forget it. It smells like a handful of toasted hazelnuts on a comal with cocoa beans. Totally unisex; on my skin, it’s soft. Watch out! I tested it alongside two bombs from Nardos (Bois1920 and Nishane), which are beasts, so my first impression was biased. EDIT 08/06/23! My mistake was comparing it to those beasts. Today I tested it alone, outdoors, with the day cloudy, and ¡BOOM! ¡EXPLODES! It smells intensely of toasted hazelnuts (with the skin half-removed and slightly charred), sprinkled with the crystallization of slowly melting brown sugar and a thin layer of chocolate. It has a tiny hint of undeclared sweet tobacco, almost imperceptible due to the potent hazelnut smokiness. A marvel worthy of its creator; impossible not to fall in love with it, although it took me a couple of days to assimilate it. I even detected those three undeclared notes on Fragrantica: sweet tobacco, smoky, and vanilla bean with brown sugar. Longevity: a phenomenon, it’s already been almost 12 hours and it’s still going. Projection: about 3 meters on the street. Price/Quality: perfect, worth every penny. Versatility: it fails here; it’s more informal, for hanging out with friends.

This perfume is spectacular; I’ve used the vial several times and the bottle is on its way. I already loved Olivier Cresp’s classic creations, but this took him to another creative level and has dazzled me even more. I can’t wait to try more from his Akro line. It’s a gourmand that’s not too obvious, a true marvel. Completely unisex, perhaps with a tiny bit more masculinity. On my skin, it smells of hazelnuts, pure cocoa, tobacco leaves, and a touch of cinnamon. As it dries down, it becomes sweeter and velveter. It has great projection and lasts more than 12 hours on my skin. Due to its projection, it’s eminently winter. A delicious fragrance; Olivier Cresp surprises us in Akro with bold scents, moving away from the elegant florals that I also love. Scent 9.5/10, Longevity 10/10, Sillage 9/10, Value/Price 8/10, Versatility 6.5/10, Packaging 6/10. Would I buy it again? Yes.