Antico Caruso by Profumum

87% Positive Reviews

Rated #2382 in Fragrances

I love this line!! When I first smelled this at Osswald NYC I didn't wanna buy it, I thought it was too similar to JPG's le male. They do have similarities, but these guys are working with a bigger budget so the product is gonna be better quality. This is a beautiful blend of orange flowers and amber, it's sweet (not too sweet though) sophisticated and masculine. The almond in the middle and creamy sandalwood makes for a beautiful drydown. This is good for all seasons although its best in the winter. My new go to frag

Review by drseid

Posted 12/26/12

By drseid

I definitely get that barbershop vibe that other folks have mentioned from the almond and sandalwood notes that dominate this simplistic fragrance ... That said, the scent is super-linear and somewhat annoying after a short period of time. That, and of course the price is ridiculous for this kind of fragrance. Quite frankly, if you are looking for a barbershop scent of superior quality and complexity for 20% of the price, just look for Rive Gauche pour Homme from YSL. This one is not a bad scent, but nothing out of the ordinary and below average, earning a rating of 2 to 2.5 stars out of 5.

Review by stylinla

Posted 11/26/11

By StylinLA

Maybe this is Le Male for grownups. I eschewed initially after a brief in store test. The opening notes do conjure up Le Male- the first time you smell it - but in many wearings over time, I don't get that vibe any more. It morphs into a fantastic almond/sandalwood scent that conjures up very opulent soap. It is fairly linear, but the quality is so good I don't care. As to the "barbershop" thing- well, maybe European barbershop. It doesn't have the North American barbershop vibe to me. The price is horrendous, and I certainly wish they sold it in 50ml bottles. But if this kind of scent appeals to you, it's worth it. It is top quality juice for sure. I haven't tried all the Profumum scents, but this one makes it pretty clear they're working with high quality materials. Longevity is fantastic.

Review by oslo-fjord

Posted 3/19/11

By Oslo-Fjord

Classy and elegant, yet modern and trendy. It has some similarities with Le Male, but this one is much more refined and classy. Very high quality scent, with great sillage and longevity. Works very well with both jeans and suit & tie.

Review by eric

Posted 1/9/10

By eric

Not bad, a comforting fragrance, but I can´t deny it´s a shameless copy of Gaultiers "Le Male". You can smell it´s made of high quality ingredients (whatever that means),but it also costs a 160 euro. My advice,buy the original, if you want to smell like Le Male.

Review by bokaba

Posted 1/7/10

By bokaba

Super sweet, super powdery, with fruits. That's about it. Floid makes a better Italian barbershop scent and it comes in a 400ml bottle. Nothing special and not worth the outrageous price.

Review by joe_frances

Posted 12/18/09

By Joe_Frances

Antico Caruso is not complex at all. In fact, olfactory complexity is not this scent's strong suit. I loved the initial onset of single contrasting sharp and soft notes; sweet and yet mildly astringent, exactly what I like (contrasting elements within a fragrance triangle). It was at first quite wonderful and had all the makings of something that could have become one of my "signature scents". But that only lasted a very short time, sadly. Within minutes, not hours, it all went to almonds; almond paste and then powder. The overall impression was not unlike English almond shaving soap-- rich but not sweet, thankfully. Perhaps there was an oblique reference to sandalwood, maybe, but just. It could have used a bit more sandalwood IMHO. The only subtle variation I sensed was that at times there was the distinct allusion to talcum powder- - same smell, mind you, just more powdery, but that came and went. This is not a strong fragrance, everything is very subtle as long as it is applied in moderation. Overspray and it gets a tad cloying. So, is Antico Caruso worth its high cost? Ah, now that's the question. Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. It comes down to whether you like soft almond fragrances. I have to admit that for a fairly long time I thought of selling this, but finally changed my mind, and I am now using it occasionally in Fall and Winter. Frankly, I think Farmacia SS. Annunziata's Isos is very similar and can be had for half the price. Sample both before making a decision.

Joe

Review by foetidus

Posted 10/30/09

By foetidus

This is not a very complex scent. I get a rustic herbal accord in the opening rough, soapy, probably a little arrogant I get no citrus. The herbs quickly move into an herbal / almond accord that is pleasant. As the herbal notes disappear, the almond note becomes stronger and sweeter. I find Antico Caruso turns out to be almost a simple solo note fragrance: Almond, simple but quite enjoyable. I suppose that if the quality of the note is good, it doesnt matter that the composition is uncomplicated. The lack of complexity works for me. The drydown is a plain, somewhat sweet almond note with a background of subtle but rich sandalwood. Both the almond note and the sandalwood note are of high quality, and Im struck and surprised by the elegance of everything happening in Antico Caruso. It reeks of class and good breeding. very good sillage and longevity.

Review by apicius

Posted 10/3/09

By Apicius

This is like a reduced version of Le Male by Gaultier.

It has the same benzoin smell, but not as strong as LM. No sticky sweetness. The almond/maybe vanilla it is rather dry, woody dry, probably due to the sandalwood. In opposite to LM, Antico Caruso is a discreet scent.

Longevity is short, compared to LM..

Remember the sailor in the Le Male advertisement? For an Antico Caruso ad, a distinguished elderly gentlemen would be more appropiate.

I rather take the sailor.