Patchouli Homme (2009)
by Parfums de Nicolaï

When first sampling at close range you can smell all sorts of goodness that ISN'T patchouli, like rose, vanilla, and bourbon, and it makes you wonder why this is just called "patchouli," and it also makes you imagine how this is going to evolve when you give it a good wearing.

Well I'll tell you what happens. You get a solid sillage trail of patchouli. Sure, it's warmed up and softened, and rounded out, but the bottom line is that when actually worn this becomes nothing more than the sweet, sweet base of the Mugler Pure line. That's not exactly a bad thing, but the whole experience feels like something is missing. The other ingredients don't have the volume to keep up with that patchouli trail and they only serve to "process" the smell like some sort of chorus effects box or pro-tools plug in. What the hell was I talking about again?

Right, Patchouli Homme...

Anyway, I'm giving this a neutral, but it's entirely possible that my desire for the base of the Pure series will land me with a bottle. So why not a positive if I might buy one?

Because I would much rather have another Pure Coffee or Pure Malt, and I'm sure that as soon as I get my Pure Havane down to less than 80%, I'll want another bottle of that.

21st January, 2012.

Harsh and ashy patchouli note with lack of richness

15th November, 2011. (Last Edited: 18th November, 2011.)

I like this scent, and that surprised me because usually I am not a fan of patchouli. Some have said that this is a scent for non-fans of patchouli, I guess that is true for me.
Like others, I find this to be an old-school scent, and I find it very charming and classy. The strong opening of lavender is attractive. Spicy green herbal notes take centre stage, and for me they remain at the centre.
In fact, I think the strength of this scent is the dominant laurel or bay leaf note. Some have commented on the barbershop aspect, and the bay rhum chord certainly is well represented.
The scent is powerful but not oppressive; hints at sweetness and richness but actually is very dry. The patchouli is very restrained and elegant. The vanilla is so much in the background that I can approve of it.
Those who like CdG Laurel or Profumum's Victrix should check this out for the laurel note. Another great green dusky/earthy scent -- it is quite compelling.

16th July, 2011.

This has been relabeled as Patchouli intense, as many women were taking to it. From what I understand it is the same formulation (it was always intense :-) In fact I ordered Patchouli Intense directly from PdN, but the bottle says Patchouli Homme.

I like it. Yes it's a brash Patchouli (I can't speak for those who don't find the patchouli here - it's dead center), but I don't find it dark or foreboding in character as some have described.

The the salty/peppery spiciness of it does make it a WINTER PATCHOULI for me (with Histoires de Parfum's Noir Patchouli, ironically named being my happier, sunnier, summer floral patchouli, and SL's Borneo 1834 being the a Gold Standard for a year-around earthy dose of Patch. Love this one.)

But I'm laughing at some of these references to car crashes and gettting punched in the nose. OK, so it IS the type of fragrance that I would put on and led it ride before leaving the house (ala Montale), because the opening can be a bit tight. But when it starts to unwind I get nothing but compliments in this elegant and richly composed scent.

Thumbs Up if you want a refreshing, more radical take on Patchouli.

21st May, 2011.

This is one of the most obnoxious fragrances I have ever smelled, to the point where I even wonder if LuckyScent accidentally mislabeled my sample. I can't imagine who this fragrance is meant for, because the patchouli is almost non-existent in Patchouli Homme. Perhaps it's for people who are afraid of patchouli but who want to own a fragrance with the word "Patchouli" on the bottle.

This is not a patchouli fragrance, but rather a vinegary herbal floral scent. There is some patchouli in this, but it's pushed way into the background, totally overpowered by the ascerbic herbs and floral notes. It smells like a feminine scent, albeit a terrible one. Patchouli Homme is sharp, heady and vulgar, sort of like a loud green chypre blended with some salad dressing. I can't imagine any man, let alone a woman, wanting to smell like this. I felt embarrassed wearing it.

If there's anyone who would appreciate a fragrance with the word "patchouli" in its title, it's me. However, the herbal and floral notes are so dominating and piercing, they drown out the patchouli, and I can't enjoy this fragrance on any level. Unfortunately, I found the same vinegary floral smell in Nicolai Pour Homme, which I don't like at all either.

Sure, I don't like a fragrance that handles patchouli in such a wussy way, but this smells flat out offensive and disgusting, regardless of the patchouli. I wore this twice, hoping and trying to like it, but I cannot enjoy this in any way.

P.S., When I put this on the last time, my wife told me that I smelled great, so maybe it's just me.

MY RATING: 1/10

14th May, 2011. (Last Edited: 18th May, 2011.)

This stuff takes no prisoners. I'm not really a patchouli connoisseur, but if I were I'm sure I'd be in heaven. To me, as an outsider, this is a bold, brazen, very natural-smelling sharp woody scent, like Tarzan's version of Givenchy Gentleman. The sharpness is a bit dulled and sweetened on cloth in the top notes, and it seems more cedary to me. It even becomes a bit soapier and flowery after a while...I'm assuming there's a fair amount of rose in here, which makes it paradoxically very civilized and well-kempt underneath its rough exterior. The practical issue for me trying to wear it is that it's so unforgivingly strong, I'd always be afraid of overdoing it even with very careful application. Experience has also shown me that this stuff can survive several clothes-washings, and that was on a sweat shirt worn over the t-shirt where I actually applied it, not just the t-shirt itself! I don't think I even noticed the florals the first time I tried it because it was so overwhelming, so maybe I'll test it out a few more times if I can choose garments that I don't mind being forever patchoulified.

17th January, 2011.