Eau Sauvage Extrême (new / Intense) (2010)
by Christian Dior

Greener extrême

This indeed has not much to do with lthe discontinued original. Much less citrus in the opening, overall giving me a lavender-based drydown with a wood note. Pleasant, less fresh, with three hours of longevity.

22 September, 2013

Smooth, ambery/honeyed and luxuriant this new release is a far parent of the glorious original. It is conceptually closer to Pour Un Homme and Habit Rouge (in a more modern way) than to Imprinting il Profvmo and Blenheim Bouquet. The new Extreme is not an aromatic fougere or a sparkling rosemary/oregano kind of cologne but more properly a sort of semi-oriental fruity/resinous melancholic chypre. After the first citric (un-dry) vigorous blast (with a subdued herbal presence, at least in the perception), the aroma evolves towards a sort of oily/waxy lavender soap with balmy nuances of bergamot, spicy orange (cinnamon?), musk, ripe fruits (apricot??) and rose-jasmine. The smell lacks almost utterly the fresh/aromatic herbal vibe while introduces a darker smokey (tobacco flavoured) type of ambery smoothness The dry down is made of silky lavender/musk, creamy cedarwood, fruity-floral oil with patchouli and hints of balsams (benzoin, amber, a touch of honey, myrrh??). I wonder if some some caraway is included in the blend in order to push up the elements around. Vaguely colonial in an aristocratic way, this scent smells like a creamy/waxy bergamot oil with a rosey/musky and orangy background. A different but equally well appointed juice, with an undeniable oleous/hesperidic indolent decadence.
P.S: After 3-4 hours i detect vetiver in the dry down. It is dense and honeyed. A great one.

26 January, 2013 (Last Edited: 03 February, 2014)