Paratus (2003)
by Montgomery Taylor

Smells a heck of a lot like Terre d'Hermes minus the "Hermes". Very abstract but basic pine, citrus and dose or two of Iso Super E. It's probably more like F pour Homme because Paratus feels watery and soapy. According to the PR, Paratus is representative of ancient Roman times of the Mediterranean. It definitely smell very dry and Italian to me but it has a fairly linear bitter orange peel, pine and juniper drydown. It's ok but Terre d'Hermes and F pour Homme are much more bearable.

Paratus is a lovely, clean, citrus, pine and patchouli fragrance that is manly and somewhat cool in presentation. Works in any circumstance, business, formal or "off hours," it would be a great choice for a man who doesn't like the idea of fragrances all that much. It is difficult to get subtle and distinctive, but this succeeds. You won't get "ooh, I love your cologne" but you might hear, "hmmm, are you wearing cologne or is that just YOU?"

Say it's you.

An interesting scent. Paratus presents a strong coniferous accord that is a bit unusual in that the cardamom seems to neutralize the cedar and juniper to the point where I experience the accord as something not very coniferous. This is certainly not a coniferous accord that might be called “hamster cage.” Paratus is soapy, minimally spicy, a bit woody (patchouli). It is abstract and minimally minimalist. The main accord that opens the fragrance: the gray – green, soapy, faux-coniferous accord, is pretty much the whole fragrance – rather non-exciting, I think. The fragrance is linear and it lasts short of average length. Even though it is unexciting, I rather like Paratus because of its wierdness, but I have serious questions about its wearability and cost.

very nice ava. in nyc at Takashimaya and I have yet to find it here in LA.

This is a distinctive cologne. The description says “juniper, cedar leaf, grapefruit, and orange. There are also traces of exotic cardamom and patchouli”
I find it has a peppery/anise seed quality. I would not classify it as a citrus smelling cologne.