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M7 (first reformulation)/Oud Absolu

post #1 of 35
2/21/12 at 8:41am
Thread Starter 
Hi, what is the general consensus on how similar the first reform of M7 is to the latest version, Oud Absolu? Also, any news on the rumoured re-release of M7 (unknown formulation)?

Thanks,

Dan.
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post #2 of 35
2/21/12 at 9:39am
  • KMF
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I have no way of knowing, but I would think that the 1st M7 reformulation, Oud Absolu, & the re-release will all be one in the same. I can't imagine YSL actively producing three different versions of the same scent.
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post #3 of 35
2/21/12 at 11:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMF View Post

I have no way of knowing, but I would think that the 1st M7 reformulation, Oud Absolu, & the re-release will all be one in the same. I can't imagine YSL actively producing three different versions of the same scent.

Makes sense.
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post #4 of 35
2/21/12 at 11:48am
Thread Starter 
Hi - thanks for the replies! Has anyone who actually owns both of these got an opinion to offer? I'm asking because, the reviews of Oud Absolu seem to vary between "it's almost exactly the same" to "it's terrible and substantially different", so I was wondering if we could come to some sort of a conclusion on how different/similar they actually are, from the viewpoint of people who have given both a proper wearing/comparison.
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post #5 of 35
2/21/12 at 3:18pm
I've only tried the first reformulation, which I thought isn't that bad and lasted 8+ hours on my skin, and I just ordered a decant of M7 Oud Absolu from theperfumedcourt -- I'll let you know about that one after I test it.
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post #6 of 35
2/21/12 at 4:19pm
Thread Starter 
Great, thank you! I'm happy with both the original and the first reformulation, but have only briefly tested oud absolu in the store. It smelt a little different to me, but it was hard to tell while walking around town, so it may have been my imagination. Would like to know about projection and longevity too. Anyway, thanks!
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post #7 of 35
3/8/12 at 4:26pm
Thread Starter 
Anyone else done a direct comparison of these two yet?
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post #8 of 35
3/8/12 at 5:59pm
I've received my decant of Oud Absolu and have worn it once. It's definitely a watered-down version of the first reformulation. It has decent projection in its first 5 hours, then it becomes a skin scent. The first reformulation is much better blended / more complex and bolder compared to the Oud Absolu version.
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post #9 of 35
3/8/12 at 6:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewHaarlem View Post

The first reformulation is much better blended / more complex and bolder compared to the Oud Absolu version.

First reformulation, or original formulation?
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post #10 of 35
3/8/12 at 8:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonkeyBars View Post

First reformulation, or original formulation?

First reformulation (clear glass, except for the back side)... I haven't tried the original formulation.
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post #11 of 35
3/8/12 at 8:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewHaarlem View Post

First reformulation (clear glass, except for the back side)... I haven't tried the original formulation.

Uh oh, I have only tried the vintage original, which is supposed to be even more complex and bolder than the reformulation. I think it is great except for a couple hours in the far drydown that are a little too sweet for me, though by that time it's more a skin scent than anything. After wearing for the first time yesterday I can certainly understand the respect it gets. What an ironic name "Oud Absolu" for a product that is less bold and according to reports has less oud than the original. Typical cheapo rebranding and reformulation. Make it cheaper, watered down, and worse, but names are free, so just put it out under a newer, better pseudonym while cutting corners to almost nothing. For shame.

As for the other flanker, M7 Fresh, I found it a failed Frankenstein experiment to place a citrus cologne on top of oud and amber. It's as bad as it sounds. Who was behind that terrible idea? I could maybe understand an M7 Light to tame M7's bold character for those less adventurous, but Fresh? It's just weird and I can see why it tanked.
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post #12 of 35
3/8/12 at 9:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewHaarlem View Post

I've received my decant of Oud Absolu and have worn it once. It's definitely a watered-down version of the first reformulation. It has decent projection in its first 5 hours, then it becomes a skin scent. The first reformulation is much better blended / more complex and bolder compared to the Oud Absolu version.

I agree 100%. I was hoping Oud Absolu would be the reformulated M7 in new packaging, but it just isn't the case. It's not as sweet and has a cold, "wood furniture" feel to it and it honestly doesn't resemble M7 at all. Like you I have not tried the vintage M7 but I do have a decant coming from DULLAH and I'll be sure to post my impressions.
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post #13 of 35
3/8/12 at 9:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CityFan21 View Post

It's not as sweet and has a cold, "wood furniture" feel to it and it honestly doesn't resemble M7 at all.

Why did you have to go and say that?! Now I want to try it.

Quote:
Like you I have not tried the vintage M7 but I do have a decant coming from DULLAH and I'll be sure to post my impressions.

Please do. I have this sealed bottle of vintage M7 that I'm wondering whether I should crack open or not.
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post #14 of 35
3/8/12 at 10:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonkeyBars View Post

Why did you have to go and say that?! Now I want to try it.



Please do. I have this sealed bottle of vintage M7 that I'm wondering whether I should crack open or not.

I think you can still get a sample of Oud Absolu from the Perfumed Court and I hope you enjoy it more than I did. I wanted to like it because they have it for a good price on fragrancenet right now, but it just wasn't what I was looking for.

As for that vintage M7 you have, that stuff is liquid gold to people on here and I'm sure even if you did open it and eventually sell it, you could easily get twice what you paid.
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post #15 of 35
3/8/12 at 10:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CityFan21 View Post

I think you can still get a sample of Oud Absolu from the Perfumed Court and I hope you enjoy it more than I did. I wanted to like it because they have it for a good price on fragrancenet right now, but it just wasn't what I was looking for.

As for that vintage M7 you have, that stuff is liquid gold to people on here and I'm sure even if you did open it and eventually sell it, you could easily get twice what you paid.

No hurry, my collection is at a GREAT place right now and I have a backlog of samples to do a full wearing on. I need to kick it and just enjoy my collection at some point!

I was really stoked to find the bottle of 10yo M7 gathering dust at the back of the perfume shop even though I hadn't tried it, just because I knew what it was. Now that I've tried it I am trying to figure out whether it's an investment or a luxury. Either way is gravy baby.
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post #16 of 35
3/9/12 at 3:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewHaarlem View Post

I've received my decant of Oud Absolu and have worn it once. It's definitely a watered-down version of the first reformulation. It has decent projection in its first 5 hours, then it becomes a skin scent. The first reformulation is much better blended / more complex and bolder compared to the Oud Absolu version.

Thanks for sharing your opinion!

About the vintage and first reformulation, I think which you prefer depends mostly on which you get used to. I have both and there are definitely differences between them, but both strike me as being of near equal quality. The vintage is darker and more direct at the opening, whereas the first reformulation is more cloudy/smoky/powdery from the off. Despite the original being more intense, I don't think it has significantly better projection or longevity than the first reformulation.

I'd be very happy with a continued supply of either version, which is why it is frustrating that the replacement has apparently been watered down. Surely they realise the target market for this one will know enough about it to (on the whole) disapprove of the changes?
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post #17 of 35
3/9/12 at 7:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMF View Post

I have no way of knowing, but I would think that the 1st M7 reformulation, Oud Absolu, & the re-release will all be one in the same. I can't imagine YSL actively producing three different versions of the same scent.

Agreed. But I think Absolu will still different from M7.
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post #18 of 35
3/11/12 at 12:14am
Oud Absolu is decent but not worth its price, your better off just buying M7, or better yet the original formulation bottle testers for half the price.
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post #19 of 35
3/11/12 at 1:00am
I like how the accord people call cherry in M7 is nothing like the damascones or whatever of countless sweet tobacco cheapies. It's more of a resultant combined effect of various ingredients. Ikon kind of does that with a dry apple effect.
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post #20 of 35
3/11/12 at 5:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by vinramani09 View Post

Oud Absolu is decent but not worth its price, your better off just buying M7, or better yet the original formulation bottle testers for half the price.

Both are getting harder to find though for a reasonable price (here in the UK anyway).
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post #21 of 35
3/11/12 at 2:39pm
I have sampled M7 Oud Absolu twice now and one of those was a SotD.

Unless something is mixed up with my sample, I find very little difference between Oud Absolu and the first reformulation.....how odd. Because I was expecting it to be "weaker" or something. But its not......

I am a bit confused. I guess I am just puzzled as to how several BNers found this one to be so different than the previous formual.

This Oud Absolu give me a whole day of radiance and longevity. Smells good, but I think it seems slightly more medicinal than my bottle of the first reformulation ( which I love BTW and feel it is better than the first formula).
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post #22 of 35
3/11/12 at 8:30pm
^I dont know what samples you have but they Oud Absolu and original M7 are quite different, yes both have the Oud note , but in the original M7 it comes with a creamy powdery intense woody feel, OA has NONE of the depth but is a nice scent at the same time but its not worth the price IMO, especially since I have 2 M7 original bottles.
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post #23 of 35
3/12/12 at 5:21am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by vinramani09 View Post

^I dont know what samples you have but they Oud Absolu and original M7 are quite different, yes both have the Oud note , but in the original M7 it comes with a creamy powdery intense woody feel, OA has NONE of the depth but is a nice scent at the same time but its not worth the price IMO, especially since I have 2 M7 original bottles.

Hi, are your bottles of Original M7 the vintage or first-reformulation?

Thanks for your insight, Surfacing. So the debate goes on!

I'll probably end up buying this, at the very least I'll have an easily replaceable 'daily wear' M7. The opinions on it now seem to be less polarized than when it first came out, at least.

I wish you lot would come to an agreement though!
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post #24 of 35
3/12/12 at 5:51am
^ both my bottles are from 2003, yes the vintage formulation.
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post #25 of 35
3/12/12 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vinramani09 View Post

^I dont know what samples you have but they Oud Absolu and original M7 are quite different, yes both have the Oud note , but in the original M7 it comes with a creamy powdery intense woody feel, OA has NONE of the depth but is a nice scent at the same time but its not worth the price IMO, especially since I have 2 M7 original bottles.

Thanks vinramani09. I do have a vial of the original M7 release and will give it another shot soon enough. I found it overly medicinal, and since I own and love the first reformulation, I wasn't too bothered.

Basically, I am just surprised how some guys felt the new Oud Absolu is more or less a pale version of M7. Even comparing it to the first reformulation, I just don't get that big of a difference.

I'll still keep sampling however. Obviously, 80ml's for the price of 100ml's makes the new Oud Absolu less of an enticing deal.
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post #26 of 35
3/13/12 at 5:20am
Thread Starter 
So to re-cap the various Oud Absolu threads, we have:

Several people who think Oud Absolu is the same as the first reformulation
a couple of people who think it is nearly a return to the vintage formulation
several people who think it is a watered down version of the first reformulation
several people who think it is a improved version of the first reformulation
several who say its more medicinal than previous versions
several who say its less medicinal than previous versions
....and that's without mentioning longevity and projection....
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post #27 of 35
3/13/12 at 7:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan J View Post

So to re-cap the various Oud Absolu threads, we have:

Several people who think Oud Absolu is the same as the first reformulation
a couple of people who think it is nearly a return to the vintage formulation
several people who think it is a watered down version of the first reformulation
several people who think it is a improved version of the first reformulation
several who say its more medicinal than previous versions
several who say its less medicinal than previous versions
....and that's without mentioning longevity and projection....

Yeah, it seems all over the place. Its pretty funny, in a way. Reminds me of the current Dior Homme edt/Intense threads that have been going on in the last year, but not as long nor annoying. Plus M7 wearers are better than Dior Homme wearers.

I get great longevity and very good radiance, so take that for what its worth. I did one sampling on arm and then one SotD.
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post #28 of 35
3/13/12 at 8:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfacing View Post

Yeah, it seems all over the place. Its pretty funny, in a way. Reminds me of the current Dior Homme edt/Intense threads that have been going on in the last year, but not as long nor annoying. Plus M7 wearers are better than Dior Homme wearers.

I get great longevity and very good radiance, so take that for what its worth. I did one sampling on arm and then one SotD.

I think I'm going to buy it (when I can afford it!)...thanks for sharing your opinion. I like both previous versions, so even if it is slightly different again, I guess it's not the end of the world. Like you I was quite happy with the first reformulated M7. It is the 'watered down' comments that are most off-putting, to me at least.
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post #29 of 35
3/13/12 at 11:30am
Hey Surfacing -- what's the deal with Oud Absolu?

- Does it still have the funky mandrake root note? (that might be what gives the cherry effect)
- How does the amber/sweetness amount compare? (M7 can get a bit sweet in the drydown)
- How does the oud amount compare?
- What about the dark citrus opening?
- Is there a lot more patchouli?
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post #30 of 35
3/13/12 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonkeyBars View Post

Hey Surfacing -- what's the deal with Oud Absolu?

- Does it still have the funky mandrake root note? (that might be what gives the cherry effect)
- How does the amber/sweetness amount compare? (M7 can get a bit sweet in the drydown)
- How does the oud amount compare?
- What about the dark citrus opening?
- Is there a lot more patchouli?

Hey man, M7 is really well blended ( in a good way)....so if there is patchouli in Oud Absolu, it does not stick out. I didn't notice it sticking out in the previous renditions of M7 either.

I honestly don't see the opening as dark citrus. I am also not the best with notes. That being said, the opening is just similar to the previous versions of M7, but perhaps more medicinal and longer lasting than the first reformulation ( I have not spent enough time with it to be sure).

Still have the ambery sweetness and the cherry effect. If you like the previous version of M7, you will like this. But that is just according to me I think they are quite similar.

If there is a positive here, thank goodness YSL is not discontinuing this one
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post #31 of 35
3/13/12 at 7:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfacing View Post

Hey man, M7 is really well blended ( in a good way)....so if there is patchouli in Oud Absolu, it does not stick out. I didn't notice it sticking out in the previous renditions of M7 either.

Me neither

Quote:
I honestly don't see the opening as dark citrus. I am also not the best with notes. That being said, the opening is just similar to the previous versions of M7, but perhaps more medicinal and longer lasting than the first reformulation ( I have not spent enough time with it to be sure).

Yeah mandarin and bergamot can be two of the least "citrussy" and most aromatic of the citrus skin essential oils. That's why they're perfect for M7. More medicinal and longer lasting opening? Now I'm really curious as the opening is my favorite phase of M7.

Quote:
Still have the ambery sweetness and the cherry effect. If you like the previous version of M7, you will like this. But that is just according to me I think they are quite similar.

Interesting, thank you for the input, man.
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post #32 of 35
3/13/12 at 9:31pm
Has there been mentions from fragcomm of M7 original or 1st reformulation..... Fakes?
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post #33 of 35
3/14/12 at 5:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Troyvi View Post

Has there been mentions from fragcomm of M7 original or 1st reformulation..... Fakes?

Hi, both versions are genuine, definitely not fakes...
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post #34 of 35
3/18/12 at 10:34am
Greetings All,
I had never worn M7 until a very recent purchase of 2 X 100 ml. bottles (boxed testers), thought I'd grab a couple as they seem to be getting quite hard to find now. The bottle design is the second presentation with just one amber/red glass pane, the one you all refer to as the 1st reformulation as opposed to the original 2002 edition all red bottle. I now wish that I had found this fragrance a lot earlier, fantastic juice and a great surprise as I have started collecting Oudh/amber/musk oils, the M7 lasts on my skin for about 8-10 hours which is amazing for me as I'm blond and have a very fair complexion, the M7 drydown lasts about the same for the newer version of Antaeus (another story). The medicinal/cherry accord is not that apparent on me, actually I find it difficult to describe although I detect the vetyver, amber & oudh finishing with a warm vanillic/musky base. I applied a couple of drops of pure Assam oudh along with it the other day and it just powered on through the entire day and well into the evening, a great hint for you lovers of oudh to try out as well. I guess I'm fortunate for not sampling the original 2002 version, I'm more than happy with this 2007/08 second release. The old adage augers well in this instance, "What you've never had wont be missed" ?

Maybe I'll purchase another couple of bottles as it was a very good buy, at the present time it seems to be selling on eBay for between $100-$140 per 3.4 fl.oz. these prices for a discontinued frag usually indicate it's impending demise and profound rarity.
Thank's all for the collective info' as I was wondering when the original blurred into the second version, I am 'Enlightened'

Best Wishes,
L'Homme vert . . .
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post #35 of 35
3/18/12 at 10:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by L'homme vert View Post

Greetings All,
I had never worn M7 until a very recent purchase of 2 X 100 ml. bottles (boxed testers), thought I'd grab a couple as they seem to be getting quite hard to find now. The bottle design is the second presentation with just one amber/red glass pane, the one you all refer to as the 1st reformulation as opposed to the original 2002 edition all red bottle. I now wish that I had found this fragrance a lot earlier, fantastic juice and a great surprise as I have started collecting Oudh/amber/musk oils, the M7 lasts on my skin for about 8-10 hours which is amazing for me as I'm blond and have a very fair complexion, the M7 drydown lasts about the same for the newer version of Antaeus (another story). The medicinal/cherry accord is not that apparent on me, actually I find it difficult to describe although I detect the vetyver, amber & oudh finishing with a warm vanillic/musky base. I applied a couple of drops of pure Assam oudh along with it the other day and it just powered on through the entire day and well into the evening, a great hint for you lovers of oudh to try out as well. I guess I'm fortunate for not sampling the original 2002 version, I'm more than happy with this 2007/08 second release. The old adage augers well in this instance, "What you've never had wont be missed" ?

Maybe I'll purchase another couple of bottles as it was a very good buy, at the present time it seems to be selling on eBay for between $100-$140 per 3.4 fl.oz. these prices for a discontinued frag usually indicate it's impending demise and profound rarity.
Thank's all for the collective info' as I was wondering when the original blurred into the second version, I am 'Enlightened'

Best Wishes,
L'Homme vert . . .

Great! I wish I had 2 bottles in stock of the first reformulation! Unfortunately I'm down to my last 15ml or so....

I have ordered the new(ish) M7 Oud Absolu from eBay, assuming it arrives okay I will let you know how close I think it is to the first reformulation, after a few wearings. I'm hoping for the best!
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