Armani Privé Cuir Améthyste (2005)
by Giorgio Armani

A very high quality and long lasting perfume.
Smells clearly of violets, birch and vanilla.

This starts our differently than Patchouli 24 by Le Labo but they are very similar in the dry down. Both are vanilla and birch while the former has a tinge of tar (leather) and the latter has a medley of violets.

4th October, 2011.

With the excepiton of Bois D'Encens, I find most of the compositions in the Armani Privè line to be undeservedly overrated and overstimated. Cuir Amethiste is surely not among the worst but as a take on fruity leather I find it definitely leaning towards the sweet fruity side (apricot / osmanthus) with an huge violet note making the whole fragrance definitely unbalanced. The leather here is pale but almost unpleasant, synthetic and kind of overwhelmed by the rest. While I understand why many people likes it , I still don't get warm with it...sorry I've to pass on...

2nd July, 2011. (Last Edited: 5th August, 2011.)

Gorgeous mix of leather, violets, and a touch of fruit in the top. While it seems that mix isn't working for some folks who have reviewed it here, it does work on me. The base is warmed up a touch with what I'm guessing is the benzoin. It has a synthetic feel to it, but it's a nice thing in this one. It's also quite unique - the only thing I've come across that smells similar is the new Marc Buxton Hot Leather. Great longevity too.

1st May, 2010.

On my skin, Cuir Améthyste starts out very fruity, with a soft leather stepping very quickly from the background. This leather is mild, smooth, and creamy - a fine ladies' glove, not boots or a saddle. The candied fruit persists alongside some lively floral notes in a very sweet accord that dominates the heart of Cuir Améthyste. At this point the whole composition starts reminding me of a buttery, apricot filled dessert. The mellow leather continues to recede, but the fruit doesn't loosen its grip for some hours, when the vanilla-dominated drydown gets underway.

Cuir Améhyste reminds me of Serge Lutens's Daim Blond, though more intensely fruity. In fact, I think of it as a simpler, sweeter, and louder variation on Daim Blond's suede and apricot theme. It's pleasant enough, but hardly unique, and a bit too syrupy for my taste.

9th February, 2010.

The labdanum and benzoin should be at the base but the very first think in this scent is the nose blinding vicks vapour like resins. They are so strong that when i try to smell i can feel it in my eyes, my cornea burning. After fifteen minutes or more vicks weakens a bit and shows up something like leather ad some violets. after the first hour grows coriander birch and pachuli. Really hard to enjoy for me.

31st January, 2010.

The opening for me is the exact wet dirt and green shoots of Patchouli Patch, which I greatly enjoy. Cuir Amethyste then segues into a slightly less bright and fruity version of Daim Blond's apricot suede; a stage that persists for several hours while fading slowly into a greenish hum. I appreciate both Patchouli Patch and Daim Blond, but I find Cuir Amethyste muddled for seemingly combining these disparate fragrances. Overall, it's nice, but derivative. Highly over-priced for something this derivative.

11th November, 2009.