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Potion by Dsquared2, 2011

Potion by Dsquared2, 2011
16 reviews
88% Positive Reviews
Rated #1679 in Fragrances
Pros:
“Similar to GPH I. Smells great.”
Cons:
“A bit lacking in the longevity department.”
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Member Reviews

Posted
By silentrich

Pros: Similar to GPH I. Smells great.

Cons: A bit lacking in the longevity department.

Initial impression was that this was very similar to Gucci Pour Homme I (2003). With that I love the fragrance, but it's hard to wear in the summer. This is not the case with Potion. It's not as dense and the projection is cut in half which makes it a wearable in the hotter months. I get about 3 1/2 to 4 hours out of this and the projection is acceptable for that amount of time. As far as the comparison's to Dirty English, I really don't see it and this is much better in composition than Dirty English. Overall I really like this fragrance and it will be something I will wear quite a bit.

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Posted
By mlsweeney
Very interesting fragrance. At first I thought this was by far the sweetest scent I had ever worn. The more I wore it, the more I detected a woody spice to it that made it very enjoyable. I think the longevity is actually there, but the projection is not very good. 8.3/10
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Posted
By Darvant
Yes, interesting Cinnamon prominent fragrance bringing out a sort of almost yummy final woodiness, i mean an initially aromatic, slightly medicinal and almost boozy woodiness that morphs soon in a darker (not insufferable) and sweeter amber/patchouli potion with a solid woody background, soapy/floral accents and just a minimal touch of musk. I catch the woodiness for sure which is softened by a sort of sweet rosey synthetic cream with a starting delicious boozy and sparkling (i mean minty, peppery and aromatic/herbal) cinnamon and a final vanilla/tonka caress. I do not detect any resemblance with the great Dirty English (any leather or complicate dark/peppery/incensey spiciness in here) while it reminds the old Gucci PH, vaguely 7 de Loewe and i smell in the aftertaste a slight conjuration about a sort of Burberry For Men with a woody hat. The dry down is warm, cozy, still peppery and woodsy with trails about patchouli, creamy spices and obviously a starring cinnamon. Pleasant but too sweet and inoffensive to turn out bold or dangerous. Not bad anyway.
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Posted
By Kain
A good woody fragrance with sweetness in it! Start with woodsy notes and huge blast of cinnamon and pepper, some incense and some sweetness from amber and musk. It's a little harsh and too much spicy at the start but only for a few seconds. Then the sweetness of amber and musk with some woodsy notes blind everything and push them in the background and dominate through the whole fragrance life on your skin! The sweetness is a little too much for a woody fragrance! it does have a beautiful and natural scent of cinnamon too. I already have the EDP version but both projection and longevity are average and some times below average! It's a big thumbs down for a fragrance with EDP concentration! If you want to buy this fragrance to have another masterpiece like "Gucci Pour Homme" this will be a big disappointment for you, just like me! :( But as a sweet woody fragrance it's a good one. I can't see any similarities between this and Gucci pour homme! both have woods and spice but they go completely different ways!!
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Posted
By odysseusm
Interesting. Not my style (too sweet and heavy) but certainly interesting. Good wood notes appear almost immediately for me. Substantial spices with a pronounced sweet tone. Rose notes are here, but they are synthetic rather than natural in style -- and quite powerful. Vanilla-amber in the drydown. The whole thing reminds me of Penhaligon's LP No. 9 for men: a similar vibe. I'd never wear it. But it's ok if you like sweet spicy scents. And the wood is pretty good.
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Posted
By lespritz
It opens with a smell reminiscent of Root Beer...and then QUICKLY fades to NOTHING...thankfully. Friends told me I smell "like a girl," which I can see.
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Posted
By drseid
Potion edp opens with just the faintest hint of mint over light spiced amber, before developing into a combination of cinnamon, black pepper and a deeper more vociferous amber heart. The base adds a nice woody accord that differs from the usual cedar, combining it with musk and more of the amber in the heart notes with subtle touches of patchouli. Potion edp is definitely on the sweet side of the spectrum, but it never veers into the dangerous territory of being overly sweet or cloying with the amber beautiful in it balance. Potion is pretty linear in its development, but it smells extremely refined and well-blended. Longevity is average to above average (I am getting a minimum of 9 hours out of it) and projection is minimal (just a hair more than a skin scent, but not weak at all). This was an overseas blind buy, and in my case it paid off big time. I find Potion edp to not be earth shatteringly different that many others on the market (although different from most designer releases of the past 5 years), but rather polished, well-made and extremely satisfying and wearable. It gives me an almost Ambre Sultan vibe after the initial notes with its spiced amber heart, but it is not a clone at all. One of the best designer releases in years and easily full bottle worthy, IMO. Why DSquared2 is keeping this one from the US (and many other outlets) is perplexing beyond belief, as it is definitely a winner. 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5.
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Posted
By smalla
Just to voice my opinion: it's sweetened Dirty English, nothing exciting. Might work if you are an older gentleman, but not work if you want to smell modern and fresh.
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Posted
By alfarom
One of the best designer releases of the last couple of years. Calm down, don't get too excited, Potion is pretty decent but still far from being groundbreaking or full bottle worthy. Basically this is a spicy-woody fragrance laying on a patchouli/amber base with an overall incensey vibe that brings to mind of early 2000 releases by Gucci (e.g. Gucci Pour Homme I) or, for other aspects, even Dirty English by Juicy Couture. Moderately sweet, bold but not overpowering and far from the typical sporty approach of most of todays masculines. If you're on a budget but you want to avoid smelling like anybody else, this is a very presentable alternative. Dsquared is quickly becoming one of the most decent designer brands of the past few years. Downside: even if not overdone, the fragrance suffers from the usual woody amber base that's typical of way too many modern fragrances (either niche or designer). A mild thumbs up.
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Facts and Details

Potion by Dsquared2, 2011
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Description:

Details:
DetailValue
Top Notesred mint leaves, angelica, thyme
Middle Notesrose petals, black peppercorns, cinnamon, gentian
Base Notescashmere wood, patchouli, amber, musk
Launched Date2011
GenderMen
PerfumerAnnick Menardo
AvailabilityIn Production
ByDsquared2
Bottle Designer
Models:
Model Name/TypeMPNEAN/UPC
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