Colonia Ebano

I'm tempted to say that this is probably one of the best official encounter perfumes there is. What I mean by official encounter is any meeting of importance outside of family/friends ties. Beautiful, powerful, warm scent totally outside of sweet floral and fruity notes. It is a warm woody perfume that keeps the timber smell all the way through. Cut a fresh branch of an evergreen tree, put it to your nose, and there you are with a dark, bitter, resinous scent that goes on and on. The bitterness is augmented with vetiver, pepper and patchouli. Honey makes is at more sweet wearable bitter scent, but is is not a base note, so to the end you really just smell more or less bitterness and dirt of the patchouli. First hours though are just mellow bitterness with a soapy quality to it. It has also a very Xmassy vibe to it as you basically smell as a fir for about six to seven hours. You will blend beautifully in with the misteltoe and fresh-cut branches of spruce. The perfume has a solid versatility, but obviously also limits. It is not for teens, it is not fresh, its is not a summer party scent, it is not a date scent if you are young. This perfume gives you more sense of grit, stating you mean business and in a civilized manner, so it is not for a rebel. I read here that it resembles perfumes of the late 70's and 80's. There is definitely a factor to it, and as it was an era when the perfume should counter stench of cigarettes and alcohol, the power was indeed in demand. Today, the power of the perfume stays, but it is perceived many times as an overkill, because when you don't stink, there is nothing to beat. I would not consider Ebano as a particularly heavy scent, but more of a wanna-be reminder of those times. Combination of quality, elegance and power you'll get here, will give you a silent boost and a sense of well-being impossible to monetize. This makes it easily one of my latest favorites.

This fragrance is a nice cologne. And sometimes a ‘good’ or ‘nice’ Cologne is a perfectly exceptionally appropriate fragrance to wear. We don’t always need to be traversing the seven opulent myrrh Oud amber heavens on Aladdin’s oriental carpet or blazing with sweet gourmands, citrus or sea salt. This smells refined expensive traditional warm captivating very masculine and authoritative. And here’s what it smells like - upon entering an antiquarian book store steeped in the scent of its own creaking oak beams you make a beeline for the leather bound books published in the 1700s. Scrolling through the darkened stiff dusty pages you happen across thick and spiced honey bizarrely oozing from the bind and you take a hard sniff. There is also a feeling of slightly charred or very antique wood but overall it’s surprisingly warm and cozy. It is as if the perfumer took Tom Ford’s Noir Anthracite, diluted it for more acceptable daily wear and mixed in a hearty warmth from honey. This is what I would imagine the inner cloisters and corridors of the British houses of Parliament might smell like... and many of the ministers within probably smell like this too. It also reminds me of the scent emanating from a freshly opened tin of honeyed pipe tobacco . Where the youthful ambitious (but unseasoned and mildly insecure) might buy TF Tobacco Vanille, their fathers go for Ebano - because they know they’ve already got it / made it and know who they are. It’s a different composition, a generation above TF TV, but in the same family. Longevity and projection are modest but then this isn’t meant to be a garish spectacle but rather a quietly confident statement. At drydown it does resemble somewhat of a traditional barbershop scent, a very civilised and pleasant terminus for this olfactory journey.

Ebano is a great fragrance, in fact, my favorite of the entire house. I just realized that despite owning this fragrance for 2 years and buying a backup bottle last year, I have never written a review. This is my go-to scent for Fall and Winter months. This is aromatic with a dark, beautiful ebony wood. It has a slight touch of resins. This is an executive fragrance for days when you want to feel like a boss. Ebano is for someone in a position of authority. However, it is not an austere cologne. The touch of honey gives this creation a warmth and approachability factor. This is a great dad scent. Too bad it’s discontinued and did not get it’s own EDP line. I get about 4-5hrs of longevity and decent projection for the first hour and a half than it sits closer to the skin.

Very sophisticated scent for formal occasions. I tend to use it in my professional meetings all year round. I've to be honest, I did not like at the beginning. I had a sample and could not find it that special but then at some point this year I decided to buy a full bottle and I became addicted. It screams elegance without being offensive.

"Smells old school, but new. Smells so seductive." Said a female co-worker of mine. You'll know exactly what she means when you smell it. This is right up my alley, bought it immediately after I tested it. For grown men. Its really woody yet fresh and sweet. BTW less is more.

What a lovely fragrance. Masculine and elegant. Not a fragrance to wear to turn heads but something that will make you smell sophisticated and confident. I need to get myself another bottle asap before the prices become painful.

Maybe a barber shop fragrance but with woods and spices Incredible fragrance that change constantly from the opening to the dry down Longevity is moderate t It’s special in its own way same as most Aqua di parma fragrances

I really wanted to love this fragrance, I was extremely excited at the prospect of another AdP Colonia and one based on Ebony wood sounded delightful, unfortunately Ebano misses the mark. It starts very well, the opening is really superb, the red pepper note hits upfront, both fresh and spicy and then the unmistakable ebony note is among the best I’ve smelled, owing to the fact that it is the true focus but with touches of vetiver and other cleaner woods. Totally masculine, on the darker side with a dusty, dry feel and a hint of patch earth too. The thing which lets this perfume down is the drydown, it dries down, to creamy woods quickly and Is just a bit flat. Ebano is something which could’ve been so good and even glimpses greatness briefly but I’ve come across this before with this kind of woody scent. The drydown is passable but very boring and like something bog standard from the designer realm, I feel a bit bad giving it a hard time because it’s okay but could’ve been so much better. I’m not too bothered about the performance but it is a low lying hum as can be expected from an ebony/woods fragrance with little silage but still unusual for this line as they are usually strong. In conclusion then, I loved the opening and thought I may have hit on a holy grail of old skool, peppery, masculinity but that excitement was too short lived. I’d recommend anyone to try it but Ebano didn’t meet my high expectations.

Old school woody scent which reminds me a lot of Je suis un Homme from Etat Libre. They might not have the same notes but they are at the same level with regards to their smell. This one is less dry compared to Je suis un Homme and has a dirty aroma which Je suis un Homme doesn't have. Overall, it is an OK scent for people above the age of 30 years. However, considering the price it is not worth all the money. Scent: 7.5/10 Longevity: 8/10 Projection: 8/10

Colonia Ebano is very smooth fragrance with lots of honey-sweet resins and vétiver kept on the fresh side of heavy by a relève of bell pepper. Good for cooler/cold days. Longevity is excellent on my skin: the next morning the smooth pepper and patchouli remain very present. I love it; my girlfriend hates it.

This is a seriously sophisticated scent. The woodiness is prominent but balanced nicely by the honey and spices. It's warm and inviting without being overly sweet. Perfect for evening wear or special occasions.

A very enjoyable, elegant woody cologne. Woods are pleasant, not sharp, but dusty dull, quite smooth.

8/10- For those tired of cedar and sandalwood. Ebano is a nutty smelling woods, this shines in an autumn morning. I get vibes of Bowmaker in terms of scent type. I love the heart of this fragrance, it doesn't project much but stays on for longer than you expect. Very classy leathery woods, modern and masculine. Projection dies at 30 min from my first spray but the scent stays on skin for 6+ hours. I like all aspects of this fragrance. A solid cologne.

I get the pepper and ebony. Slightly spicy and resinous woods. Can't say I love it, it's nothing I crave. It's nice enough for colder days. Not sweet or cloying at least. Scent: 6.5 / Sillage: 7.5 / Longevity: 7.5 EDIT: My old notes at the beginning of my frag journey...I guess I warmed up to it over time.. 1st wear: Smoky, whiskey, woody, leather. 7/10 2nd wear: Creamy and sweet? Liking it more 2nd time around. 8? 8-9? 3rd wear: Warm and creamy. 9.

Typical mens woody, peppery fragrance. Old school vibe

A weird clash of notes. There is a pleasant Ebony wood note at the centre but it is tainted with a sickly honey accord and a weird sharp citrus. It’s quite characteristic of Italian colognes but there is little likability. It’s also very flat and there is little depth to the scent. I expected an opulent, assertive masculine woody fragrance but all this reeks of is inauthenticity. A big disappointment. I would advise gentlemen to avoid this purchase as it doesn’t leave a clean impression. It’s like a dusty old house. This would have been far better if they played up the Ebony with olibanum, oakmoss, galbanum i.e. dry and cold notes instead of this weird pairing of a warm gourmand with woods.

Agree with @bart4543 - relaxed version of TdH I have AdP Leather in my personal Top5 but all latest releases - Colonia Club / Quercia / Mirra / Ebano - total disappointment imho :/

A bit disappointed with this one. What i get mainly is sweet patchouli. Tried to like it but i guess why bother too much. 6/10

Smells like it wants to be capsicum and chocolate at the same time, yuck.

Yes a really old school perfume. I agree totally. And no its not typical Italian. It reminds me of an old English gentlemen's society club with well dressed men:). It opens with the fresh-bitter aromatic note citric with petitgrain. Then the honey sweet aroma comes through. The vetiver is there as a basic note that stays until the end. Then the perfume ends in the woody-warm spicy old school scent. It reminds me a bit of old spice. Its a good perfume when y like this old school combination. When to wear? Definitely more wintertime and more for when y like a more classic way of life. Like I said its a typical old fashioned society perfume more English than the Italian vibrant and stylish perfumes this house offers. This perfume is a bit moderate compared to other ones of this house. In the same year AdP released two very different perfumes in 2017 that are totally the opposite of each other: This one and the Mirra version. I can tell because i tried them on my wrists:). I prefer the Colonia Mirra more. But they are both very well balanced with style and class.

Tried this because of the ebony as i've never tried it. My impression of the ebony note after a few wearings is interesting. It's just darker wood as advertised. Not sure it's because of the other notes supporting it, but what i smell is a mix of cedar and something that reminds me of gunpowder/coal/blacksmith? Not sure if that is how ebony smells, but i like it. As for the overall impression of the fragrance. The top notes dissappears almost immediately, the honey and ebony takes over. Those also gets toned down alot within 15 minutes and gone within 30 minutes. All im left with is patchouli and vetiver in their known AdP old school style. Can't say im surprised about the poor longevity, as no Acqua di parma last on my skin. So if you have good longevity on your skin, this will probably last on you too. But my skin just ate up the top and middle notes within 30 minutes so i can't really convince myself to invest that kind of money for poor longevity.

This is a bit underrated, in my opinion, because other scents in this line are such big hitters, namely Oud and Leather. Indeed, with the arrival of Sandalo you basically ended up with a trio that are going to cater to the majority of customers looking at the Ingredient Collection. As such, Ebano is woefully overlooked, which is a shame because it is such a well-done perfume. Woody, resinous, a hint of incense, I really think it has a close affinity to Gucci’s original Pour Homme. There is also the just perceptible spicy warmness, fig leaf pluminess of Tom Ford Tom Ford for Men Extreme. Longevity and projection are excellent in my experience and the fragrance is surprisingly versatile. I have also layered this with the aforementioned TFTFME and the result was stupendous, they complement and contrast with each other so perfectly. Real surprise for me and leaps straight into my top 3........ EDIT: Top 3 of AdP

A quick update - so, I have two bottles of this, a big 180ml and a small 100ml version that came in a coffret set. Not that it matters very much, this is effectively a discontinued fragrance so supplies are finite, but performance is very batch dependent. The 100ml stuff has beast performance, the 180ml stuff is mediocre. Well, I say mediocre, it seems to have gone at around the 4 hour mark, however, once I step into the shower the next morning...pop! There it is again, heavy and strong. Perhaps it can be refreshed with a splash of water, a trick many have used over the decades to reinvigorate a fading scent during an evening out. Anyway, all academic as supplies will soon dry up and the fragrance will be consigned to the history books.

Less similar to TF Anthracite than i would have liked, I’d say it feels more like a mixture of Bottega Veneta homme Parfum with Tauer LADDM. It has a spicy warmth with the pepper and resins that feels like the BV, but the dry petitgrain, bergamot and Vetiver reminds of the dryness of the Tauer. The Bottega is much warmer and comforting compared to the spicy dryness of this one, but depends on what you’re looking for. I would say daily scent, but its fairly aggressive for the office unless you are as well. The chili is fairly prominent as in Mugler Taste of Fragrance, and Guerlain L’homme ideal l’intense so you may have to be a spicy character as well to rock this. Definitely pleasantly unusual

For men only. Strong and piercing. Nothing unisex on this one. If you looking for a very woody, slight resinous and honey scent this is it. A sophisticated deep woody scent for wearing for outside casual events. An old school scent from the 1980s released for men, that just want a scent from the way back when to wear in modern times. Nothing modern on this one. Mature women and men will appreciate this one. This stuff really resemble Polo Green.

What a beautiful cologne! It’s classy, sophisticated and manly, but not overly so. To me it smells timeless and I find it to be wearable for any occasion and season, although I suspect it shines the most during summer. I get a solid 3-4 hour performance with a decent sillage as well, which is all we can ask for with this concentration. The warm honey note is very nice and not too strong. Scent 7/10 Longevity 7/10 Sillage 7/10

I said I was going to buy a bottle of anything that came close to smelling like my beloved Calvin by Calvin Klein... Wow, this is the closest I’ve smelled of anything put out in the last 20 years. Very reminiscent of that decade. The notes don’t match, but the overall scent is very close... but can’t bring myself to purchase it. Been there done that. Time to move on.

Very good fragrance. Strong opening. Amber honey red pepper really are noticeable. A very solid fragrance, with very rich woody notes. I guess its best for night and winter. Also very oriental and unique. Scent is very rich and masculine. Performance and zillage both moderate. Radiates well on rhe skin but not offensive. I ll give it 8/10

Classical pepper scent. When you smell it, you will immediately say “what does this smell like?” ; its unoriginal, yet wearable. For me, evokes similarities to a blend of Terre d Hermes and the powerhouse pepper/vetiver fragrances of the early 90s such as Gucci Nobile. Yes, Nobile is perhaps what this reminds me of.

Too masculine, dark ebony tree (that is more of A cedar character in the opening), dry patchouli that is sweet at the same time due to honey. Longevity 4/5 hours. I don’t see it interesting enough to buy a full bottle. Try before you buy.

Way too strong for a guy in their 30's. It's the kinda smell you would get when opening up a time capsule from 1981. Way too strong... I was gifted it by my mother in law. Tried it a few times and then gave it away. I'll pass

This is great. The honey note gives a similarity to the honey in Kilian Back to Black. This dries down very barbershop, Vetiver, masculine. Great stuff shame its discontinued.

Took me a while to appreciate this one but now i can't get enough of it. Beautiful ebony and sweet patchouli scent. 8/10

You still can get this here in Europe for a cheap price. Ireally love this. Love the honey and the ebony wood.

Scent: 7/10 Quality: 8/10 Originality: 6/10 Sillage: 7/10 Projection: 6/10 Longevity: 7/10 Price VS Size: 6/10

Just tried this one. it smells very similar to terre hermes once it dries down.